Governor signs Garcia’s First Bill into Law

(Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) to ensure that local elections consolidated with statewide elections comply with state and federal election laws has been signed by the Governor.

AB 331, that becomes law in January 2014, will require local jurisdictions that consolidate their elections, to conduct the elections under applicable laws, including those regulating voter challenges, election contests and recounts.

(Sacramento) – On a resounding, bipartisan 68 –1 vote, the State Assembly has past Assembly Bill 256, authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens).

Current law defines bullying as harassment or threats that are used to intimidate students, disrupt the classroom, invade the right of the students and create a hostile educational environment.  Students in grades 4-12 who engage in such behavior can be suspended or expelled, if the bullying occurs while traveling to and from school, on campus during school hours or during or traveling to a school sponsored activity.

(Sacramento) – In order to provide a critical update to state law and close loopholes dealing with student cyber- bullying, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) has announced that her measure, Assembly Bill 256, will be heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on May 8th.

(Sacramento) – The Assembly Judiciary Committee, on a unanimous vote, passed Assembly Bill 849, legislation that will extend provisions in state law to protect victims of elder abuse from their abusers.

The measure, authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D) – Bell Gardens, will allow a victim of elder abuse or dependent adult abuse to enroll in California's address confidentiality program, "Safe at Home," to shield their home address from their abusers. Currently the same protection is available only to victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and stalking.

(Sacramento) -- In response to the multiple Guilty Verdicts found against former City of Bell Councilmembers, Oscar Hernández, Teresa Jocobo, George Cole, Victor Bello and George Mirabal, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) has released the following statement: 

“After a long, painful ordeal that has taken its toll on the City of Bell and its residents, I am cautiously optimistic. I am happy that justice has prevailed and that these public officials must finally pay the price for their criminal activity.”

SACRAMENTO – The Legislative Women's Caucus honored eleven remarkable California women who have broken barriers in their respective fields at a floor ceremony in the Assembly Chambers on Monday afternoon.

Assemblymember Cristina Garcia along with Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva had the honor of escorting Dr. Mildred Garcia, the First Latina President of CSU Fullerton.

(Artesia) – Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (Bell Gardens) announces that her office is now accepting nominations from the community for nominees as “Woman of the Year,” for the 58th Assembly District.

March has been designated as Women’s History Month and each year California State Legislature encourages Legislator’s to highlight and honor deserving women for service to their community.

(Sacramento) – In a move to update state law dealing with student bullying, on and off of the school campus, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) has introduced as her first legislative proposal, Assembly Bill 256.

Current law defines bullying as harassment or threats that are used to intimidate students, disrupt the classroom, invade the right of the students and create a hostile educational environment.  Students in grades 4-12 who perpetrate such behavior can be suspended or expelled if the bullying occurs while traveling to and from school, on campus during school hours or during or traveling to a school sponsored activity.