March 2007

February was an extremely busy month for me and my staff -- packed with legislative deadlines, meetings, press conferences, events, speeches and presentations. I appreciated the opportunity to say hello to many of you. Nothing means more to me than to see you when I’m out and about throughout the district, or when you find yourself in the Capitol.

One of the most exciting things that happened this last month was the introduction of my very first package of bills. A tremendous amount of blood, sweat and tears went into the development and refinement of this legislative package, but it’s something that my staff and I are very proud of. These bills reflect priorities and values that this district is passionate about. I’m also pleased that for several of my bills, I’m working collaboratively with Republican members, either as joint authors or co-authors. I’m honored to carry such a well rounded legislative portfolio and will be giving you a brief description of each bill in this update. Thank you again for all of your support!


Jared

2007 Legislation

AB 28 - Breast Cancer Tax Check-Off Extension
Extends the sunset date for the California Breast Cancer Research Fund tax check-off program which is set to expire next year.

AB 90 - Trans Fat Ban in Schools
Prohibits the use of trans fat in food served on K-12 campuses, effective January 1, 2009.

AB 371 - Nurse Lift Team Funding
Requires every general acute care hospital that applies for financing from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) for the issuance of tax exempt bonds, to provide the authority with a copy of the hospital’s injury and prevention program which shall specify how the hospital plans to implement a specified zero lift component.

AB 463 - Clean Ferries
Improves air quality in marine areas through the application of health protective marine engine emissions standards for all ferries put into service in California beginning January 1, 2008. This bill closes a loophole in state law which currently applies stricter standards only to ferries operated by the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA).

AB 494 - High Performing School Flexibility (principal co-author, Republican Martin Garrick)
Provides flexibility to high performing school districts to utilize their funds to better serve their students, including their lowest performing students.

AB 541 - The Food and Farm Protection Act
Protects farmers and landowners by establishing their right to compensation for economic losses suffered due to genetic contamination of their crops, and it puts a GE crop notification process in place. Protects the food supply by prohibiting the open-air cultivation of food crops genetically engineered to produce pharmaceutical drugs.

AB 705 - Carbon Sequestration (principal co-author, Republican Sam Blakeslee)
Requires the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources, the Cal EPA, and the Resources Agency to prescribe regulations for geologic carbon sequestration projects to provide regulatory guidance for those performing carbon sequestration projects and to minimize the health and safety risks to the public.

AB 1083 - Clean Fuel Infrastructure Incentives
Establishes a tax credit incentive for lower carbon motor vehicle and diesel fuels. The incentive employs the greenhouse gas lifecycle fuel ratings that will be developed by CARB for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

AB 1109 - Energy Efficient Lighting
Directs the CEC to reduce California’s consumption of electricity for lighting uses by 50% in 10 years. As part of this strategy, would phase out the purchase by state government of inefficient lighting sources. Establishes mercury and lead reduction standards for lighting. Expands recycling opportunities and incentives for all hazardous lighting devices.

AB 1155 - Penalties for HMO Violations
Requires the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), after notice and opportunity for a hearing, to assess administrative penalties if the director determines that the health care service plan committed an act or omission constituting grounds for disciplinary action.

AB 1190 – California Clean Fuel Incentive (joint authoring with Republican Shirley Horton)
Encourages the distribution and sales of alternative fuels that have significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than today’s gasoline and diesel fuels. The incentive reduces the sales tax on cleaner fuels - making them more affordable for the consumer and more profitable for the distributor of those fuels.

AB 1338 - Coastal Protection Act of 2007
Requires local governments in the coastal zone seeking to certify or amend a local coastal plan (LCP) to include a nonpoint source pollution prevention element in the LCP.

AB 1390 - Emergency Room Physicians
Requires the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) to disclose the number of provider complaints along with the results of those complaints against health care service plans on the Department’s website. This information would be updated quarterly.

AB 1406 - Recycled water - condos
Permits the use of recycled water in condominiums, as it is currently used in apartment buildings. This will not only increase the construction of dual-plumbed condominium complexes, but also increase the use of recycled water in apartment complexes.

AB 1457 - State Park Protection
Preserves the integrity of California’s state park system by creating a consistent policy that protects state parks from damaging road development projects.

AB 1470 - Solar Thermal (principal co-author, Republican Cameron Smyth)
Creates a ten-year statewide incentive program to drive half a million California consumers toward solar heating technologies that directly displace the use of natural gas for water and space heating in homes and businesses.

AB 1489 - Water Bond Implementation - Huffman/Wolk
Implements provisions of the water portions of Propositions 1E and 84 such as ground-water programs, storm-water programs, San Joaquin River restoration, and coordination with other bonds.

AB 1535 - E-Waste Recycling - CPU
Expands the Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling (e-waste) Program to include the central processing units (CPUs) of personal computers, and imposes a $6 surcharge on the retail purchase of each CPU. Revenue would be used to finance the collection of discarded computers through a network of ‘free and convenient’ recycling locations and programs.

AB 1560 - Water Conservation - building standards
Requires the Energy Commission to prescribe water conservation standards for new residential and non-residential buildings.

AB 1654 - Vote by mail - (Oughta Be a Law Winner)
Authorizes the governing body of any district, city, or county to conduct any election by mail if the governing body of that district, city, or county authorizes the mailed-ballot election by resolution. Requires that the mailed-ballot elections be conducted in accordance with existing voting provisions that govern absentee voting.

TBD - Bond Threshold - 2/3 to Majority
Authorizes counties, cities, and local districts to place before voters a constitutional amendment that would authorize a locality, with two-thirds voter approval, to lower the threshold by which future local special taxes must be passed from two-thirds to 55%. .

News

Success in Fight For Highway Funds

Huffman's refusal to give up after the California Transportation Commission (CTC) originally denied bond money for projects, paid off when the final revision included these funds. The CTC funded $82 million for the Main-Sonoma Narrows project and $20 million for the 580/101 North auxiliary lane project. This comes after numerous letters and calls that the Assemblymember made to the Commission over the last month.

"I'm very excited the CTC reconsidered their original funding priorities; this is a big win for the people of my district," said Huffman. "These projects are long overdue, and the Commission realized that these highways need immediate attention."

“There Oughta be a Law… or Not” Contest

Huffman announced his first annual “There Oughta Be a Law…or Not” contest winner. Steve Silberstein of Belvedere, was one of nearly 50 participants who submitted entries in the district-wide contest. His idea has now been introduced as AB 1654, and he has been invited to testify at a committee hearing in the State Capitol when the bill is heard. AB 1654 would allow the governing body of a district, city, or county to conduct any election by mail.

The contest invited residents of the 6th Assembly District to submit ideas for new state legislation or to repeal laws. Each applicant was asked to fill out a questionnaire describing the law they believe "ought to be" or a repeal of a law that "ought not be".

Around the Capitol

Principal For a Day - Huffman served as principal for a day at San Rafael High School earlier this month. He was given a tour by Principal Judy Colton were he learned the ins and outs of running a school and getting to know the leaders of tomorrow. His activities included a campus tour, visiting students in class, a meeting with teachers and staff, and he enjoyed a wonderful serenade from the jazz choir.

Sustainable 06 Award - Huffman announced his first ever winner for the Sustainable 06 award. This award recognizes businesses that incorporate sustainable practices in the way they operate. Huffman awarded Sonoma County’s own Benziger Winery with the inaugural award for their work in incorporating the highest form of organic and biodynamic farming and viticulture practices into their operations. Benziger’s use of wetlands-based water recycling programs, solar powered pumps, insulated fermentation tanks, solar lighting, biodiesel for tractors and aggressive recycling program is a model of sustainable business practices for the district.

Teens for Safe Cosmetics - Huffman participated in a panel discussion with the Teens for Safe Cosmetics in Ross. He applauded their lobbying efforts for last year’s SB 484, and encouraged them to continue their advocacy for not only teen issues but overall health concerns.

Ross Valley Watershed Program - Huffman was on hand for the town of Ross’ Valley Watershed Program meeting. The informational meeting was hosted by Supervisor Hal Brown and reported a study showing a bottleneck in Corte Madera Creek, topping a list of seven prime culprits that cause flooding in the Ross Valley. The information will be used to decide how to spend taxpayer money if voters approve a new storm drainage user fee on a proposed April ballot.

Sonoma City Council Luncheon - Huffman attended the annual luncheon gala to present 2007 Alcalade, Mrs. Phyllis Carter, with an Assembly resolution and warm congratulations. Mrs. Carter, volunteer extraordinaire, former planning commissioner, former City Councilmember, three time mayor, hospital board member, wife and mother will serve for one year as the City of Sonoma’s Honorary Mayor.

Marin County Special District Association – The Assemblymember spoke to the Marin County Special District Association at the Seafood Peddler in San Rafael. He discussed his legislative package as well as various water issues that the group was passionate about.

Sonoma County Crab Feed - Huffman attended the annual Sonoma County Crab Feed this month with a number of elected officials and supporters from throughout the county. The sold out crowd saw the Assemblymember present the Democrat of the Year award to Nick Caston.

Sonoma County Wine Tour - Huffman toured the Beautiful Sonoma Valley wine country and was given the “state of the vineyards” by wine legends Angelo Sangiacomo and Charles Cooke. He also toured Enterprise Vineyards who practices solely organic growing. He capped off the day by meeting with Ravenswood Winery owner and vintner extraordinaire Joel Peterson.

Programs / Projects

Use the District Office as Your Resource

Remember if you are having any state issues that we can be helpful with please contact our office. The District Office is here for you and wants to be used as a resource. Please call the District Office numbers below to request assistance.

How to reach me:

Please feel free to visit my website at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a06.

Assemblymember Huffman’s Committees:

Chair, Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
Member, Assembly Appropriations Committee
Member, Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
Member, Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee

If you know of anyone who you think would like to receive these newsletters, please e-mail their name, mailing address and e-mail address, and I’ll be happy to add them to my list.

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