SACRAMENTO – As Californians prepare to honor the state’s working men and women on Labor Day, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today released a compilation of key bills passed during the 2010 Legislative Session to help keep Californians working.

“As I have said consistently, our absolute number one priority at every level of government must be getting Californians working again,” Pérez said. “I am proud the Assembly has been responsible for passing a significant number of jobs bills this session, and I am committed to ensuring jobs remain the priority as we work to finalize a budget agreement.”

Speaker Pérez noted that the legislature’s jobs efforts covered a variety of sectors, from emerging green technologies, to health care, to small business, to education.

“Our approach to jobs has been multifaceted,” Pérez said. “In some cases, we looked where we could maximize federal draw down funds for the state’s benefit, in other instances, we looked to which sectors were suffering the most, and actively identified solutions that could revive these industries—like the tax credits for new home buyers that helped boost housing construction.”

Highlights of jobs-related bills passed in the 2010 legislative session are attached.

Key Job Legislation of 2010

(Partial list)

AB 177 (Ruskin) increases the penalties for those who fraudulently claim to qualify as a disabled veteran-owned enterprise or small business, when applying for state contracts.  At a time when veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and jobs are scarce, we must protect the rights of our servicemen and women.  The bill also ensures that small businesses, in general, can compete for state contracts on a level playing field with larger enterprises.

AB 183 (Caballero) provides a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers,  anyone buying a new home—whether or not they are first time buyers, or existing homeowners looking to purchase in a new development, to be paid out over three years.  This legislation especially reinvigorates the stalled building industry that had stagnated due to the drop in home buying over the last several years.

AB 231 (Huber) creates jobs by expediting construction projects by eliminating duplication and reducing time in the CEQA process. AB 231 streamlines CEQA by eliminating duplication and reducing time in the CEQA process without undermining any of its environmental protections. The bill is an ongoing demonstration of the Legislature’s interest in making CEQA as workable and as protective as possible.

SB 847 (Steinberg, J. Pérez) ensures teachers and school employees can star on the job by appropriating $1.2 billion to the state Department of Education as soon as California receives the funds from the federal government pursuant to the federal Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.  The federal legislation provides that these funds can only be used “for compensation and benefits.... necessary to retain existing employees, to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees, in order to provide early childhood, elementary, or secondary educational and related services, and may not be used for general administrative expenses.”

AB 1830 (Jones) boosts California manufacturing jobs by requiring the California High Speed Rail Authority to make every effort to purchase high speed rail trains and related equipment that are built in California.  With more than $11.25 billion in state and federal funding being invested in high speed rail, this bill aims to keep these funds within the state, fostering growth in the manufacturing sector and producing thousands of secure, good paying jobs for Californians. As high-speed rail expands nationally, California could become the national leader in train manufacturing.

AB 1846 (V.M. Pérez) is a regulatory reform bill that benefits business and job creation while assuring environmental integrity. The bill expedites the environmental review process for projects that involve upgrades or retrofits to bring businesses into compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32).  Specifically, it empowers state water and air agencies with the discretion to use a focused environmental impact report for projects that install pollution control equipment or change to a more sustainable product.

AB 1873 (Huffman) boosts green jobs by making Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs more attractive to local governments by reducing the cost of the loans made through contractual assessments to property owners to finance energy and water efficiency improvements.

AB 1954 (Skinner/Pérez) helps California achieve its long-term renewable energy goals and supports jobs and infrastructure investment.  It addresses technical issues that present impediments to renewable energy transmission financing and which could limit the efficient production of renewable energy.  Specifically, it authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission to provide administrative pre-approval of utility costs for transmission lines that facilitate achieving the Renewables Portfolio Standard.

AB 2058 (Block) brings more Californians back into the workforce by allowing unemployed workers receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to continue their coverage while enrolled in job training or education courses to develop the skills necessary for our state’s changing workforce. As it stands, some recipients of UI lose their coverage when they seek training, causing an unfair hardship for many Californians in need and discouraging the expansion of job training.

AB 2293 (Torres) boosts home construction jobs by directing the Department of Housing and Community Development to begin to move over $50 million available to fund affordable housing that is held up due to the reluctance of banks to issue construction loans.

AB 2385 (John A. Pérez) creates a pilot program at five community college campuses throughout the state aimed at accelerating the training of healthcare workers from two years or more to 18 months or less. California’s community colleges train 70 percent of nurses statewide but cannot keep up with the growing demand for nurses and allied health professionals.

AB 2398 (John A. Pérez) would boost California’s carpet recycling industry by implementing a carpet stewardship program that will ensure more carpets in California are recycled rather than being a major contributor to filling up landfills in the state.

AB 2437 (V.M. Pérez) implements the California Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, which establishes a loan and loan guarantee program that will enable the state to draw down federal dollars to support the retooling and expansion of manufacturing in California.  The bill establishes the structure and process for the operation of the loan fund, intended to attract, retain, and grow the state’s manufacturing sector.

AB 2446 (Furutani) promotes career technical education (CTE) in the state’s high schools.  Many students will benefit from CTE courses that will prepare them for college and careers that offer a strong living wage.  This legislation is a solid step forward in providing a highly trained workforce that can keep the state competitive in many industry sectors.

AB 2581 (Bradford) seeks to bring vital financial services to underdeveloped and low income communities by creating a Banking Development District Program to encourage banks to establish branches in specific locations where there is a demonstrated need for banking services.

AB 2696 (Bass) empowers the state’s Green Collar Jobs Council to take full advantage of federal stimulus funding to promote jobs and boost green technologies in our state.  This bill is the second part of an effort started in the previous session with AB 3018 (Bass and Núñez), a bill to create an agency that would exclusively serve as a catalyst for the creation of green jobs. AB 2696 makes it the responsibility of the GCJC to work with a number of organizations to align workforce development services with green economy efforts.

AB 2734 (John A. Pérez) creates the Office of Economic Development within the Governor’s office that will establish long-term economic goals and strategies as well as specific and effective services to assist California’s businesses both large and small.  California’s businesses—especially small, family owned businesses—are the workhorses of our economy.  This bill makes sure there is an advocate at the state level that will keep the job creating capacity of these businesses at the forefront of the discussion on the state’s economy.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) highlights comments he made to business leaders and local mayors this week that job creation must be the priority in budget negotiations and that California cannot afford another summer of ideological warfare.

English language MP3 file. The running time is 3:03.

Spanish language MP3 file. The running time is 4:24.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Transcript:

Hello, I’m Assembly Speaker John Pérez.

As the budget process continues in Sacramento, Legislative Democrats have unveiled a unified proposal that reflects the core values of Californians, focuses on job creation and begins closing our long-term structural deficit.

Our first, last and only priority right now needs to be job creation. Until the 2.3 million Californians who are currently unemployed can find new jobs, our economy will not recover and our budget will continue to be in deficit.

That means that as we continue negotiations, we need to be making choices that will help our economy recover and put Californians back to work.

The budget proposal we have unveiled reflects that critical priority.

We provide full funding for education, including higher education, because a well-educated work force is essential for our long term economic growth. We repay schools for years of Sacramento’s borrowing to avoid lay-offs off the 35,000 teachers and school employees who have already received pink slips.

We also repay local governments so that they have the resources to avoid having to lay off the cops and firefighters who keep Californians safe. Just two weeks ago, the City of Oakland was forced to lay off 80 police officers. Countless other cities are facing the same difficult choice, and we need to ensure they have the resources to keep our people safe and keep those cops on the street.

We begin closing the long-term structural deficit by devolving services to the counties so they can be provided more efficiently at the local level.

We reject the Governor’s cuts to programs that provide training and transition into the workforce for unemployed Californians. We also reject his proposal to eliminate child care assistance that would force more than 50,000 small businesses to close.

The centerpiece of our proposal is to put aside 1 billion dollars in targeted job creation programs in areas like green technology and small business growth.

This is the most important component of our package, because the pathway out of this recession is through creating quality, high paying, private sector jobs that put Californians back to work.

Californians cannot afford another bruising summer of ideological warfare. The challenges facing our state are simply too great for anyone to be more concerned about their party’s base voters than about putting Californians back to work.

The Governor and his Republican allies need to back away from their ideological corner and propose real solutions that won’t cost California hundreds of thousands of jobs and ruin our recovery.

Legislative Democrats will continue to fight for a budget that helps our economy, puts Californians back to work and closes our long-term deficit. Reducing the unemployment rate and creating quality jobs should be the only thing that matters in Sacramento as we approve the budget.

This has been Speaker John Pérez. Thanks for listening.

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), destaca los comentarios que presentó esta semana a los lideres empresariales y alcaldes donde la creación de empleos debe ser la prioridad principal en las negociaciones del presupuesto y que California no puede darse el lujo de otro verano con peleas ideológicas.

Portal del presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

– MENSAJE RADIAL –

Hola les saluda John Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal de California.

Así como el proceso del presupuesto continúa en Sacramento, los legisladores demócratas hemos presentado una propuesta unida que refleja el centro de los valores de los californianos, con un enfoque en la creación de empleos y empezar a cerrar nuestro profundo déficit estructural.

Nuestra primera, última y única prioridad del momento debe ser la creación de empleos.

Y hasta que los 2.3 millones de californianos actualmente desempleados encuentren nuevos empleos, su economía no se va a recuperar y nuestro presupuesto seguirá en déficit.

Eso significa que en nuestras negociaciones, debemos hacer las decisiones que ayuden a nuestra economía a recuperarse y poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

El plan del presupuesto que hemos presentado refleja esa vital prioridad.

Nosotros entregamos todos los fondos para la educación, incluso para la educación universitaria, porque una fuerza laboral bien educada es esencial para nuestro crecimiento económico de largo plazo. Devolvemos los fondos que Sacramento adeuda a las escuelas por préstamos de años para evitar el despido de 35,000 maestros y personal escolar los cuales ya han recibido cartas de despido.

Nosotros también devolvemos los fondos a los gobiernos locales para que tengan los recursos y eviten tener que despedir bomberos y policías que resguardan el bienestar de los californianos. Hace solamente 2 semanas, la ciudad de Oakland se vio forzada a despedir a 80 policías. Un sin número de otras ciudades se han visto en la misma situación, y nosotros debemos asegurar que los recursos existen para mantener a nuestra gente a salvo y a esos policías patrullando las calles.

Nosotros hemos comenzado a cerrar el largo déficit estructural al trasladar los servicios a los condados para que a nivel local puedan ser proporcionados en forma más eficaz.

Nosotros rechazamos los recortes del gobernador a los programas que otorgan capacitación y transición de empleos a los californianos desempleados. Nosotros también rechazamos su propuesta de eliminar la asistencia para el cuidado de niños que obligar a más de 50,000 pequeños negocios a cerrar.

La pieza central de nuestro presupuesto es destinar mil millones de dólares a la creación de programas de empleos en áreas como la tecnología verde y el crecimiento de la pequeña empresa.

Este es el componente más importante de nuestro paquete, porque el camino para salir de esta recesion es a través de la creación de buenos y bien pagados empleos en el sector privado para poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

California no puede darse el lujo de pasar otro verano con peleas ideológicas. Los desafíos que confronta nuestro estado son simplemente muy grandes para que alguien se preocupe más de su base de votos partidaria que poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

El gobernador y sus aliados republicanos necesitan analizar y alejarse de su esquina ideológica y proponer soluciones reales que no cuesten a California cientos de miles de empleos y la ruina de nuestra recuperación económica.

Los legisladores demócratas seguiremos luchando por el presupuesto que ayude a nuestra economía, ponga a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar y cerrar nuestro profundo déficit fiscal. Reducir el porcentaje del desempleo y crear trabajos de buena calidad debería ser lo único que importa en Sacramento cuando aprobemos el presupuesto.

Les habló John Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal de California. Gracias por su atención.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD –Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) gave a keynote address to the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) today highlighting targeted jobs initiatives that will spur private sector job creation as part of the Legislative Democrats’ California Jobs Budget proposal.

“The centerpiece of our proposal is set aside one billion dollars in targeted, private sector job creation programs,” Pérez said. “This is truly the most vital component. The decisions we make this year can wipe out the modest economic gains we’ve seen—or they can help to lay the foundation for a return to future prosperity.”

The California Jobs Budget provides $1 billion for targeted jobs strategies to develop and strengthen California private sector industries, including green and clean tech industries.  These investments stand to generate tens of thousands more private sector jobs and strengthen California's economy for a generation.  This provides a potential funding source for numerous Democratic and Republican jobs bills that are making their way in both houses of the Legislature this year.

“When we approach the budget, there should be only one calculation we use: will this budget help or hurt our economy?” Pérez said. “Restoring health to our economy has to be the only motivating factor in Sacramento. Putting the 2.3 million unemployed Californians back to work is our paramount task.”

The California Jobs Budget also supports private sector employment by maintaining basic services California workers rely on such as childcare programs funded through CalWORKS and Prop 98. that allow 50,000 small business childcare providers to stay in business and let working parents to go to work and earn a paycheck.

Critical employment services that move people from welfare to work and retrain workers at Community Colleges are also maintained.  The California Jobs Budget provides $100 million for a 400% increase for the Economic Development Program, which successfully gets unemployed Californians back to work.

Since becoming Speaker in March, Pérez has supported private sector job growth by moving key bills through the Legislature, including bills he authored to create jobs and help homeowners by providing $10,000 homebuyers tax credits as well as to provide a sales tax exemption on the equipment manufacturers buy as they expand green business in California.

“At the same time we approved the homebuyers tax credit, we also approved a green technology tax exemption,” Pérez said. “This credit exempts the sales tax on the purchase of any equipment used to manufacture green technology. Already we see the benefits of this credit, with Tesla’s announcement that they’d be reopening the NUMMI Plant in Fremont.”

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

SACRAMENTO--Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez today announced the California Jobs Budget, a new proposal to solve California’s budget deficit while creating private sector jobs and preventing economically harmful cuts to schools, public safety and the state’s safety net. Joining Pérez was Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield, who will preside over the public hearing and review process for the California Jobs Budget.

“California has to produce a budget that promotes job creation and makes economic sense,” Pérez said. “We shouldn’t make budget decisions that cut jobs and short change our overall recovery and long term growth. The California Jobs Budget will protect and create 465,000 jobs in the private sector and local communities while also protecting funding for schools, public safety, and a basic safety net.”

“The California Jobs Budget will be presented to the Legislature and the public for a full and transparent review,” Blumenfield said. “The Jobs Budget matches the priorities of the people of California, and it reflects the contributions of thousands of Californians who have testified and participated in over 50 Budget Subcommittee hearings, 12 full Budget Committee hearings, and seven Budget Forums held throughout the state.”

The California Jobs Budget closes the state’s $17.9 billion General Fund shortfall and ends the year with a $1 billion final reserve. The centerpiece of the California Jobs Budget is a $10.1 billion Jobs and Economic Stability Fund that will protect against the loss of 430,000 private sector, local community and school jobs in the Governor’s May Budget Revision, and which will also generate tens of thousands of new jobs.  The California Jobs Budget provides $1.5 billion for targeted Jobs Initiatives, repays debts to local governments and schools to avoid massive local government layoffs, and maintains critical employment services and training programs that get people back to work and keep them on payrolls and off government aid.

“This is a creative approach at solving the two most urgent problems facing our state: creating jobs and closing our deficit,” Pérez said. “The California Jobs Budget gets us through a difficult period and puts us much further ahead on the path to economic recovery by focusing on jobs.”

The Jobs Package:

• Puts job creation and protection first. With a $10 billion Jobs and Economic Stability Fund that promotes and protects 465,000 private sector jobs, school, and local government jobs
  • Invests in critical job training programs at California community colleges for job training and retraining programs for unemployed job seekers
  • Jump starts California's clean and green industries and other targeted jobs investments.

• Protects Critical Education Dollars.  Rejects $3 Billion of the Governor’s devastating cuts to education and instead meets the Proposition 98 guarantee and puts a stop to the endless cuts to K-12 and Higher Education in order to protect California's future.

• Rejects Phony Cuts to Safety Net. Rejects the Governor’s slashing of safety net programs, which would actually cost the state more, and instead maintains welfare to work, childcare, and cost effective alternatives to expensive nursing homes.

• Includes No New Broadbased Tax Increases. Makes no broadbased tax increases, and instead delays corporate loopholes and closes the California Oil Severance Tax loophole.

In order to maximize the immediate impact from creating and protecting jobs, the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund borrows $8.7 billion from the California Beverage Recycling Fund and, similar to the Governor’s plan, $500 million from the Disability Insurance Fund.

An Oil Severance Tax, required by law in every other oil producing state—including Texas and Alaska—will generate $900 million in 2010-11 and billions more each year for the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund. While the oil severance fee will generate job-creating revenue, numerous studies have found that oil companies in California are not highly taxed compared to other states.  Because the oil market is global in scope, it means there should be no impact from closing the severance loophole on the price of oil. The Oil Severance Tax in the California Jobs Budget is subject to approval by a majority vote of the Legislature.  Governor Schwarzenegger signed a similar majority vote tax mechanism into law in March.

The California Jobs Budget would also delay the implementation of corporate tax loopholes that were created in previous budget solutions, which would generate an additional $2.1 billion.

Funds from the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund will be allocated as follows:

• $1.1 Billion Targeted Jobs Investment to develop and strengthen California industries, including green and clean tech industries. This also provides a potential funding source for numerous Democratic and Republican jobs bills making their way in the Legislature.

• $900 million Repayment to Local Governments. Protects thousands of local police, fire, and other local jobs by repaying $900 million owed to local governments for past mandates.

• $3.8 Billion Repayment to Local School Districts. Protects tens of thousands of jobs for teachers, aides, and counselors by fully funding Proposition 98 and eliminating portions of the “Education Credit Card” rather than the Governor's proposal to cut schools by $2.8 billion, which leads to thousands of lost jobs.
  
  
• $900 million to Protect Higher Education's Role in Our Economic Future. Provides $1 billion to restore recent education cuts and fully fund the UC and CSU to prevent the devastating economic and jobs impact of decimating Higher Education. Also protects access to higher education by reducing the Governor’s student fee hike by 50 percent, which will save UC students $628 and CSU students $202.
  
  
• $1.9 Billion Keeping Working Poor Parents in Workforce. Maintains necessary childcare programs funded through CalWORKS and Prop 98 to ensure working parents can stay employed and over 50,000 small business childcare providers can stay in business.
  
  
• $1.4 Billion Getting Californians Back to Work. Invests in critical employment services to move people from welfare to work and to retrain workers at Community Colleges.
  
  
• $100 Million for Oil Producing Communities. Provides $100 million to local communities impacted by the new Oil Severance Fee.   Experts project the Oil Severance Fee will have little impact on jobs statewide, but there may be localized impacts.  Therefore, an ongoing $100 million allocation is included to offset any negative impacts of the fee.
  
  
• $200 million for the Bottle Bill. Separate from the Jobs and Economic Security Fund, the package increases funding by $200 million for the Beverage Container Recycling program to strengthen and stabilize the state's recycling program. California's recycling program was nearly bankrupt due to the downturn in the economy, and this increase in support will provide long term secure funding for the program, which will protect local conservation corps, protect bottle manufacturing jobs through processing fee relief and drive green technology investment through product development grants.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Assembly Access Video.

Speaker John A. Pérez Unveils California Jobs Budget

New California Jobs Budget Will Spur Private Sector Jobs, Boost Education, Protect Teachers and Cops and Pay Down Debt

(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez has announced the California Jobs Budget, a new proposal to solve California’s budget deficit while creating private sector jobs and preventing economically harmful cuts to schools, public safety and the state’s safety net. Joining Pérez for the announcement was Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield, who will preside over the public hearing and review process for the California Jobs Budget. “California has to produce a budget that promotes job creation and makes economic sense,” Pérez said. “We shouldn’t make budget decisions that cut jobs and short change our overall recovery and long term growth. The California Jobs Budget will protect and create 465,000 jobs in the private sector and local communities while also protecting funding for schools, public safety, and a basic safety net.” Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.
Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (5:48)

Speaker Pérez says the Assembly Democrat’s budget proposal is focused on jobs,jobs,jobs.(:15)

Speaker Pérez says this budget proposal does not include any new general tax increases.(:15)

Speaker Pérez says this budget plan reflects the priorities voiced by Californians during the interactive budget forums held throughout the state over the past six weeks. (:28)

Speaker Pérez says this budget saves thousands of jobs that would be lost under the Governor’sbudget plan and allows for repayment of past obligations to education. (:39)

Speaker Pérez says all of the budget proposals will be reviewed in an open, public, transparent process. (:41)

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield’s opening remarks at today’s news conference.(4:01)

Here are photos from the press conference.

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SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) says the Assembly is looking closely at how measures included in the Governor’s May Revise budget proposal would impact jobs for Californians. The Speaker discusses how the Assembly’s budget solutions will be focused on creating and saving jobs and be developed in an open, transparent way that encourages public participation.

Website of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

English The running time is 2:05.

Spanish The running time is 3:12.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Presidente Pérez: Enfoque de la Asamblea Será el Impacto del Presupuesto en el Empleo

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), comenta que la Asamblea revisará cuidadosamente cómo las medidas incluidas en la Revisión de Mayo del presupuesto del gobernador impactará el tema del empleo para los californianos. El presidente además señala que las soluciones presupuestarias de la Asamblea estarán enfocadas en la creación y resguardo de empleos y será elaborado de una manera abierta y transparente para alentar la participación del público.

El discurso radial en archivo de MP3 puede ser localizado en el sitio de Internet:

Spanish

Portal del presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACTO: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Boosts Bill to Help Law Enforcement Protect CA Transportation Systems

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today said public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems.

“In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. “Recent budget debates have seen proposals that would reduce the number of law enforcement officers in California. I am deeply troubled by these proposals because reducing the number of police will result in communities that are less safe for people to live, work and start businesses and that will result in long term economic harm to our communities and our state.”

At the news conference Speaker Pérez pushed support for his AB 2324, noting the attempted car bombing in Times Square reminds us of the need to be vigilant and the recent Moscow bombings remind us that transit systems remain prime targets.

“AB 2324, which is sponsored by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, creates ‘weapons free zones’ at public transit stations,” Pérez said. “The people of California deserve to know that when they walk into a transit station, they are safe and secure and that law enforcement has adequate tools and resources to maintain that security.”

AB 2324 would make it a crime to bring most weapons aboard public transit vehicles and into vulnerable areas of bus depots and train stations.  The bill will also make it a crime to knowingly avoid security screenings and strengthen penalties for repeat offenders engaging in certain dangerous crimes. AB 2324 is scheduled for a vote on the Assembly floor Thursday, May 13.

• Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Speaker Pérez: Keeping Public Safety Jobs Key in State Budget

(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) says public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems. “In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.

Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (1:56)

Speaker Pérez says the ongoing budget hearings and forums are keeping Democrats closely connected to real Californians. (:33)

Speaker Pérez says explains how he will view any proposed cuts to public safety programs. (:24)

Speaker Pérez says he does not want to make cuts in state programs that will hurt local government. (:19)

PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

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SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) discusses the trip he and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) made to Washington D.C. this week to promote federal funding and policy changes to bolster California’s economy, create jobs and ensure health care reform is implemented in a way that maximizes benefits to California working families and small businesses.

Website of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

English The running time is 2:18.

Spanish The running time is 1:38.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Presidente Pérez Comenta Sobre su Viaje a la Capital de la Nación, el Estimulo Federal de Salud y Empleos

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), comenta sobre el viaje que él y el presidente del Senado Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) hicieron a Washington D.C. esta semana para promocionar fondos federales y los cambios a las políticas que refuercen la economía de California, crear empleos y asegurar que la reforma de salud sea implementada de una manera que maximice los beneficios a las familias trabajadoras y pequeños comerciantes.

El discurso radial en archivo de MP3 puede ser localizado en el sitio de Internet:

Spanish

Portal del presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACTO: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

State Leaders Meet with Federal Partners on Health Reform Implementation, Funding Issues

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today announced they have made significant progress in Washington D.C. this week on two key areas: promoting federal funding and policy changes to bolster California’s economy and help create jobs and ensuring health care reform is implemented in a way that maximizes benefits to California working families and small businesses.

“We’re back in Washington because we are working to create jobs, fix the budget and recover the economy,” Pérez said. “By partnering with the federal government, we have made progress on some key federal issues that will help the state budget. We’re also here to ensure that the largest state in the nation implements health care reform in a way that not only lowers costs for working families and small businesses, but also protects consumers from being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.”

“The importance of this trip is enhanced by last week's bad revenue numbers,” Steinberg said. “The Obama Administration and congressional leaders understand the challenges we face. Our meetings have been productive and it is clear our partnership is stronger than ever and we will continue to work together to maintain vital services, expand health care, reduce our unemployment rate, and speed our economic recovery.”

Among those Steinberg and Pérez met with are: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations Cindy Mann, White House Office for Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann Min DeParle and White House Intergovernmental Affairs Director Cecilia Muñoz.

• Click here to view the attached document for a list of federal issues covered in meetings.

Website of President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg: http://dist06.casen.govoffice.com

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (Pérez) (916) 319-2408
Alicia Trost (Steinberg) (916) 651-4188

SACRAMENTO – With Californians celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this week, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) is quickly moving innovative bills through the Legislature to create jobs by spurring green building upgrades. The Speaker is also authoring legislation to allow companies to preserve marine life-supporting artificial reefs resting on the underwater portion of decommissioned oil rigs and to grow the state’s carpet recycling industry by keeping waste carpet out of landfills.

“Californians know moving toward a green economy can be a win-win when done right, and I’m proud to be carrying bills that are examples of such solutions,” Pérez said. “We’re moving to leverage federal HOMESTAR resources so skilled workers can find good jobs upgrading energy efficiencies so homeowners save money, we’re making sure the State Capitol does our share to protect the environment and cut energy costs through the Capitol Sustainability Task Force, and we’re advancing the rigs-to-reef program that helps spur marine life and generate desperately needed funds to protect and enhance our valuable coastal and ocean resources. And in my own district, carpet recycling has created hundreds of good-paying green jobs. But we can create even more of these green jobs if we boost our efforts to recycle and reuse waste carpets. As we focus on our key priorities of creating jobs, fixing the budget and reforming a broken system, being able to boost our environment at the same time is definitely a win-win.”

AB 2614 would direct the California Energy Commission (CEC) to work with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a program to facilitate the federal HOMESTAR program currently being considered in the U.S. Senate. The state program would involve numerous stakeholders to provide accountability and ensure that the projected energy savings are realized.

HOMESTAR is expected to provide for 50% rebates of up to $1500 for simple energy efficiency upgrades and 50% rebates of up to $3000 for more comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits. Additionally, HOMESTAR is expected to:

• Create 168,000 jobs in skilled construction and manufacturing, two of the hardest hit sectors during the U.S. economic downturn
• Save participating homeowners an average of between $200 - $500 per year in energy costs
• Invest $6 billion in the form of consumer rebates to be matched by private investment
• Help over three million American families to retrofit their houses to increase energy efficiency and save them as much as $9.5 billion in energy costs over 10 years
• Remove the equivalent of 165,000 cars from the road or four 300 megawatt power plants form operation
• Dedicate $200 million to provide access to low interest financing
• Use a majority of manufactured goods made in the U.S., averaging well over 90 percent domestic production

AB 2670 would create the State Capitol Sustainability Task Force, whose duties would include:

• Joining the California Climate Action Registry to determine, track, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Benchmarking and monitoring building operations, such as energy and water use
• Improving waste diversion practices, such as material and electronic waste recycling, composting, and reusing materials
• Investing in energy efficiency and water conservation technologies
• Promoting environmentally preferable purchasing, such as green and recycled content products
• Incorporating renewable energy, such as photovoltaic technology into our energy supply
• Integrating sustainable practices such as double-sided copying, the use of low volatile organic compound paints, integrated pest management, and electronic distribution of certain documents
• Partnering with utility companies, water districts, labor organizations, environmental groups, federal and local government, and private industry to develop green demonstration projects
• Seeking a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or ENERGY STAR rating
• Developing public education materials on sustainability for student groups and other visitors to the State Capitol
• Finalizing the Capitol Park Master Plan

AB 2503 would establish the Rigs-to-Reefs program, allowing the underwater portion of decommissioned oil rigs to remain in place to continue serving as valuable fish habitat. AB 2503 would:

• Continue the removal of oil platforms from the seascape
• Protect ocean biodiversity, including threatened rock fish populations and millions of other sea creatures that live on these reefs
• Allow a rig to be converted to a reef only if the Department of Fish and Game finds that the conversion will result in a net environmental benefit
• Create the California Endowment for Marine Preservation, which would receive 45 percent of the cost savings from rig conversion instead of complete removal. These funds, which could amount to up to one billion dollars, could be spent by the Endowment only for ocean and marine protection projects and activities
• Reduces air and water pollution threats associated with the full removal of these rigs – some in waters as deep as 1,200 feet – which involves significant industrial equipment from around the world

AB 2398 would create incentives for carpet manufacturers to implement a carpet product stewardship program to increase the recycling and reuse of waster carpets. AB 2398 would:

• Require carpet manufacturers to prepare a carpet stewardship plan to show how they will take responsibility for collecting waste carpet instead of sending it to landfills
• Set targets of 50% collection by 2014 and 70% by 2017
• Prohibit manufacturers from selling carpet in California after 2012 unless they have prepared a plan to meet the targets

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Speaker Calls on U.S. Senate to Pass President’s HOMESTAR Program

SACRAMENTO – California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) lauded today’s Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee approval of AB 2614, legislation he authored to facilitate the job-creating federal HOMESTAR energy efficiency rebate program now being considered in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, Pérez urged swift approval of the HOMESTAR program in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

“In his State of the Union address the President outlined how HOMESTAR would revitalize the construction industry, help small businesses, and support manufacturing – all of which have tremendous job creating potential,” Pérez said in the letter. “We are also moving forward to ensure our state is properly positioned to implement the HOMESTAR program as soon as it becomes law.  In fact, I am pleased to share with you that my Assembly Bill 2614 is moving through the legislative process with strong bipartisan support.”

AB 2614 would direct the California Energy Commission (CEC) to work with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a program involving numerous stakeholders to provide accountability and ensure that the projected energy savings are realized.

HOMESTAR is expected to provide for 50% rebates of up to $1500 for simple energy efficiency upgrades and 50% rebates of up to $3000 for more comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits. Additionally, HOMESTAR is expected to:

• Save participating homeowners an average of between $200 - $500 per year in energy costs
• Create 168,000 jobs in skilled construction and manufacturing, two of the hardest hit sectors during the U.S. economic downturn Invest $6 billion in the form of consumer rebates to be matched by private investment
• Help over three million American families to retrofit their houses to increase energy efficiency  and save them as much as $9.5 billion in energy costs over 10 years
• Remove the equivalent of 165,000 cars  from the road or four 300 megawatt power plants form operation
• Dedicate $200 million to provide access to low interest financing
• Use a majority of manufactured goods made in the U.S., averaging well over 90 percent domestic production

The HOMESTAR effort comes on top of recent passage of state legislation to help California become more energy efficient. AB 758 (Skinner) requires the CEC to develop and implement a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in existing residential and commercial buildings by using energy audits, energy efficiency improvements, financing options, and green workforce training. SB 77 (Pavley) requires the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority to establish a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Reserve program to assist local jurisdictions in financing the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources or energy or water efficiency improvements meeting specified requirements that are permanently affixed on real property through the use of a voluntary contractual assessment.

Click here to view the full letter from the Speaker to Reid.

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408