Sacramento – Assemblymember Dave Jones (D - Sacramento) announced today that he received an overall 100% score in Facing Race: 2006 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity, an evaluation sponsored by the Applied Research Center.

The average Assembly score was 69% and the average Senate score was 65%.

“I am proud to contribute to the effort to end racial discrimination,” said Assemblymember Jones. “We must all work together to promote racial equality so that all Californians can have an equal opportunity to achieve the American dream."

Important bills promoting racial equity that were signed into law in 2006 will increase the minimum wage (AB 1835), strengthen enforcement of requirements to translate information schools give to parents and guardians (AB 680), improve the analysis and dissemination of data on the cultural backgrounds and primary languages of physicians (AB 2283), make California’s Naturalization Services Program permanent (AB 2060), encourage the President and Congress to reauthorize the federal Voting Rights Act (AJR 37), and create a consistent set of categories protected from housing discrimination (AB 2800).

In addition to receiving a 100% score on racial equity issues, Assemblymember Jones authored legislation to require interpreters in civil court actions or proceedings that involve parties with limited English proficiency (AB 2302). This legislation was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

For a full copy of the report card and description of the bills, visit http://www.arc.org/.