Dear Friends,
This year is flying by and it is time to take a step back and reflect on issues that are important to the 31st District and the Central Valley. The health and safety of California's residents have been and will always be a top priority.
Two key pieces of legislation that address these issues are making their way through the Legislature and it gives me great hope that we are one step closer to providing clean drinking water and affordable oral chemotherapy prescriptions to the community.
While the fight is not over yet, we will continue to work hard to help members of our community become healthier and safer than they were before.
HENRY T. PEREA
(559) 445-5532
In this issue:
- Response to the May Budget Revise
- Bills of Interest
- Fresno Veterans Home
- Women of the Year
- Young Legislators
Assemblymember Perea's Response to Governor Brown's May Budget Revise
“California’s fiscal health is on a steady path to recovery, but we must not lose sight of Californians’ values and priorities like education. The Governor’s proposed Local Control Funding Formula would be a monumental change to how the State funds our schools because it targets additional resources to school districts that serve students with the greatest needs. As proposed, the funding formula would benefit schools with the highest percentage of low–income students and English learners. In the Valley, this would be a turning point for students who have the potential to succeed in school, but have been lacking the support they need to achieve their goals.”
Bills of Interest
Assembly Bill 219 would require health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to limit patient out-of-pocket costs to $100 per filled prescription for covered oral anticancer medications.
Currently, patients can pay upwards of $4,000 a month for oral chemotherapy treatment.
For additional information on my legislation, please click here.
Assembly Bill 618 would make changes to current law to provide local agencies responsible for protecting the San Joaquin River Conservancy lands with the tools needed to enforce rules and regulations enacted by the San Joaquin River Conservancy Board.
Similar to other local, state, and national parks, the San Joaquin River Conservancy needs to be able to restrict specific activities such as starting fires, hunting, and destroying the natural landscape.
For additional information on my legislation, please click here.
Assembly Bill 1250 would ensure that persons who call in anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers organizations can remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers organizations usually have the policy of not taking people's names when a call is made, however, a person may reveal his or her name or reveal other identifying information such as "my ex-husband Joe" or "I saw my neighbor."
This bill would clarify existing law to provide Crime Stoppers organizations the privilege to refuse to disclose the identity of a person who has provided information to them.
It has been an honor to work with the local Crime Stoppers division to help move this bill through the Assembly.
For additional information on my legislation, please click here.
Fresno Veterans Home
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 recently approved the Governor's proposed 2013-14 budget augmentation of $12.6 million in General Fund one-time support and $19 million in General Fund ongoing support to continue providing staff to prepare for resident admissions at the Fresno Veterans Home this fall.
The Fresno Veterans Home will start to admit veterans in October 2013 and will continue to admit eight additional residents a month until full occupancy, which is currently forecasted for November 2016. The Veterans Home will serve 300 veterans.
For a complete listing of available jobs at the Fresno Veterans Home, visit www.cdva.ca.gov/AboutUs/Jobs/Default.aspx.
To fill out a statement of intent to apply for a living space at the Fresno Veterans Home, visit www.cdva.ca.gov/Files/VetHomes/Intent_Form_Fresno.pdf.
Women of the Year
Each year an amazing group of women from the 31st District are recognized for their efforts to make the community a better place to live. This year, we honored seven outstanding award recipients for their hard work and dedication.
This year's ceremony was held on April 26, 2013 at Englemann Cellars in Fresno.
From left to right in the photo:
Community Advocate of the Year
Elaine Anes
Medical Professional of the Year
Dr. Marcia Sablan
Educator of the Year
Suzanne Jones
Assemblymember Henry T. Perea
Youth of the Year
Miriam Hernández
Organizer of the Year
Catherine (Katie) A. O'Rourke-Delano
Community Activist of the Year
Olga Núñez
Volunteer of the Year
Sandy Ross
Young Legislators
The Young Legislators Program is designed to educate students on the legislative process and local issues affecting the health of our community, introduce them to innovative business and technology ventures and more. The inaugural class started in March. The Young Legislators toured Electronic Arts (EA) and AT&T in the Bay Area to learn more about high-tech jobs and what it takes to work in these specific industries.
Applications for the second class will be available in October 2013.
Hiring will begin in spring and the first veterans will be admitted in the fall. Those who missed the job fair can still apply at www.calvet.ca.gov.
Dear Friends,
After years of very painful cuts, California is finally back on the mend. But there's still more work to be done. Going forward, our Legislature needs to work together to take the steps necessary to put the Affordable Care Act into action so everyone in our state has access to health care.
With our state heading in the right direction, now is the time to address our water infrastructure problems. Finding better ways to move water around the state must be one of our top priorities. We must also do more to make sure our rural communities have clean drinking water.
As more and more Californians go back to work, we must continue to make our state a more desirable place to run a business. If we can do that, more jobs will follow and California will continue its recovery.
In this issue:
HENRY T. PEREA
(559) 445-5532
Bills of Interest
Assembly Bill 145 would create a consolidated and comprehensive strategy to ensure safe drinking water for California residents by moving all drinking water programs from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board).
This change will also allow for greater focus of financial resources and staff support for the Drinking Water Program.
For additional information on my legislation, please click here.
Free Tax Help
You earned it. Now file, claim it, and get it!
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a financial boost to make life a little easier for working people in a recovering economy. The average credit was $2,100, but can be as much as $5,751, depending on the worker’s income, marital status, and number of dependents.
To find out if you qualify and to get free help filing your taxes at a location near you, click here.
Women of the Year
Do you know a woman who makes a difference in the lives of others?
Take a moment and nominate her for the 31st Assembly District’s 2013 Women of the Year Award.
Each nominee should be a woman who has, over the past year, made a significant contribution to her community with notable accomplishment and has not been recognized before.
Nominees will be honored at a ceremony in March.
The deadline for nominations is March 10, 2013. Please apply online.
District Happenings
Veterans Home Job Fair
More than 2,000 people attended the job fair at Fresno’s Veterans Home in January. Attendees were able to fill out an application and learn more about the jobs available.
Hiring will begin in spring and the first veterans will be admitted in the fall. Those who missed the job fair can still apply at www.calvet.ca.gov.
Assembly Rural Caucus Hearing on Energy Rates
Over 100 people gathered at Fresno City College in January at a bipartisan briefing of the Assembly Rural Caucus to talk about rising residential electricity rates in the Central Valley and ways to make rates more affordable.
Several speakers at the briefing mentioned high energy rates causing a hardship for middle to low income families who are struggling to pay high energy costs.
I will use the information gathered at the briefing as I consider future legislation needed to address the problems facing thousands of ratepayers.
Dear Friends,
The New Year is upon us and it is bringing many challenges and opportunities for our state to continue our economic recovery.
California is on the rebound and according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics more than 15 percent of new jobs in the U.S.A. were added in California. That's more than Texas and the top 10 fastest growing states combined.
As a state we are bouncing back but there are still many people in the Valley struggling to find a job so they can pay the bills.
If you are having trouble contacting the Employment Development Department (EDD) please call my district office at (559) 445-5532 for assistance.
In this issue:
Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.
HENRY T. PEREA
(559) 445-5532
Bills of Interest
Assembly Bill 30, Small Community Grant Funds, extends the sunset date of the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Small Community Grant Fund (SCG Fund) to 2019. The SCG Fund provides funds for wastewater treatment projects for small, disadvantaged communities that cannot afford to finance their own water infrastructure projects.
This is the first bill in what will be a comprehensive legislative package to address the many challenges faced by underserved communities in California.
Seeking Future Leaders
We are looking for two students from each high school in the 31st Assembly District to participate in Assemblymember Perea’s Young Legislators Program (YLP).
The YLP is designed to educate students on the legislative process, local issues affecting the health of our community, introduce them to innovative business and technology ventures, and more. Students will learn about a variety of issues affecting Californians on day trips to locations throughout the state.
Students will meet one Saturday each month from February - August with the first class beginning in March 2013.
Applications are available here and must be returned by February 8th.
Cal Grant
Have a student and want to get cash for college?
The deadline for qualifying for Cal Grants is March 2, 2013.
The Cal Grant Program ensures that any qualified student will not be turned away from a college education because they cannot pay for it. Find out more at http://www.calgrants.org/
State Wants to Return $14 Million in Undelivered Tax Refunds
The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has more than $14 million in returned state income tax refunds. In Fresno County, there were 1,204 returned refunds this year totaling $193,749.
Statewide this year there were 48,000 refunds, ranging from $1 to $35,000 returned by the US Postal Service. Most returned refunds were from people who recently moved and failed to update their address with the FTB.
Updating an address is easy through the Access MyFTB Account feature on the FTB’s website. The FTB reissues returned refunds automatically once a new address is received.
If you were expecting a state refund or are unsure if you received a refund, visit the FTB’s Check Your Refund Status website.
District Happenings
Fresno Veterans Home Jobs
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) is holding a job fair to fill the first 70 positions needed to open the new Fresno Veterans Home facility.
CalVet staff will help you sign up for exams and fill out the necessary state applications.
Come dressed for success and bring your resume and references if you have them for a specific position. Interviews and hiring will take place in early spring and throughout 2013.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fresno Veterans Home
2811 West California Avenue, Fresno
Click here for more information on available positions.
Rural Caucus Briefing
Join Assemblymembers Henry T. Perea and Kristin Olsen for a California Legislative Rural Caucus Informational Briefing on Electricity Rates in the Central Valley.
Friday, January 18, 2013
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fresno City College
Old Administration Building, Room 114
Click here for more information.
We Connect Event!!!
Take Advantage of FREE Services at the Fresno WEConnect event.
- Flu shots
- Dental screenings
- Health care application assistance
- Free tax preparation
- Free healthy food giveaway
- Other money saving programs & services
February 9, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fresno Fairgrounds - Commerce Building
1121 South Chance Avenue
- November 2012 eNewsletter
- September 2012 eNewsletter
- August 2012 eNewsletter
- July 2012 eNewsletter
- June 2012 "Save Fresno's Vets Home" eAlert
- June 2012 eNewsletter
- April 2012 eNewsletter
- March 2012 eNewsletter
- February 2012 eNewsletter
- January 2012 eNewsletter
- December 2011 eNewsletter
- November 2011 eNewsletter
- October 2011 eNewsletter
- September 2011 eNewsletter
- August 2011 eNewsletter
- July 2011 eNewsletter
- June 2011 eNewsletter
- May 2011 eNewsletter
- April 2011 eNewsletter
- March 2011 eNewsletter
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0031
Tel: (916) 319-2031
Fax: (916) 319-2131
District Office:
Hugh Burns State Building
2550 Mariposa Mall
Suite 5031
Fresno, CA 93721
Tel: (559) 445-5532
Fax: (559) 445-6006
