Joyce "Sunny" Mojonnier (born February 17, 1943) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. Mojonnier, a Republican, represented the 75th District from 1982 through 1990.[2][3] She was the 30th woman elected to serve in the California legislature.

Joyce Mojonnier
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 75th district
In office
December 6, 1982 - November 30, 1990
Preceded byDavid G. Kelley
Succeeded byDede Alpert
Personal details
Born (1943-02-17) February 17, 1943 (age 81)
Detroit, Michigan, US[1]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseF. Erwin Mojonnier (div.)
Children4

Career edit

As the state representative of California's 75th District, Mojonnier served four consecutive two-year terms. She was defeated for reelection in 1990 by San Diego School Board Trustee Dede Alpert.[4]

During her time in the State Assembly, Mojonnier served on a number of committees including: Rules; Ways & Means; Judiciary; Governmental Organizations; Education (and on the Subcommittee on Education Reform); Labor; Economic Development & New Technologies; and on the Subcommittee on Arts & Athletics. She chaired the Task Force on Child Abuse and the Judicial System, which she helped establish; she chaired the Joint Committee on Surrogate Parenting; and she served as vice chair for the Joint Committee on the 1992 Quincentennial.[a] She was a member of the Select Committee on Genetic Diseases. She was also a member of the Arts, Tourism and Cultural Resources Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures; and was a member of the Committee on Suggested State Legislation for the Western Legislative Conference.

While in office, Mojonnier authored or introduced a number of bills that became law.[5][additional citation(s) needed] These include:

  • the Hazardous Medical Waste Management Act, which served as a national model for medical waste clean-up;[citation needed]
  • legislation to provide closed circuit television testimony for use with child witnesses involved in cases involving sexual offenses,[6] and similar legislation for use with violent offenders to eliminate the need to transport them;
  • legislation to require children's waiting rooms at courthouses, in the interest of protecting young children from unfriendly or threatening circumstances;[7]
  • and legislation requiring reflector license plates.

She also contributed to the passage of mental health legislation focused on improving patient care.

Other contributions edit

In 1983, while still in her first term, Mojonnier became the founder of Capitol Network, a Sacramento-based non-partisan networking group for female legislative and administrative professionals.[8]

After leaving office, Mojonnier was appointed by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in 1992 to serve as a commissioner on the California Medical Assistance Commission, a state office that directs and reviews proposed contracts for Medi-Cal services.[9][10]

In 2014, Mojonnier founded the non-profit foundation Women In California Politics (WICP), a non-partisan organization dedicated to "preserving the political history of the women elected to serve in the California legislature."[11] The foundation, with Mojonnier as CEO, produced Centennial Celebration, a series of events celebrating the 2018 Centennial of women being elected to serve in the California legislature. In late 2020, Mojonnier stepped down as CEO and became Chair of the WICP Board of Directors. In August of 2021, the foundation opened the WICP Museum in Sacramento. This museum collects and displays—both online and at the physical space—video-recorded oral histories, as well as other historical memorabilia, collected from former female members of the California legislature. Majonnier served as a curator and historian for the museum.[12]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The 1992 Quincentennial was a celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' 1492 arrival in America.

References edit

  1. ^ "Sunny Mojonnier". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  2. ^ "Sunny Mojonnier". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ NAZ (2005-01-10). California Women in Government: Members of the Legislature Archived 2009-05-04 at the Wayback Machine. California State Archives, retrieved April 28, 2009
  4. ^ "JoinCalifornia - 11-06-1990 Election".
  5. ^ Sunny Mojonnier - biography. AP Computer Learning Time, retrieved April 28, 2009
  6. ^ California. Legislature. Assembly (1985). Assembly Bill. California Legislature. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  7. ^ Judicial Council of California (1987). "1987 Annual Report" (PDF). p. 62. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  8. ^ "About Us". Capitol Network. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  9. ^ "Inventory of the California Medical Assistance Commission Records". Online Archive of California. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  10. ^ "2007 California Welfare and Institutions Code Article 5.1. California Medical Assistance Commission ... 14165-14165.11". Justia Law. 1983-01-01. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  11. ^ "Mission and Vision". wicp100.org. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  12. ^ "Museum". wicp100.org. Retrieved 2024-03-09.

External links edit