| 2007 Legislative Update for Jim Beall, Jr. |
2007 was a challenging and exciting year at the State Legislature. Amid all the talk of health-care reform, a great deal of other legislative business was also conducted. In 2007, both houses of the Legislature together introduced 2,803 pieces of legislation. Of these only 964 reached the Governor’s desk. Governor Schwarzenegger signed 750 and vetoed 214 of these bills.
This year, my legislative focus was providing help to those in need. From hungry children, to hard working Californians that cannot afford health care, to helping foster children - I introduced numerous bills to address these important issues. Naturally, the state’s fiscal challenges made resolving these concerns even more complicated.
The following is a synopsis of some of the legislative proposals I championed in 2007. Though I am pleased with what we have accomplished, there is still a great deal of work ahead and my dedicated staff and I look forward to meeting the challenges we face as Californians.
ENSURING QUALITY HEALTHCARE
AB 12 – Adult Health Coverage Expansion-Signed into law
Santa Clara
County
was the first to develop a Children’s Health Initiative in 2001 that expanded health coverage to poor children. This bill will allow
Santa Clara
County
to further expand this program to include hard working adults that lack health insurance and have great difficulty obtaining employer based coverage or purchasing a private plan. This bill would create the Adult Health Coverage Expansion Program in
Santa Clara
County
that would be administered by the county or local initiative. The program would provide health-care coverage to adult’s age 19-64 who are employed by small businesses and have a gross annual income less than 350% of the federal poverty level whose employer participates in the program.
AB 423 – Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity-Vetoed
This bill is intended to end the discrimination against patients with mental disorders and substance abuse issues. It requires a health care service plan and health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after
January 1, 2008
, that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage to also provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of a mental illness of a person of any age. This includes children in addition to substance abuse treatment.
PROTECTING KIDS
AB 346 – Labeling Requirements for Alcopops-Sending to Governor 2008
Many malt beverages are labeled in such a way that no reasonable person can tell that they contain alcohol. Parents, teachers, law enforcement officers, religious organizations, retailers, and many others have requested that labeling on these alcohol products, designed to appeal specifically to youth and marketed to youth, will clearly show that these beverages contain alcohol. This bill would require all malt beverages to bear a label or a firmly affixed sticker, stating “Attention: Contains Alcohol” as well as the alcohol content by volume.
AB 126 Pesticide Use Scrutinized-Signed into law
This bill protects Santa Clara County residents from misuse of pesticides used in termite fumigations, and assists in identifying violators who operate in multiple counties, including
Santa Clara
County
The Agricultural Commissioner of Santa Clara County has the resources to inspect 50-60 job sites per year. AB 126 will provide for the inspection of 150-200 job sites every year, ensuring that fumigations are conducted in a safe and legal manner.
HELPING NEEDY FAMILIES
AB 324 - Foster Care Rates-Funded in the Budget
This bill increases grant payments for foster family home providers and provides funding for the recruitment and retention of foster parents and adoptive parents. Specifically, the bill increases the foster family home provider grant by 5 percent.
AB 433 – Maximizing Federal Funds for Food Stamps-Sending to Governor 2008
This bill would simplify the process and avoid barriers to participation of low-income families and children in the federal food stamp program. Californians could receive almost $200 million in federal food stamp benefits, over $30 million dollars in additional federal funding for free school lunches and breakfasts, and several million dollars in increased federal child welfare service funds. In addition, the state could expect to receive additional state revenues due to increased sales tax. By providing these families with food stamps, 45 % of the money previously used by the family to purchase food would now be used for taxable goods. Based on this information, the state could expect to receive up to $5 million in additional revenue.
STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT
AB 227 Settles Decades Old Local Dispute between Courts and Counties-Signed into law
This bill would add a new section to the Government Code, which would codify mediated agreements and prevent any future disagreement or misunderstanding about the amounts owed. It is the final step in the disposition of fees and fines that have long been disputed between courts and counties.
AB 181 Allows Police to Access Funds for Finger Printing-Signed into law
This bill allows local law enforcement agencies to access much needed funds. These are penalty and forfeiture funds, worth about $3,000,000 to each county alone. It can be used for personnel costs, communications costs, maintenance costs, training/travel, supplies, and hardware costs.
IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSIT
AB 193 - Transportation Revenues-Signed into law
Provided $83 million to pay back the transportation funds the state raided in 2002.
AB 196 - Transportation Bond Funds for Cities and Counties-Signed into law
Made sure that the $950 million appropriated for local streets and roads is allocated. $400 million is allocated for counties and $550 million for cities.
AB 201 - Implementation of the Transportation Bonds-Signed into law
Provided funds for the replacement and retrofit of heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, commercial harbor craft, and ocean-going vessels with cleaner technology alternatives.
AB 1492 - Transit Bus Right of Way-Signed into law
Enhanced transit bus safety by allowing both
Santa Cruz
and
Santa Clara
to equip buses with a right-of-way yield sign.
SB 33 - Cell Phones in Vehicles-Signed into law
Enhances driver safety by prohibiting any person under the age of 18 from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone or other communication device. This bill takes effect
July 1, 2008
.
|
