Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Denise Moreno Ducheny Papers
Dates: 1992-2010
Collection number: LP498
Creator:
Denise Ducheny, California Legislator
Collection Size:
22 cubic feet and one box, including 3 compact discs and 8 audiocassettes
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: California legislator Denise Ducheny served as a State Assembly Member from 1994-2000, and as a State Senator from 2002-2010.
The Denise Ducheny Papers consist of 22 cubic feet of records reflecting the interests and political activities of Denise
during her time in the California State Legislature. The records contain six series: Bill Files, Subject Files, Senate Select
Committee Los Alamos Lab, Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Chronological Files, News Releases.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Denise Moreno Ducheny Papers, LP384:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Denise Moreno Ducheny Papers following her final term in the State Legislature.
Denise Moreno Ducheny, Democrat, served as both a California State Assembly Member (1994-2000) and State Senator (2002-2010).
In a 1994 special election, Ducheny was elected to the California State Assembly 79th district. The 79th district is located
within San Diego County and notably encompassing southeastern San Diego City. After leaving the State Legislature for a short
period of time, she was elected to the California State Senate representing the 40th district in 2002. The 40th district is
located across the state’s southern border with Mexico and contains portions of San Diego as well as all of Imperial County.
Ducheny was born in Los Angeles, California on March 21, 1952, to a Mexican-American mother and a Canadian father. As a teenager,
she went to Sonora High School in La Habra, graduating in 1970, and later attending Pomona College where she received a B.A.
in History. From there, she would spend a short period in Sweden as a student studying economic history at the University
of Lund before returning to California to receive a law degree in labor and immigration law from the Southwestern University
of Law in Los Angeles in 1979. With a new law degree in hand, she opened a small legal firm in Logan, California, where she
helped to organize her local community by forming groups like the Harbor View Community Council and providing legal services
for immigrants so they could gain permanent status. During this time, she became increasingly involved in local politics,
eventually deciding to run in 1990 for elected trustee of the San Diego Community College, to ensure funding for important
community college education programs that provided a pathway for immigrants to gain permanent status.
After being elected to the San Diego Community College District Governing Board, Ducheny formed the Association of Latino
Community College Trustees to promote programs to benefit their community. Once elected as an Assembly Member in 1994 she
authored landmark legislation like the CalWORKs Welfare Reform Act of 1997, College Affordability Act, School Library Act
and many others targeted towards aiding the disadvantaged. She was also the first Latina placed in charge of the California
state budget, passing many budgets that prioritized education, low-income housing for farmers, and tax relief for working
class Americans. Notably, she also promoted outreach beyond the border fostering a cooperative positive relationship between
Mexico and California which became the Border Legislative Conference. After her final term ended in 2000, she would wait until
2002 before running for California State Senate 40th district.
Once elected to the State Senate, she served as the Chair of the Budget Committee during the Great Recession. In addition
to being chair to the Budget committee, she also chaired the Select Committee on California-Mexico Cooperation. She served
in the California State Senate until reaching her term limit in 2010. After her time in the state Legislature, she continued
to pursue opportunities in the field of education and consulting for issues relating to the U.S. – Mexico relationship. In
2012, she even made a failed bid for one of California’s United States’ congressional seats.
The Denise M. Ducheny Papers consist of 23 cubic feet, reflecting primarily her time at the California State Assembly (1994-2000)
and State Senate (2002-2010).
The Bill Files document her legislative activity during her term as a member of the California State Legislature. This record
series consist of 266 file folders and 2 compact discs. The bills introduced by Denise Moreno Ducheny include a wide array
of subjects. She authored legislation concerning welfare, access to higher education, and international relations with Mexico.
She notably authored the 1997 CalWORKs Welfare Reform Act, the College Affordability Act, the reverse Mortgage Act, and the
Indian Child Welfare Act.
The Subject Files consist of 107 file folders, 8 audiocassettes, and 1 compact disc. The material is arranged alphabetically
by subject, with topics ranging from education, legislation, advocate letters to legislators, articles, and the Latino Caucus.
The Los Alamos Lab Senate Select Committee Files consist of 15 file folders of hearings, letters and other related ephemera
concerning the management of the Los Alamos Laboratory by the University of California.
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee Files consist of four file folders of audit request information prepared by the California
State Auditor’s Office for review by the Audit Committee.
The Chronological Files consist of three file folders of letters and request by Ducheny regarding legislation, staffing and
other interest from 2003 to 2010.
The News Release Files consist of two file folders of Ducheny press releases covering 2002 to 2005.
No further accruals are expected.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Assembly Committee on Budget (Chair), 1997-2000
Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review (Chair), 2007-2010
Senate Committee Housing and Community Development (Chair), 2003-2004
Denise Moreno Ducheny, Oral History Interview, 2016, Conducted by Alexander C. Vassar, Oral History Program, California State
Univeristy, for the California State Archives State Government Oral History Program.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Ducheny, Denise