SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) announced her final package of legislative proposals introduced in the State Assembly.  The six bills and one resolution focus on many issues Parra has championed during the past five years in the Legislature, including economic development, good government, and education.  Parra will be termed out of the State Assembly in November.  

“With the state facing a budget deficit, the challenge became to craft a package of ideas that would benefit the 30th Assembly District, and improve California without requiring additional state revenue,” said Assemblymember Parra.  “I have introduced a number of proposals that significantly improve economic opportunities, keep our kids in school, and generate public health benefits without costing the state money.”

The six bills and one resolution introduced by Assemblymember Parra are:

AB 2342 – California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.  The Partnership was originally created by Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order S-5-05 in 2005 to improve the economy and well-being of the people of the San Joaquin Valley.  The Partnership is a concerted effort to coordinate a creative response from leaders at all levels of government and the community to spur economic development in the Valley.  The Partnership was extended via Executive Order S–22-06.  There is currently no statutory authority for the Partnership, which is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2008.  This bill would establish the Partnership in state statute.

AB 2572 – Menu Labeling.  This bill would require a restaurant chain, with at least 20 restaurant locations in the state to disclose certain nutritional information for each standard food item, including: calories, amount of fat, saturated fat, and trans fat, amount of carbohydrates, and total amount of sodium.  This bill would ensure people can make informed dietary decisions when they eat out at restaurants.

AB 2061 – Compulsory Education.  This bill would provide that a parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a pupil who fails to comply with compulsory education provisions related to truancy, is guilty of an infraction punishable by certain fines.  This bill would ensure parents take responsibility for their children and their academic well being.

AB 2219 – Developers Water Credits.  Currently, whenever residential development is proposed, it must undergo a water usage study to determine if there is enough water to supply the future residents.  This bill would allow developers to use water-saving features in the development (such as low-flow toilets, water efficient washing machines, and other technologies or building practices) as credits towards their final water-use impact.

AB 2063 – Smog Checks.  This bill would require all vehicles currently registered in areas where smog checks are only required upon change of ownership to pass smog tests every two-years.  Our Valley residents already must have their vehicles inspected every two-years.  However, many other areas of the state only have vehicles smog-checked when a vehicle changes ownership.  This bill makes sure all Californians share in the responsibility of cleaning the air pollution in the state.

AB 2217 – Tax Check-off Funds.  This bill would clearly state that each of the 16 voluntary tax check-off funds would continue to pay out awards until all monies contributed are exhausted. Currently, these funds revert to the general fund after two years if the monies housed in the funds are not spent.  This bill would make sure that the money people donate to charities in good faith, as portions of their tax returns, are received by those worthy causes.

ACR 97 – Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and the town of Allensworth.  This resolution commemorates the centennial of the founding of the Town of Allensworth.  The story of Allensworth is inspiring, truly a story of the "American Dream," when a number of African-Americans, including Civil War heroes and ex-slaves, came to an isolated spot in the southern San Joaquin Valley to build a town where hard work, dedication, and faith would allow them the opportunity to control their own destiny in a discrimination-free environment. Allensworth is the site of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.

###