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Assemblymember Capitol Office: District Office: |
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The Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy will hold a hearing July 26, 2006, in Fresno to examine the state's role in promoting microenterprise development. Microenterprises are businesses with five or fewer employees, which account for 88% of all businesses in California. As chair of the committee, I have called the hearing to focus on how state agencies should work together to serve microentrepreneurs, the role of regional collaboration, case studies of successful entrepreneurs, and the particular needs of microenterprise programs in rural areas.
The hearing is being held in partnership with the California Association for Microenterprise Opportunity (CAMEO), a statewide association dedicated to furthering microenterprise development in California. The hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the chambers of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. For more information about the hearing, such as directions and an agenda, visit my website or call the Jobs Committee office at (916) 319-2090.
We passed the state’s 2006-2007 budget on June 27, 2006, the first time a budget has been passed on time since 2000. Like all budgets, it represents a compromise, and has something for everyone to like and dislike. Overall, however, it is a prudent and responsible budget.
Our budget prepays about $2.8 billion in debt. It contains a year-end reserve of $2 billion. It also makes a number of investments that all Californians will benefit from for many years to come. In this budget K-12 schools are fully funded, tuition for higher education has been lowered, foster children will get the resources they need, and additional debt will be paid down.
The budget addresses certain Valley needs in particular:
- $5 million will serve as critical seed money for the strategic action proposal put forward by the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. An improved San Joaquin Valley economy will generate more jobs and reduce the number of people on state assistance.
- $29.5 million will fund the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Teams (CAL/MMET) program in the war on meth. The Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs received $10 million to establish a methamphetamine prevention program, including a public education and awareness program, grants to local entities, state technical assistance and training, and establishment of a statewide task force.
- $9 million in grants will help local mosquito control agencies prevent and respond to West Nile Virus outbreaks. This is important for the Valley because the first case of West Nile was diagnosed just last week in Kern County.
- $1 million will allow the Department of Health Services to mitigate the effects of Valley Fever, including research and development activities for a vaccine.
- We approved up to 50 new trial court judgeships, which means 4 new judges for Fresno County and at least one more judge for Tulare County.
- We allocated $50 million for the complete renovation of the old federal courthouse in Fresno for use by Fresno County Courts.
- $10 million will fund San Joaquin River restoration in anticipation of a settlement in a long-running lawsuit brought by environmental and fishing groups.
- We approved $13 million for the High Speed Rail Authority for the purpose of:
- Completing the environmental reports for the Northern Crossing, connecting the Central Valley with the Bay Area.
- Developing and submitting a financing plan.
- Doing environmental work, right-of-way acquisition, and other work to preserve corridors for high speed rail and other rail services.
- Completing the environmental reports for the Northern Crossing, connecting the Central Valley with the Bay Area.
On a statewide level, this budget also:
- Restores $19.3 million to Academic Preparation Programs at the University of California and California State University. These programs are designed to help first generation college students and low-income students prepare for higher education.
- Fully funds the Senior Homeowners’ and Renters’ Tax Assistance program (see article below), in the amount of $182.1 million.
- Commits $10 million on an ongoing basis to support remediation programs for high school students who fail the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). Students who have not passed the CAHSEE in their last year of high school will be able to receive tutoring and take the test two more times. This year’s budget approved one-time funds to purchase individual instructional materials for students.
- Spends $100 million to improve employment services and backfill for the loss of federal funds in CalWORKs. This money is to improve outcomes for people in CalWORKs in order to avoid federal sanctions under the new federal welfare reform in law.
- Provides the full $1.4 billion for transportation from Proposition 42, and prepays another $1.4 billion in Prop. 42-related loans.
- Prepays about $2.8 billion in budgetary debt incurred from prior years, including payments related to local costs incurred to meet state mandates and special loan funds.
- Provides $8 billion in new funds for K-12 schools and community colleges, including a Prop. 98 on-going funding increase of $5.2 billion. Additional one-time funds of $2.8 billion are provided, to settle-up prior year accounts. A significant portion of these funds are discretionary block grants to local school districts and for art, music and P.E. On a per-pupil basis revenues increase by over 10% from the prior year.
- Increases funding for higher education, eliminates proposed fee increases for UC and CSU students, and reduces fees significantly for community college students.
- Helps additional eligible children receive health insurance, reverses the reduction in payments to doctors and hospitals, and improves services to abused children, foster youth, and the disabled.
- Restores payment of $35 million to cities for county jail booking fees.
- Expands opportunities for RN nurse training programs at all levels.
- Increases trauma care funding for hospitals.
- Adds funding for public safety and juvenile crime prevention programs, for a total of $238 million, and adds support for victims of violent crimes, gang suppression efforts, and elder abuse.
- Funds citizenship training and farm worker transportation programs.
- Increases financial support for County Veteran’s Services Offices, career/technical education, and after-school programs.
- Supports small- and medium-sized businesses.
These are just a few of the specific items contained in this year’s budget. Overall, while not perfect, this year’s budget provides for a reasonable reserve, prepays a significant amount of debt, and provides for modest investments in our most important asset, the people of California.
For access to a full summary of the state budget, visit www.ebudget.ca.gov. Additional analysis is available at www.lao.ca.gov.
July 14 — I’ll join the California Independent Oil Marketers Association (CIOMA) for a tour of a petroleum loading rack in Fresno.
July 15 — Tune into FM 90.7 KFSR at 12 pm, where I’ll be a guest on The Pulse, KFSR’s weekly business roundtable, hosted by Tom Jones, Dr. Tim Stearns, and Lee Lockhart.
July 18-19 — My staff will host “mobile office hours” in Fresno with the Department of Housing and Community Development to offer titling and registration assistance to mobile home owners. See article below.
July 20 — I’ll be addressing the Council of Fresno County Governments Policy Board meeting.
July 25 — I hope to attend the dedication of a new almond shelling plant near Kerman.
July 29 — I’ll join Dr. Pete Mehas at a dinner celebrating his successful tenure as Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.
On June 26th, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 840, which allows students who received Cal Grants due to an error by the California Student Aid Commission to complete their college education.
In 2002, the California Student Aid Commission implemented the Community College Cal Grant Entitlement program but failed to properly implement the requirement that checked the applicants’ California residency at the time of high school graduation.
Last summer this error was discovered by the Commission. They found approximately 1,000 students were mistakenly awarded grants, and were now facing suspension of the grants and repayment of funds.
This bill will protect these students and fulfill the promise made to them by the State of California because they are innocent victims in this matter. These students answered every question and filled out every form required of them, so they should not be punished for the mistakes of the Commission. AB 840 ensures that these students will not have to repay funds they received and that students who have relied upon our promise may complete their educational plans in progress. AB 840 protects the future of these young adults and also protects the investment we have made in their education.
In addition to holding these students harmless, AB 840 establishes a new procedure for awarding these grants in future years to ensure that this mistake does not occur again.
Starting this week, and continuing through October 4th, staff from my district office will be offering free help to constituents with their applications to the state’s Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program. The program offers up to $472.60 to qualified homeowners or up to $347.50 to qualified renters to offset their payments of property tax or rent during the 2006 tax year. My staff is providing four hours per week of free assistance during office hours in the State Building in Fresno. For the exact schedule and location of these office hours, please see my website or call my office.
My staff will join the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on July 18th and 19th at Villa Fresno for “Mobile Office Hours.”
As a convenience to constituents, HCD’s Mobile Home Registration & Titling Program will be operating a mobile registration site. HCD’s Fresno district office closed in December 2004, and mobile registration sites started in January of 2005. The mobile registration sites travel throughout the Central Valley and offer assistance in making changes to mobile home titles. This can be important if there is a change of ownership, a name is added, or the title must be transferred.
At the same time, my staff will be available to provide other information and assistance in dealing with other state agencies.
The event takes place Tuesday, July 18th, from 1 to 5 pm, and Wednesday, July 19th, from 8 am to 12 noon. Villa Fresno is located at 2533 W. McKinley Ave. in Fresno.
In May, after a difficult vote on several bond measures, my Capitol office was moved from Room 6011 to a smaller office on the fifth floor. Last week, at the direction of the Speaker, my staff moved our office back to Room 6011. As I’m sure many of you understand, moving an office can be a difficult ordeal! But I am pleased that our staff will now have a little more room to work effectively.
If you haven’t visited my Capitol office yet, please make a point of doing so. My staff looks forward to welcoming you. Meanwhile, please note that our phone and fax numbers have not changed during the move.
Fresno State has been chosen to host the first ever Hispanic Youth Symposium (HYS) on the West Coast. I encourage you to tell any high school juniors and seniors you know about the terrific opportunity — available only this summer — to participate in this program, which will run August 4th-6th.
HYS is a 3-day/2-night event designed to educate high school students about their Hispanic heritage, while at the same time empowering them to reach for their dreams and celebrate their culture. HYS also focuses on college preparation and career opportunities. Students will stay in the campus dorms, participate in a variety of workshops and leadership activities, and work on various policy issues. Scholarships will be distributed on the last day of the event to students who participate in essay, speech, and art competitions. The scholarships will be redeemable upon enrollment in college.
Students can apply online at www.hispanicyouth.org. The program is especially looking for participants from Firebaugh, Lemoore, Madera, Woodlake, and Mendota.
Not a student? You can also use the HYS website to sign up as a volunteer. The symposium needs your help to make this program a success.
If you have any questions, please contact Denny Mar at (559) 297-0706, ext. 4808, or dmar@fs.fed.us.
I keeping with its mission as California’s investment and financing authority, the Department of Corporations is increasing its efforts to educate California consumers about financial and telemarketing fraud. The Department administers two programs aimed at preventing fraud. The Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF) program targets Californians over the age of 50; the other, Troops Against Predatory Scams, (TAPS), targets the state’s military service members.
If you are organizing an event involving either seniors or military troops, I encourage you contact the Department of Corporations to schedule a presentation of either fraud prevention program. Department staff can attend a community event, senior fair, or military installation to speak about the program, distribute informational packets, and preside over question-and-answer sessions.
To arrange for a presentation, or to access other Department of Corporations investor education resources, call the Department at (866) ASK-CORP or visit www.corp.ca.gov.
The application for PG&E’s 2006 Local Economic Development Grants Program is now available online. In the past two years, the program has given out nearly $600,000 to local government agencies and non-profit organizations for projects throughout the PG&E service area. Applications are being accepted this year through August 7th. Grants will range from $2,500 to $10,000. An organization that is not a government agency or 501(c)(3) may apply, but must do so in partnership with a qualifying organization. Please see PG&E’s website for complete information or, for assistance with grants in the 31st Assembly District, email Cam Maloy or fax to (559) 263-5583.
Email: assemblymember.arambula@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula
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