SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Nicole M. Parra (D-Hanford) issued the following statement after the Senate and Assembly voted on, and passed, a state budget:

“The bi-partisan budget passed by the Assembly and Senate today reflects many priorities shared by me, and my constituents, throughout the 30th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Parra.  “The budget signals a renewed focus on Gang suppression in our Central Valley communities.  Nearly $10 million has been set aside for local assistance grants for gang prevention activities.  Millions more have been allocated to gang violence suppression programs and the necessary law enforcement to reduce gang violence and other gang-related crime across California.  One such program will include the formation of a statewide anti-gang coordinator to centralize state efforts to reduce the effects of gangs in California.”

“The budget provides $27.7 million to help ensure that the trial courts are fully staffed and that all judgeships are filled across California, including vacant seats in the Central Valley.  And it provides $62.4 million to meet statutory requirement requiring the oversight of high risk sex offenders,” said Parra.  “Further, this budget protects the Williamson Act to retain local farmland.  This will help California to remain an agricultural leader while ensuring that local farmers can continue business while rural counties remain adequately funded.”

In addition to the above-mentioned items, Assemblywoman Parra directed her efforts at a number of key Central Valley priorities in this year’s $103 billion budget, including:

• A $3.4 billion dollar reserve, 62% larger than the Governor's proposed May Revision
• Repays $2.5 billion in bond obligations, $1 billion more than required
• Preserves the Williamson Act
• Rejects cuts to CalWORKS
• Fully funds K-12 education
• Over $500 million for local law enforcement programs (none of which are state programs)

The budget next heads to Governor Schwarzenegger, who has two weeks to enact it.

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