Representing the 25th District

Measures to help conservatees, college students now head to Senate

Sacramento – The state Assembly approved three bills and a resolution authored by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) this morning, including items to protect the rights of conservatees and urge congressional action on student loan debt.  All four measures now head to the state Senate.

AB 937, approved 68-3, protects conservatees from conservators who are overstepping their bounds.

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(Sacramento) - California is home to approximately 650,000 people living with paralysis. Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) wants to give them and their families hope for the future by funding cutting edge research into spinal cord injuries. Assembly Bill 714, authored by Assemblymember Wieckowski, seeks to restore $2 million in general fund support for the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund. California provided the Roman Reed Fund with similar funding from 2000 to 2009. Assemblymember Wieckowski says, "These funds will support vital research to improve the quality of life for the thousands of Californians living with spinal cord injuries." Here's more in this Assembly Web Report.

AB 210 Would Allow Infrastructure Projects To Go Before Voters In The East Bay Counties

Sacramento – The state Assembly approved a bill by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) this morning that would authorize Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to put transportation sales tax measures on the ballot between 2014 and 2020.  The bill was approved on a 46-23 vote and is now headed to the Senate.

“These two counties understand the importance of maintaining our roads, repairing our streets and making it easier for residents and workers to get from Point A to Point B,” Wieckowski said.  “Making sure they have the funds for future transportation projects is critical to the East Bay’s economic growth.  This bill allows them to put together transportation proposals and seek the voters’ approval on the ballot.  I believe there is strong support for such improvements and the needs are not going to disappear.”

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AJR 11 urges Congress to allow students with private student loan debt to file for bankruptcy

Sacramento – Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) Assembly resolution to urge Congress to give students the chance to discharge their private student loan debt through bankruptcy, like they can with almost all other kinds of debt, passed the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee this afternoon on a 7 to 4 vote.  The Financial Fresh Start resolution, AJR 11, now heads to the Assembly floor.

“The inability to discharge private student loan debt through bankruptcy the same way that most other private debt is discharged causes debtors to postpone life-cycle events such as buying a home, getting married, or starting a family,” Wieckowski said.  “It denies the consumer a fresh start.”

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SCUSD Wants To Buy Property For New School Campus, Park

Sacramento – The state Assembly’s Accountability and Administrative Review Committee on a 10-3 vote this morning approved a bill by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to assist the Santa Clara Unified School District and City of San Jose’s effort to build a new school campus and create park space on a portion of the Agnews Development Center in north San Jose.  AB 503 was approved with bipartisan support and now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“I can think of no better use for this site than a desperately needed new campus to educate the next generation of students,” Wieckowski said.

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AB 7 is approved with bipartisan support in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

Sacramento – The Assembly Natural Resources Committee approved Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) bill to expand public disclosure on hydraulic fracturing in California late Monday afternoon.  The bill passed with bipartisan support on a 7-0 vote, with two members not voting.  It will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“AB 7 requires oil operators to provide the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources a complete list of every chemical used, the maximum concentration, the purpose for the chemical, how much water was used, what kind of water was used, and what they did with the fluid once the fracking was complete,” Wieckowski said.  “The regulation of fracking is overdue.  The most important first step to addressing and mitigating our environmental concerns is to require that all the information is placed in the correct hands.”

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Student Bill of Rights Rally - State Capitol, April 8, 2013

Assemblymember proposes Student Bill of Rights to strengthen financial literacy and help students pay off their loans

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and higher education students from around California called for action to reduce student loan debt and to improve financial literacy education, this morning during a rally and press conference at the state Capitol.

“The $1 trillion student debt crisis not only threatens the financial future of today’s students, but the economic future of our economy,” Wieckowski said.  “That is why I have introduced the Student Bill of Rights.  Reducing the amount of debt saddling students will help families stabilize their finances and regain their financial footing.”

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Sacramento – The Assembly Local Government Committee today approved a bill by Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) that would allow both Alameda and Contra Costa counties to put transportation measures on their ballots to boost investments in local infrastructure projects. AB 210 passed the committee 7-2 with bipartisan support and now heads to the Revenue and Taxation Committee.

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State Coalition of Probation Officers President Paul Brennan presenting the award to Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski.

Sacramento – The State Coalition of Probation Organizations honored Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) today as the Legislator of the Year 2012 at a meeting in Sacramento.

"This recognition is not just about me," Wieckowski told the officers. "It's about our common goal to increase the personal safety of officers across the state."

Wieckowski was recognized for his "dedication in advancing the standards for the betterment of probation, probation officers and the improvement of public safety."

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