Welcome Message

Everywhere I go in our 69th Assembly District, I’m asked: “What does an Assemblyman do?”

Assemblyman Solorio presides over the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Once a legislative idea is put into legal form, it is analyzed by experts in policy committees and then acted upon by committee members. These committees are launching pads for bills, most of which go to the Appropriations Committee before reaching the house floor for a vote.

Historically, the Assembly Committee on Public Safety is the one of the most active policy committees in the Legislature. Last year, the Public Safety Committee carefully considered about 200 bills.  As Chair of that committee, it is my job to regularly call the committee together for bill presentation, to maintain order, to set expectations, and most importantly, to set the tone and general direction for the committee's discussions and decisions.

Fortunately, the Public Safety Committee has a diverse composition of legislators. This assures good debate and adds to the likelihood of wise decisions.

But it is before committee meetings where I think I also make a difference. I try to suggest ways to amend bills to address flaws or lack of clarity, and I try to encourage authors to reach out to opposing parties and rethink legislation that may be on its way to defeat.

It is my goal during my tenure as Chair of the Public Safety Committee to advance solid, statewide public safety solutions to our local problems and skillfully navigate them to the governor’s desk.

I am committed to making all of California a safer place, and I assure you, our Orange County will benefit too.

Sincerely,

Jose Solorio
State Assemblyman

Upcoming Events

Orange County Workers March and Rally
May 15, 4:00 p.m.
Plaza of the Flags, Civic Center, Santa Ana
For more information, click here.

News Room

Assemblyman Solorio's 2008 Legislation Breezes Through Committees
“When a bill makes sense, you can find consensus and votes," says Assemblyman Solorio. "So far, the bills I authored this year are being interpreted as sound policy by Democrats and Republicans. I appreciate their support, and am grateful to all the concerned citizens who come to Sacramento to testify on behalf of my bills." More

Anti-Gang Czar Speaks at Assemblyman Solorio’s Public Safety Event
"Orange County and the rest of the state are facing serious challenges from violent gang offenders," Solorio said. "I'm just proud that I'm playing a small role in the solution." More

Orange County Recommended to Receive $100 Million for Jail and
Re-Entry Project
"Our city streets will be safer as a result of this new jail construction and re-entry project, says Assemblyman Solorio. This milestone in the funding process is good news to all of Orange County residents concerned about public safety." More

Assemblyman Solorio Named Legislator of The Year by Crime Victims United of California
"I am honored to share this day and your cause with you," Assemblyman Solorio told the gathered friends and family members of Crime Victims United of California. "And my recognition here proves that Democrats care about crime victims too." More

Bills On The Move

Despite the hectic schedules and hurdles of the California Assembly's legislative calendar, Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) has launched a successful legislative drive. All of his priority bills from his 2008 legislative package passed out of their respective policy committees.

At this juncture in the 2008 legislative session, the 10 most significant Solorio-authored bills heard in policy committees and moving on to the Appropriations Committee or a vote on the Assembly floor are highlighted below.

Education Bills:

AB 2391 - Teacher Professional Development. This bill would help teachers acquire data analysis skills as a means to increase pupil academic achievement.

AB 2708 - School Advertisements. This bill would ban food and beverage advertising on school grounds to address childhood obesity and diabetes.

AB 2974 - Textbooks for English Learners. This bill would establish an English Learner Literacy and Accelerated English Language Acquisition Pilot Program.

Public Safety Bills

AB 1975 - Missing Persons DNA Data Base. This bill would remove the termination date of death certificate fees used to fund the Missing Persons DNA Data Base.
AB 2553 - Domestic Violence. This bill specifies that when a judge declines a request for a restraining order, the judge is required to include a reason for the denial.

AB 2816 - Graffiti. This bill would clarify that if the intent to commit vandalism is clear, the size of the marker used to create graffiti does not matter.

AB 2937 - The Arthur Carmona Justice for the Wrongfully Convicted Act. This bill would require that wrongfully convicted persons receive similar assistance given to ex-offenders and parolees.

Other Bills

AB 2339 - Honda Center. This legislation would allow for publicly-owned sport centers, including the Honda Center, the flexibility to expand the eligible items to be advertised on their electronic marquee.

AB 2589 - Sunshine on Commissions. This bill would require healthcare insurance providers and healthcare plans to annually disclose to their public-entity clients the commissions paid in respect to that contract.

AB 2753 - Social Workers. This bill would establish professional standards for the social worker classification in state civil service.

Good Deeds And Accomplishments Should Not Go Unnoticed

Congratulations to Santa Ana’s John Muir Fundamental School and Santiago Elementary. The schools were selected as a 2008 Distinguished School by the California Department of Education. The selection criteria was stringent and included an extensive onsite evaluation.

Congratulations to KinderCaminata for another successful season of educational outreach to kindergarten-age children and their families. This Orange County nonprofit community organization was developed to give children, many of them from immigrant, low-income families, an introduction to the "college dream." KinderCaminata helps them to see the benefits of school through an interactive tour on college campuses that includes exposure to professional careers.

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in the Grand Reopening / Open House celebration of the Independencia Family Resource Center. The improvements will enable this vital community asset to offer even more programs to Anaheim citizens in need.

Congratulations and a job well done to those who gathered to make Jerome Park an even greater place to play. With the help of KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that rallies business and community interests for a select number of community playspace builds each year, Jerome Park is now a more fun and safer place for our children to play.  Additions at Jerome Park include a new playground area, a community garden, new tables and a mural.

Congratulations to Rancho Santiago Community College District trustee Alfredo Amezcua for being selected a “Man of Character” by the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The council chose Amezcua because of his remarkable contributions to the Orange County community and because he demonstrates the very values that Scouting strives to develop in young men. 

Photo Album

Assemblyman Solorio hosted more than 100 community leaders, public safety officers, concerned residents and Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus at a public safety symposium. Paul Seave, the Governor's first appointed state director of Gang and Youth Violence Policy, spoke at the event. The Assemblyman is shown here with Director Seave analyzing high intensity gang zones on a local map.	The Vietnamese Community of Southern California and the Vietnamese Culture House partnered to co-host the display of the 36-foot Vietnamese Freedom Boat used by refugees to flee from Vietnam in 1981. The Freedom Boat is a symbolic remembrance of the enormous exodus of more than 2 million Vietnamese refugees seeking freedom after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and continuing  through 1998.
The 18th annual Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Awards Dinner was a fantastic success again this year due to the generosity of local businesses. Assemblyman Solorio had the envious job of handing out thousands of dollars of scholarship checks to the large group of this year’s outstanding high school seniors.	Assemblyman Solorio was named a Crime Victims United of California, Legislator of The Year for his diligent advocacy of public safety. He accepted the honor at a ceremony on the Capitol steps.
An event dear to Assemblyman Solorio’s heart, the 8th Annual Santa Ana Cesar Chavez Celebration, a day to pay tribute to the man who organized farm workers behind the cry, "Sí, Se Puede," or "Yes, We Can," was another great success. The event started with a rally at Cesar Chavez High School, a march to Delhi Park for a community fair, family activities and speeches – including a keynote address by Chavez's granddaughter, Christine Chavez.	About 150 community leaders and constituents attended Assemblyman’s Solorio’s 2nd Annual District Office Open House, giving the community an opportunity to meet the Assemblyman and staff, and discuss legislative issues.  More Photos
Assemblyman Solorio greeted Orange County auto dealers George Heidler, Woody Oklejas and Al Parajeckas. The three were in Sacramento to advocate for their business association.	The Orange County Food Bank hosted a program for its volunteers in honor of the great labor leader Cesar E. Chavez. The event reminded everyone that the state holiday celebrating Chavez’s work is intended to be a day of service.  Assemblyman Solorio spoke about the impact Chavez had on his life and how he was inspired to enter public service.
Assemblyman Solorio, St. Joseph Hospital employees and SEIU-UHW labor leaders marched to the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Motherhouse to deliver a letter urging the nuns to accept the workers’ desire to organize a union at their hospitals.	Assemblyman Solorio presented a lunch-time presentation on pending legislation to California School Employee members. The Assemblyman’s sons watched Dad answer questions.
The South Santa Ana Merchants Association held its annual gala dinner to honor businesses and organizations that have greatly benefited the Santa Ana community. Pictured here are Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez; State Senator Lou Correa; Coast Community College District representative; Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen; and Assemblyman Jose Solorio. The college received the Education Award.	An outdoor health resource fair, Feria de la Salud, was hosted in Santa Ana by the American Diabetes Association to promote health and diabetes awareness in the Latino population. Assemblyman Solorio field representative Mayela Montenegro provided information.
Assemblyman Solorio addressed the National Association of Social Workers Annual Picnic after receiving its Honorary Social Worker Award for his outstanding work in the legislature. The Assemblyman discussed AB 2753, his bill that would bill protect the social worker title classification. (See Bills on the Move).	Orange County State Farm Insurance representatives Maggie Rodriguez and Robert Villegas met with Assemblyman Solorio during a visit to the Capitol recently to discuss pending legislation affecting their industry.

About Assemblyman Solorio

Jose Solorio, the humble son of migrant farm workers, is the California State Assembly's representative from Central Orange County, including the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. His election in November 2006 is the culmination of a lifetime of overcoming odds and striving to achieve.

Only one year into his first legislative session as a California elected official, Assemblyman Solorio has provided leadership on pressing matters in his district; improving schools, creating jobs, preventing gang violence and enhancing transportation infrastructure.
Appointed by his peers in the Assembly to serve as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety, Assemblyman Solorio authored legislation that created a $7.8 million prison reform overhaul and co-authored a bill that established the state’s first anti-gang czar office.

As a member of the Assembly’s Education Committee, Assemblyman Solorio has fought for budget funding for important state programs that provide English skills for children and adults, and authored legislation addressing the sky-rocketing price of text books; requiring more transparency by publishers.  

Solorio’s passionate efforts to increase opportunities for all Californians spring forth from an inspiring personal story.  Solorio was determined to improve his family's standard of living and viewed education as the key to his future. He is an alumnus of the University of California at Irvine, where he served as student body president, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 
Solorio left a successful career in the private sector to dedicate himself to public service. He was elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 2000, and re-elected in 2004.  While on the council, his colleagues appointed him to serve as a board member for the Orange County Water District. 

Solorio is interested in using his experience in education, government, and business to help all Californians realize their hopes and dreams.  Often asked why he dedicates so much time and effort in the community, Solorio recites one of Cesar Chavez's famous quotes: "The end of all education should surely be service to others."

Assemblyman Solorio, his wife Linn, and their two sons reside in Santa Ana. 

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