Majority Leader Torrico To Lead Assembly Select Committee On Prison Reform

Sacramento – Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) will chair the new Assembly Select Committee on Prison and Rehabilitation Reform to tackle criminal justice issues and California’s failing prison system.  The Select Committee on Prison and Rehabilitation Reform will analyze the system’s problems and focus on finding real solutions to break the cycle of crime and recidivism. Read more...

Assembly Majority Leader Torrico Helps Launch “Operation Christmas”

(Sacramento) – Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico and other legislators will partner again this year with Yellow Ribbon America for the 6th annual toy drive, Operation Christmas for Our Troops and Their Families. “Operation Christmas” is part of a nationwide, non-partisan effort to show support for deployed as well as at-home military members and their families. According to the Pentagon, this is the largest holiday effort on behalf of the nation’s men and women in uniform. Learn more in this Assembly Access video.

Assembly Majority Leader Torrico to chair hearing on mortgage reform and its impact on communities of color

(Van Nuys) – Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), the chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Safety and Protection of At-Risk Communities in California, will hold a committee hearing on “Mortgage Reform: Progress or Unfulfilled Promises – The Impact on Communities of Color.”  The hearing will focus on issues such as the loan modification process, how many are offered, the impact of foreclosures on minority communities and what can be done to keep people in their homes. Read more

Assembly Majority Leader Torrico: Teachers, Union Organizers Unsafe in Colombia

(Sacramento) – During a state capitol news conference Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) shed light on a growing threat to teachers and union organizers in Colombia. Thirty-one assassinations that have taken place in Colombia in the past year. Assemblymember Torrico says, “About 30% of those assassinated in Colombia in the last year have been teachers and this has got to come to an end.” The Assembly Majority Leader was joined at the news conference by José Diógenes Orjuela Garciá, of the Center for United Workers of Colombia; Bill Camp, executive secretary, Sacramento Central Labor Council ;  Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers; and Dean Murakami, President of the Los Rios Federation of Teachers. Assemblymember Torrico has introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 27, which calls on the federal government to not ratify a free trade agreement with Colombia until teachers and union organizers are no longer targets.  More on this Assembly Access Video. 

Higher Education wins under Torrico's Bill

Students and faculty around the state are standing up and speaking out against the budget cuts and rapidly rising student fee increases threatening California’s higher education system.  Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, supported by faculty and students across the state, introduced AB 656 earlier this year to re-commit California to invest in higher education.  The bill would raise $1 billion for our community colleges and public universities.  It was approved by the Assembly Higher Education Committee in July.

Now Majority Leader Torrico is issuing a Call to Action to gather 100,000 supporters for AB 656 in 100 days.  Make your voice heard.  Mr. Torrico will be leading solidarity rallies and programs at several university campuses in October in support of AB 656.  Come out and show your support for higher education.

To learn more and to view the schedule of campuses, please click here to go to the Call to Action higher education webpage.

To demonstrate your support of AB 656 to better fund our community colleges and universities click here.

Click on the video above to view Majority Leader Torrico speaking before California State University students in April during a rally at the state Capitol.

Assembly Majority Leader Torrico Responds To Case Of Sutter County Abandoned Baby

SACRAMENTO – The following is a statement issued by California State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) on the discovery of the body of an abandoned baby girl found last night on the east bank of the Sacramento River in Sutter County.  The baby’s umbilical cord was still attached.

“The discovery of this baby’s body is another tragic example of how California must do more to build awareness of its Safe Surrender law to protect newborns and prevent more unnecessary tragedies from occurring. Read more...

Assembly Passes Critical Corrections Reform Package with Support from Majority Leader

Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico was instrumental in the passage of a smart prison reform package that was approved this afternoon by the California State Assembly on a vote of 41-35 with 3 abstentions.  Torrico’s leadership was crucial in building a majority for a common-sense package that will improve public safety, reduce prison costs by hundreds of millions of dollars, strengthen parole supervision over the most dangerous parolees and cut our high rate of recidivism.  The package is a giant step forward in reforming our troubled prison system and meeting federal court demands.  Find out more in this Assembly Access video. 

Click here for audio of Assemblymember Torrico’s speech on the floor of the State Assembly (4:49)

Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico on resolution to protect autoworker jobs

(Sacramento) – Assembly Concurrent Resolution 85 from Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), which calls on the State Legislature to encourage California to do everything in its power to keep the NUMMI plant open, passed the Assembly without a dissenting vote. NUMMI is the pioneering joint venture of General Motors and Toyota.  GM announced June 29 that it was pulling out of the joint venture. The passage of the resolution sends a strong message that California is preparing to deliver economic incentives to save jobs at the plant. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Assembly Majority Leader Torrico: No more sequels, Arnold

Californians want compromise and action, but the Governor and Senate Republicans continue to provide only grandstanding and rhetoric.  The state Assembly approved a bipartisan plan to eliminate the need for IOUs.  But the Governor lobbied the Senate Republicans to kill it.  Now, thousands of Californians will begin receiving Schwarzenegger’s IOUs.  This cash crisis could have been avoided if the Governor provided real leadership rather than endless posturing.  Hear more from Majority Leader Torrico (D-Fremont) in this Assembly Access video.

Assemblymember Torrico: Governor’s Budget Is Inhumane and Immoral

Last week, Assembly Democrats and Republicans put aside their differences and in bipartisan fashion overwhelmingly approved a series of bills to eliminate the need to issue IOUs to small business owners, Cal Grant recipients, the aged, blind and disabled and thousands of other Californians.  Unfortunately, the Governor and Senate Republicans quickly rejected the solution without offering anything in return.  As the Assembly passed a comprehensive budget package on June 28 to eliminate our deficit, Majority Leader Alberto Torrico blasts the Governor for proposing an “immoral” budget that would eliminate core state services and cost Californians billions of dollars in lost federal funding.

The Impact of the Governor's May Revise Proposals on the Receipt of Federal Dollars:

Proposal: Elimination of Healthy Families
Impact: $370 million General Fund savings, BUT $685 million loss in federal funds

Proposal: Elimination of CalWorks
Impact: $2.4 billion General Fund Savings, BUT $3.9 billion loss in federal funds

Proposal: Elimination of IHSS Services for nearly 90% of its current recipients
Impact: $801 million General Fund savings, BUT $1.6 billion loss in federal funds

Assembly Passes Yellow Ribbon Week Resolution Honoring Our Troops

(Sacramento) – The California Assembly and the organization “Yellow Ribbon America” held a press conference to honor companies and individuals who have shown outstanding support for military service personnel and their families.  The honorees are nominated by members of the four branches of the military for their extraordinary commitment to helping make life easier for military personnel and their families.   Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) says he’s proud of the dedication of our armed services and those who volunteer and sacrifice to help them.  Here’s more in this Assembly Access video. 

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Governor's Revised Budget Plan Doesn't Reflect California Values

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Read California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico's Letter on the Budget

(Sacramento) – California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) believes Governor Schwarzenegger’s revised budget plan, which he unveiled during a speech to a rare joint session of the legislature, should be rejected. Assemblymember Torrico says the slash and cut spending plan does not reflect the true values of Californians. Torrico says the legislature needs to find a better way to balance the state’s books than by throwing a million kids out of the health care system while releasing thousands of inmates from the prisons system, as the Governor has proposed. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Baby Safe Surrender Bill - AB 1048
In the wake of the death of another abandoned newborn in the 20th district, Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico joined police, fire officials, and the medical community to highlight legislation, raising public awareness and improving the state’s Safe Surrender law.

Support Baby Safe surrender bills AB 1048 & AB 1049

Submit On-line Petition

Assembly Passes Torrico Safe Surrender Bill To Raise Funds For Public Outreach

Majority Leader Torrico, Police, Fire Chiefs Seek Funds To Raise Awareness Of Safe Surrender Option

Majority Leader Torrico press conference focuses on “Communities in the Classroom Act” 
Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico is joined by law enforcement, educators, local elected officials and former National Football League stars during a press conference at James Lick High School in San Jose for Assembly Bill 1508, the “Communities in the Classroom Act.” 

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Thank you for visiting my website.  It is an honor to represent the 20th Assembly District.  The district covers Fremont, Newark, Union City, Milpitas, and parts of San Jose, Pleasanton, Castro Valley and Hayward.  I serve as the Assembly Majority Leader and as a member of several important committees, including Governmental Organization, Utilities and Commerce, and Public Employees, Retirement & Social Security.  I am also chair of the Select Committee on Safety and Protection of At-Risk Communities in California.

Please use this site to stay informed on many critical issues.  Simply click on one of the many links to learn more about what is happening at your Capitol and in your community.

I welcome your input on how we can improve the quality of life in California and the Bay Area.  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact my office by email or at 510-440-9030.

Sincerely,

Alberto O. Torrico
Assembly Majority Leader