September 2007

First Legislative Year Comes to a Close

Jared

On the Governor's Desk

Eight measures authored by Assembly Member Jared Huffman passed both houses of the Legislature and arrived on the Governor's desk marking the close of a productive legislative session for the Marin and Southern Sonoma County representative. These important legislative items include: climate change, public health, education, and public safety. Here is a brief overview and status report of Assembly Member Huffman's bills during the 2007 legislative session:

• AB 1109 - Energy Efficient Lighting
  One of the most important pieces of legislation this year, this bill directs the California Energy Commission to reduce California's consumption of electricity for lighting uses by 50% in 10 years. As part of this strategy, the Commission would phase out the purchase by state government of inefficient lighting sources. Also establishes mercury and lead reduction standards for lighting. Click here to read Californians Against Waste's Press Release: AB 1109 (Huffman)
  
  
• AB 1470 - Solar Thermal
  This breakthrough legislation 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. Click here to read Environment California's Press Release: CALIFORNIA TAKES ANOTHER GIANT STEP TOWARD BUILDING A MAINSTREAM SOLAR MARKET
  
  
• AB 28 - Breast Cancer Tax Check-Off Extension
  This important legislation extends the sunset date for the California Breast Cancer Research Fund tax check-off program that is set to expire next year.
  
  
• AB 1743 – San Quentin Condemned Inmate Complex
  This local legislation would direct the Bureau of State Audits (BSA) to prepare an analysis of alternatives for condemned inmate housing at San Quentin. This study will look at the cost-effectiveness of various options for housing death row inmates, while maintaining the lethal injection chamber at San Quentin, upholding current legal protections for condemned inmates, and ensuring the safety of the guards, inmates, and the public.
  
  
• AB 494 - High Performing School Flexibility
  This bill provides much needed flexibility to high performing school districts to utilize their funds to better serve their students, including their lowest performing students.
  
  
• AB 463 - Parking for Disabled Persons
  Allows handicap drivers of vehicles with side loading lifts or ramps to use two adjacent parking stalls in private parking lots when existing van accessible handicap parking spaces are occupied.
  
  
• AB 1406 - Recycled water - Condos
  This bill encourages water reuse by permitting the use of recycled water in condominiums, as it is currently used in apartment buildings.
  
  
• AB 1560 - Water Conservation - building standards
  Creates an important new standard of water conservation by requiring the Energy Commission to prescribe water preservation standards for new residential and non-residential buildings.

Please click on this link to receive further information on these and other bills of interest: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.

Special Session

Speaker Fabian Núñez has convened two special sessions to address health-care reform and water legislation. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a proclamation calling the special sessions the day before they were convened. The Republican governor and Democratic lawmakers remain at odds over how to pay for a health-care solution for the 6.7 million uninsured Californians.

The Governor wants the Legislature to approve everything but the funding for a health-care agreement and wants to ask voters next year to approve various funding sources to pay for the plan. To be approved in the Legislature alone, most fees would require support from Republican legislators, who have opposed any such new charges on businesses, hospitals or doctors.

Huffman Named to Select Working Group

In light of the special sessions, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez announced two "working groups" of legislators to tackle the special session topics of health care and water.

Huffman was chosen to the water "working group" because of his extensive background with the Marin Municipal Water District as well as NRDC. These chosen legislators will be working with the Speaker during the special session on crafting legislation on both issues.

The Assembly water working group: Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Assemblymembers John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Lois Wolk (D-Davis), Juan Arambula (D-Fresno), Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista), Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), and Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park).

The Assembly health-care reform working group: Majority Leader Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymembers Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate), Mervyn Dymally (D-Los Angeles), Patty Berg (D-Eureka), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Martinez), Ed Hernandez (D-Baldwin Park), and Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward).

"There Oughta be a Law… or Not" Contest

It's time again for the 6th Assembly District to get involved in the legislative process. Assemblymember Huffman is launching his second annual "There Oughta Be A Law…Or Not" contest this month. The contest invites citizens of the 6th Assembly District to submit ideas for new state legislation or to repeal laws. Each applicant is asked to fill out a questionnaire describing the law they believe "ought to be" or a repeal of a law that "ought not be." Applicants are encouraged to be as thorough as possible when explaining their bill ideas in order to understand the issue. The winners may have their bill ideas introduced as legislation, and could have the opportunity to testify at a hearing on their bill in the State Capitol. They will also have lunch with Assemblymember Huffman, and receive an honorary plaque.

The inception of the program comes with the hopes to educate the community on the legislative process, and to give citizens in the district a new avenue to have their voices heard.

Application forms for this year's contest may be downloaded at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a06/pdf/AD06LawContest.pdf. The public may also call Assemblymember Huffman's district office at (415) 479-4920 to request a form. The deadline for all entries is December 15, 2007.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Assemblymember Huffman is encouraging Californians to observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place September 15 through October 15, 2007. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize the innumerable contributions of Hispanic Americans in the areas of government, business, the arts, education, architecture, sports and more. It is a month to both celebrate and reflect on the many Hispanic achievements and the profound effect that Hispanic Americans have had on life in California and throughout the nation. Hispanic leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, Delores Huerta, Phil Soto, Cruz Reynoso and former Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna, have played important roles in California's political and social history.

Labor Day - Assembly Member Huffman helped serve breakfast at the annual Labor Day event in Santa Rosa. Hundreds of residents joined together to celebrate the leadership of the North Bay Labor Council, and to support more labor-oriented community action in the North Bay.

San Anselmo Celebrates 100 years - Assemblymember Huffman presented the Town of San Anselmo with a state resolution commending the town on its 100th anniversary. The resolution was co-signed by Senator Migden and reflected and honored the Town of San Anselmo and its long history.

Marin Services for Women - Assemblymember Huffman attended the Marin Services for Women 5th Annual Benefit Dinner. He was an honorary "co-host" for the event that honored the work of Susan Kennedy, Chief of Staff to Governor Schwarzenegger, along with best selling author Anne Lamott. The Marin Services for Women is the only provider of recovery services in Marin created exclusively for women and designed to meet the unique needs of chemically-dependent women and their families.

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 www.assembly.ca.gov/Huffman.

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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