2003 Budget Priorities | 2004 Budget Priorities
2005 Budget Priorities | 2006 Budget Priorities
2007 Budget Priorities
2003 Legislative Priorities | 2004 Legislative Priorities
2005 Legislative Priorities | 2006 Legislative Priorities
2007 Legislative Priorities | 2008 Legislative Priorities

2008 Legislative Priorities

AB 158 (Ma) – Medi-Cal Benefits for Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis B
AB 158 requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to expand eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits to individuals with chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis B affects nearly 280,000 Californians and is the leading cause for liver cancer and liver transplant in California. Communities of color are disproportionately affected especially Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs), African Americans and Latinos. In the API community, Chinese Americans have a three to four times higher risk for liver cancer caused by chronic hepatitis B than Caucasian Americans, and Vietnamese Americans have a seven to eight times higher risk for liver cancer caused by chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis B-related liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among API men living in California.

Outcome: Amended out on the Senate Floor

AB 1725 (Lieu) – Judicial Appointment Disclosure
AB 1725 would require the State Bar to make public any judicial appointment that has received a not-qualified rating from the Judicial Nominee Evaluation (JNE) Committee. This bill would also make all ratings null and void after 3 years, preventing any outdated ratings from being made public. The Judicial branch is a vital aspect of our government and the make up of that branch is crucial in ensuring justice and equality to every citizen. It is in the public’s best interest to know if a Judge was considered not qualified. AB 1725 creates the transparency in our judicial appointment system that is necessary to maintain public trust and respect.

Outcome: Vetoed by the Governor

AB 1930 (Torrico) – Disaster Preparedness
This bill will bring great focus and attention to the needs of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in emergency preparedness planning. This bill would require the Director of the Office of Emergency Services to consider the multiple languages and needs of populations who have limited proficiency in the English language and incorporate their needs in emergency preparedness planning, response, and recovery training. The director would be required to incorporate local ethnic community based organizations and ethnic media outlets in communications plans so that alert and warning information can be more broadly disseminated and to use a registry of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions to assist in emergencies.

Outcome: Held in Senate Appropriations

AB 2514 (Eng) - Human Remains
In 2005, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority unearthed dozens of human remains during construction in LA County property near Evergreen Cemetery. Many of the human remains were of Chinese American decent and included other artifacts, dating back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It would be six months before Asian American community groups in LA found out about these human remains due to a lack of State protocols on the handling of historical remains. This measure aims to provide more direction to state projects by establishing procedures for the proper handling and preservation of historical human remains. Such protocols will ensure the State will provide their services with the proper respect needed for such instances as well as protect the rich, diverse history of California.
Outcome: Held in Senate Appropriations

AB 2586 (Torrico)– Renter foreclosure rights
One of the lesser known consequences of the recent foreclosure crisis in California and elsewhere has been its impact on renters. According to the California Apartment Association, about one quarter of foreclosed single-family properties are occupied by tenants. This bill makes a number of changes to existing law in order to provide greater protections for tenants facing eviction or other adverse consequences as a result of foreclosure, including provisions relating to the return of security deposits and prohibitions against changing locks, cutting off utilities, or blocking access to premises. In addition, this bill will provide for more timely, fair, and effective notice requirements where a tenant faces displacement or termination of public utility services as a result of foreclosure.

Outcome: Vetoed by Governor

AB 2762 (Eng) – Larry’s Law
Over the last few years, California has experienced an alarming increase in bias-motivated incidents in public schools. One egregious incident includes the tragic murder of LGBT teenager, Lawrence King, at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California. To prevent such hate based violence, this bill will require schools to establish a protocol for reporting threats of violence that are made between students. In addition, the bill establishes a pilot project grant program to help integrate inter-group relations in the existing curriculum.

Outcome: Held in Senate Appropriations

ACR 108 (Eng) - Hate Crimes Awareness Month
Hate Crimes are criminal offences committed against persons, property, or society that are motivated by the offender’s bias against race religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity/national origin. The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Criminal Victimization Survey reveals that 56% of hate crimes are not reported to the proper authorities. In an effort to improve public safety by promoting a better public understanding of hate crimes, this resolution establishes the month of June as Hate Crimes Awareness Month.

Outcome: Adopted by Legislature

AJR 65 (Furutani) - Preservation of Filipino Communities
Formally recognizes the significance of Filipino and Filipino American communities on the history and cultural heritage of the state of California. This AJR recognizes the critical role that Filipino and Filipino American communities have played in the social, economic, and political development of California throughout the state’s history. It also demonstrates the state’s commitment to the preservation of these communities. Recognizing that the contributions of Filipino and Filipino American communities are often marginalized, if not forgotten, this AJR seeks to properly recognize their contribution to the rich history and culture of our state.

Outcome: Adopted by Legislature

AJR 67 (Furutani) - Citizenship for American Samoans
This resolution urges the United States Government to enact federal legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain requirements for naturalization. The people of the United States territory of American Samoa are U.S. nationals, who, like U.S. citizens, owe permanent allegiance to the United States.

Outcome: Adopted by Legislature

SB 1250 (Yee) – Incarcerated Youth Family Communications
This bill increases the rights that incarcerated youth have to communicate with their families, clergy and counsel. Research has proven that people who have more contact with their families and communities during incarceration are much less likely to re-offend post release. SB 1250 requires parents or guardians to be notified in case of serious injury or suicide attempt by their child, allows four phone calls per month to families at no cost to the youth or family, allows the youth to speak in their family’s native language while on the phone with them, and provides a written description of rights to the youth in a language that they speak.

Outcome: Signed into Law by Governor