“WORST 11 OF 2011 – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?”

Last month, I reported on the “Worst 11 Bills of 2011” following the legislative session. I wanted to provide an update on where those bills stand now that Governor Brown has concluded his signing/vetoing. Unfortunately, six out of those "ugly 11" were signed into law.

• Assembly Bill 6 (Fuentes–D) – Eliminates fingerprint requirements for a state welfare program, removing a common–sense provision for receiving benefits and opening the door to massive fraud.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
  
   
• Assembly Bill 499 (Atkins–D) – Undermines families by allowing 12–year olds to get treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without telling their parents.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
  
   
• Assembly Bill 889 (Ammiano–D) – Forces parents to provide worker’s compensation and breaks to babysitters.
  UPDATE: PLACED ON SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUSPENSE FILE
  
   
• Assembly Bill 727 (Mitchell–D) – Requires the state to put at least 50–percent "healthy" food in state building vending machines.
  UPDATE: PLACED ON SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUSPENSE FILE
  
   
• Assembly Bill 887 (Atkins–D) – Adds "gender identity" to the list of protected categories for employment discrimination.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
  
   
• Assembly Bill 438 (Williams–D) – Makes it difficult for municipalities to staff libraries with private–sector employees, which will contribute to library closures and service cutbacks.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
  
   
• Senate Bill 432 (De Leon–D) – An anti–business, micromanaging bill that would have outlawed the use of flat sheets on hotel beds.
  UPDATE: RE–REFERRED TO ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
  
   
• Assembly Bill 844 (Lara–D) – Circumvents federal law against hiring illegal immigrants by granting them eligibility to receive stipends to serve in student governments at California public universities and colleges, where they already receive in–state tuition.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
  
   
• Senate Bill x1 7 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) – An illegal tax that charges rural residents potentially thousands of dollars apiece for additional fire protection – then provides no additional fire protection.
  UPDATE: HELD IN ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE
  
   
• Assembly Bill 350 (Solorio–D) – Forces contractors, who are awarded a contract for property services, to keep on the old employees for 60 days, and then hire them if they are not terrible, or the employee can sue the new employer.
  UPDATE: FAILED IN THE SENATE
  
   
• The Budget (Budget Committee) – Once again billions out of balance, the budget package is a cruel joke on Californians who deserve a government that focuses on basic services at a price taxpayers can afford.
  UPDATE: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BROWN
   

AT YOUR SERVICE…

As your State Senator, one of the most important services I provide is assisting you when you are having trouble cutting through the red tape of state government. If you have a problem with a state agency or program such as those listed below, my staff can help find answers.
 

• Department of Motor Vehicles (driver’s license, vehicle registration)
• Employment Development Department (unemployment benefits)
• CA Department of Justice (background checks for employment)
• Medi-Cal
• Franchise Tax Board
• CA Public Utilities Commission
• CA Resources Agency
• Medical Board of California
• CA Contractors State License Board
• CA Department of Food and Agriculture
• And much more!

We also assist local governments and community organizations with regulatory issues and grant programs involving state agencies. We can seek answers to your questions, make the appropriate officials aware of your concerns and assist with any problems you might be experiencing. Below are a few recent examples of "success stories" my office has been able to help with:

An Orangevale resident built a shed on his property using the proper permitting he had obtained from Sacramento County. Upon completing the shed, a neighbor complained it was too close to the sidewalk and the county determined the shed needed to be moved. He complied at his own personal expense of time, labor and materials. Upset, he filed a claim with the county’s insurance company seeking reimbursement. Months went by and there was no news on the status of the claim. As soon as he brought this to my attention, my staff stepped in to help. It wasn’t long after that he received a reimbursement check from the county for $1,100.

Another case involved a Carmichael resident who was having difficulty obtaining her medical records from her former physician. She needed those records to properly treat her endometriosis. State law says a doctor has to provide patients with copies of their records within 15 days of their request. The constituent also filed a complaint with the Medical Board of California. Nearly a year went by with no action until she contacted my office. My staff got in touch with the Medical Board and in a matter of days, she received her records.

If you’re not sure where to go for help, feel free to ask us. We are here to serve you and can refer you to the appropriate government agency. Just call my district office at (916) 783-8232 and we will help you get started.