What's Inside...
Good Deeds and Accomplishments Should Not Go Unnoticed
District Office:
2400 E. Katella Avenue, Suite 640
Anaheim, CA 92806
Tel: (714) 939-8469
Fax: (714) 939-8986
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0069
Tel: (916) 319-2069
Fax: (916) 319-2169
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| Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger congratulates Assembly Public Safety Committee Chairman Jose Solorio at the May 3rd signing ceremony for AB 900. |
As the chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, I am proud to announce that on May 3rd the Governor signed historic prison construction and reform legislation that responds to a federal court order that the state reduce prison overcrowding or risk being mandated to release criminals early.
The bill was the product of many months of meetings and negotiations by the Assembly and Senate leadership. I was heavily involved in meetings in the Assembly and was privileged to be the official author of the bill (AB 900).
This historic legislation won't just give inmates a "bed," it will provide inmates using those beds with an array of rehabilitation services to help them become contributing members of society and deter them from committing future crimes. The legislation aims to stop the revolving door that the status quo represents. The state's recidivism rate is 70%, which means that only 3 in 10 prisoners stay out of jail in the future upon being released into society.
To read more about AB 900 click here.
Californians should be proud that their state legislative leaders and Governor have put their party affiliation and ideological differences aside to work together to resolve this urgent problem. This legislation represents the can-do ability of state government.
I always welcome any input you may have on how I can better serve the community. Please do not hesitate to contact me at Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov if I can ever assist you with any state matters.
Sincerely,
Jose Solorio
State Assemblyman
Assemblyman Solorio is pleased to report that several more of his important bills have cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee and passed the Assembly floor prior to the June 8th deadline. Here's a roundup of new bills that have been sent to the Senate for consideration:
Teaching English. AB 1177 (Solorio) establishes the Accelerated English Acquisition and Literacy Pilot Program for schools and school districts, with 50% or more English Learner (EL) students, who want to voluntarily participate in the program. The premise behind this bill is simple -learning English as a second language is different and more challenging than learning English as a native speaker.
The bill provides for a 5-year pilot program that provides a comprehensive reading, language arts, and English language development curriculum that is designed for EL students, especially those with little or no knowledge of English. The goal is to accelerate the acquisition of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English. The bill requires the materials to be written in English and aligned to the state's English Language Arts (ELA) standards.
More than 50 school districts have asked the State Board of Education to develop a program similar to what is proposed in AB 1177.
Controlling Textbook Costs For College Students. AB 1548 (Solorio) seeks to reduce textbook prices for college and graduate students by adding more transparency to the textbook publishing and pricing process. According to a 2005 report by the General Accounting Office (GAO), college textbook prices increased by 186% between 1986 and 2004 -nearly triple the rate of inflation over the same period.
The bill requires each publisher to print on the cover, or within the textbook, specified information. For example, any new editions of textbooks would be required to include a summary of the substantive differences between the new edition and the prior edition, as well as an estimate of how long the new edition will remain in print.
In addition, the bill requires campus bookstores in any public postsecondary education institution to post on the store shelf or its Internet website, a description of its mark-up policies for the sale of new and used books.
These requirements will provide students with useful and valuable information about textbooks prices. In the long run, these disclosures will help control textbook prices and provide exact mark-up information for students.
Youth Reentry Pilot Program. AB 1049 (Solorio) seeks to provide young offenders, ages 18-23, with the skills necessary to become productive members of society upon their release from the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The program is based upon YouthBuild USA, a nationally and internationally recognized organization that has had great success with reducing recidivism rates among youth (rates of youth going back to jail).
The bill establishes a 2-year pilot project to enlist 200 youth offenders, upon their release from the DJJ, to enter a YouthBuild program that provides classroom instruction geared towards the attainment of the GED, counseling services, classes on personal responsibility and construction training skills. Participants would receive a stipend and join work crews to build affordable housing in their communities.
Health Care Disclosure. AB 343 (Solorio) requires the Department of Health Care Services to annually transmit a report to the Legislature identifying all employers (with 25 or more employees, who have employees in government-funded health care programs) who shift the overhead costs of providing quality healthcare for employees to the state, and ultimately California taxpayers. An estimated 85 percent of uncompensated health care gets paid by the government, which displaces other important services such as education and public safety.
Over 20 other states have this practice in place. As we debate health care in Sacramento this year, transparency measures such as this one should be part of the solution.
Assemblyman Solorio Calls Upon Orange County Board of Supervisors To Provide Local Cities With Funds To Rehab Streets
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| Assemblyman Solorio speaks before the Board of Supervisors at its May 1st meeting to request that the County of Orange begin sharing its Proposition 42 state transportation dollars with cities to help rehabilitate local streets. |
"This is an effort that I began while I was a Santa Ana City Councilmember. My goal has been to encourage county government to share some of its Prop. 42 transportation dollars with Orange County cities so that they can use the money to improve the condition of their streets. I am grateful the Board of Supervisors took leadership on this important issue," said Assemblyman Solorio.
Assemblyman Solorio is also carrying state legislation, AB 823, which encourages revenue sharing by the County of Orange, but is putting this measure on hold now that the County is developing a revenue sharing plan.
For more information on this issue, click here.
600 Attend Citizenship Fair Hosted by Assemblyman Solorio
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| Assemblyman Solorio directing applicants to volunteers at the April 29 Citizenship Fair in Anaheim. |
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| The Citizenship Fair provided Assemblyman Solorio to observe the Day of the Child by giving toys to over 50 children of the families as they waited to be interviewed and assisted in completing their applications. |
Residents started forming lines at El Vaquero Restaurant (location of citizenship fair) as early as 7:00 a.m. to receive assistance by volunteers and local community attorneys. They received help in completing their N-400 applications and received copies of a how-to Citizenship Handbook provided by Assemblyman Solorio.
There was a sense of urgency among many families because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency is expected to increase the application and processing fees to become a U.S. citizen from $400 to $675 by mid-summer-a 59% increase.
"As an immigrant myself who is the son and grandson of farm workers, I know first hand how hard it is for working families to come up with the money to complete the naturalization process," said Assemblyman Solorio.
Assemblyman Solorio encouraged participants to continue to take English classes in preparation for the interview exams and thanked volunteers for helping legal residents achieve their dream of U.S. citizenship.
Future citizenship fairs are being planned by Assemblyman Solorio in conjunction with Rancho Santiago Community College District, Hispano America Immigration Services, and local community-based organizations.
Additional information about the naturalization process, eligibility requirements, and service centers throughout Southern California can be obtained online at www.yaeshora.info. Information is also available at the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov or the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-767-1833.
Good Deeds And Accomplishments Should Not Go Unnoticed
Special thanks to Garden Grove Mayor Pro Tem Mark Rosen for his recent leadership in securing the Garden Grove City Council's support for AB 823 (Solorio). His thoughtful advocacy and the Council's unanimous vote of support helped encourage the County of Orange Board of Supervisors to develop a revenue sharing plan for the County to share Proposition 42 transportation funds with Orange County cities, which are experiencing a backlog in much needed arterial and residential road projects.
Congratulations to the outstanding educational professionals chosen as Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year for each of our school districts:
Anaheim Union High School District
- Teachers of the Year
- Michael Flinner - South Junior High
- Andra Schwartz - Dale Junior High
- Joanne Fawley - Cypress High
- Classified Employees of the Year
- Karen Jackson - Secretary, Katella High School
- Pat Rosales - Office Assistant, Walker Junior High School
- Stephen Schickler - Network Technician
- Caryn Kaiser - Secretary, Cypress High School
- Marc Guzman - District Locksmith
- Karen Jackson - Secretary, Katella High School
Anaheim City School District
- Teachers of the Year
- Julie Jones - Horace Mann Elementary
- Brendan Turney - Clara Barton Elementary
- Tracey Golden - Loara Elementary
- Classified Employees of the Year
- Anne Breen - Public Information
- Kerrie Crowder - Certificated Human Resources Technician
- Stella Lapena - Preschool Nurse
- Diane Owen - Buyery
- Joe Reed - Lead Warehouse Assistant
Santa Ana Unified School District
- Teachers of the Year
- Patricia Ellington - Lincoln Elementary
- Hector Chavez - Mendez Intermediate
- Laura Palen - Segerstrom High
- Classified Employee of the Year
- Helen Tross - District Curriculum Specialist, Pio Pico Elementary
Orange Unified School District
- Teachers of the Year
- Steven Sokoloff - Canyon Rim Elementary
- Valerie Gotts - Cerro Vista Middle
- Amelia Foreman - Orange High
- Classified Employees of the Year
- Sandy Goldband - School Office Manager, Lampson Elementary
- Ruddy Gory - Campus Security Officer, El Modena High
- Alicia Torrence - School Office Manager, Fairhaven Elementary
Tustin Unified School District
- Teachers of the Year
- Katy Sheyka - Lambert Elementary
- Eric Kilian - Hewes Middle
- Joan Kasper - Foothill High
- Classified Employee of the Year
- Amador Espinoza - Head Custodian, Hicks Canyon Elementary
Congratulations to the Anaheim Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney's Office for the success of their gang injunction against the Boys From the Hood (BFTH) gang in Anaheim's Ponderosa Park neighborhood. This civil injunction against about 90 members of BFTH prohibited them from assembling in the neighborhood, staying out past 10 P.M., drinking in public, and wearing gang attire. As a result, the area has seen significant reductions in crime as a result of the gang injunction - including a 50% drop in felony assaults, a 73% drop in stolen vehicle cases, and a 75% drop in reports of shots fired.
How to Help Your Children With Their Homework
Homework is an important part of a child's learning process. It is also a great way for parents to get involved and stay informed about what is being taught. Below are some tips for helping your child with homework.
Develop a Plan for Completing Homework: When your children get home from school, it is important to discuss their day and find out what homework they have been given. This allows you and your child to create a plan for getting the homework done. Some children would rather jump in and complete their homework right away. Others need a mental break and would prefer to begin their homework later that evening or in the week. Work with them to find a reasonable plan that prevents procrastination.
Provide a Healthy Snack or Dinner: It is also important to give your children a healthy snack or dinner before they begin their homework. Hunger can be a major distraction and children are usually looking for any excuse to put off doing their homework.
Good Work Environment: Next, you need to decide on the best work environment in which your children can do their homework. It could be at a desk in their room, at the kitchen table, or in an office. Any area is fine, as long as it has adequate light and is relatively free of distractions.
Provide Your Children With Assistance, But Don't Do Their Homework For Them: The amount of assistance you provide your children with on their homework depends on the child. If you are concerned about how much guidance to give them, consult their teachers to determine how much help they should be getting. In general, you should be available to answer questions but should not hang over their shoulders doing the work for them.
Mini-Biography of Assemblyman Jose Solorio
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Prior to joining the Assembly, Solorio served on the Santa Ana City Council and worked for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). Solorio has an inspirational personal story to tell. He is the son and grandson of farm workers and grew up working in the fields and orchards of the Central Valley. His parents are humble people who taught him simple lessons: "Study hard. Work hard. Treat everyone equally. Take care of your family." Assemblyman Solorio plans to stay true to those values as he writes laws and engages in the political debate in Sacramento.
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