AB 849 Safe at Home & AB 415 Solar Heaters

(Sacramento) – Governor Brown has signed into law two measures authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Assembly Bill 849 will expand to seniors the opportunity to participate in the state’s Safe at Home (SAH) program. Assembly Bill 415 will ensure new solar technologies have multiple options for getting systems certified.  These two measures received bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate.

Currently, the SAH program allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to apply to have an address designated by the Secretary of State to serve as a substitute mailing address and under certain circumstances to provide address confidentiality.

(Sacramento) – A measure authored by Assemblymember Garcia (D- Bell Gardens) to ease overcrowding and deal with the lack of access to core classes at California’s Community Colleges and at the Cal State system, has been signed into law by Governor Brown.

Currently, most campuses have a system of Credit By Exam (CBE) where students with prior learning can take the equivalent of a final exam, without the requirement of class attendance. If a student successfully passes the exam, they will receive credit for a completed course.

(Artesia) – Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) will be convening a two Healthcare Town Hall Meetings, next week, in her Assembly District, to discuss health plan enrollment under the state’s new healthcare exchange, Covered California.

Californians no longer have to wait to enroll in Covered California.  Health insurance coverage will be offered to everyone -- even if they have a pre-existing condition or can't afford coverage. Many low-income and middle class families will qualify for discounted premiums with federal subsidies to help pay for the insurance. The program will provide 10 essential healthcare benefits, including emergency care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health, maternity and newborn care.

(Sacramento) – Governor Brown has signed into law, Assembly Bill 256 authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens).  This new law that will take effect in January 2014, updates the law to add the offense of cyber-bullying  - where students use computers, smartphones and social media to perpetuate harassing and threatening behavior while away from the school campus –  to the current anti-bullying statutes. AB 256 authorizes superintendents and school principals to discipline students who engage in cyber-bullying, harassment by electronic means on, or off, of the school campus.

“Once cyber-bullying is discovered in a text, email, or in any form, this law will give school officials the tools to pursue bullies and protect the well-being of our students.” Garcia said.

(Sacramento) -- In response to the no contest plea Robert Rizzo, the former city manager in the City of Bell, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) has released the following statement: 

“It is with mixed feelings that after three years we close this chapter, but a no contest plea is not the same as a guilty verdict.

September 24, 2013 

(Artesia) -- Assemblymember Cristina Garcia encourages everyone to take part in National Voter Registration Day on September 24, 2013. This is a nonpartisan movement that recognizes the importance of participating in democracy by encouraging those eligible to register to vote.

This process is now easier and more convenient with an online application available at: http://registertovote.ca.gov.  In September 2012, the launch of this convenient process led to more than 887,000 Californians taking advantage of this site to apply to register to vote or update their voter registration record.

AB 256 moves to the Governor’s desk

(Sacramento) – Today, the Senate, in a unanimous vote, passed Assembly Bill 256 authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). This bill authorizes superintendents and school principals to discipline students who engage in cyber bullying, harassment by electronic means, on or off the school campus.

AB 256 passed the Senate 37-0, with bipartisan support.  Democrats and Republicans in the Assembly and the Senate agreed that current law is silent on cyber-bullying, where offending students use computers, smartphones and social media to perpetuate harassing and threatening behavior.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D- Bell Gardens) speaks about SB 254, a recycling bill that she is co-authoring with State Senators Loni Hancock and Lou Correa. The bill establishes a statewide mattress recycling program to be developed, implemented and administered by a mattress recycling coalition that will remove waste and create jobs in local communities.

Approximately 4.2 million mattresses and box springs, each year, reach the end of their lives in California. Many of these mattresses get dumped illegally, creating waste and costs for local government. Taxpayers pay to send mattresses landfills to be dismantled, but many times clog up equipment and are difficult to compact.

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.