The legislature ended its 2019 session in September, and the deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills has passed. Problems viewing this E-mail? Please click here.
WELCOME IN THE KNOW ...
Update on Legislation Signed by Governor Newsom Dear Friend, The legislature ended its 2019 session in September, and the deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills has passed. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish for the 40th Senate District during this year's legislative session, and look forward to a productive second year of session beginning in January 2020. This interim recess is a good time to reach out to our office and share your bill ideas. Suggesting legislation is an excellent way constituents can directly participate in the legislative process.
Additionally, I hope you will join October 13 was the last day for Governor Newsom to take action on us at our next community event, legislation passed during the 2019 legislative session. The majority of as I would love to meet with you my bills were signed into law, and I thank the governor for his support and hear your thoughts and for these important issues. Some of my bills signed by the governor concerns. Working with include: constituents and community leaders in our district to discuss SB 208: Consumer Call Protection Act of 2019 - This the issues most impacting our legislation sets a deadline for telecommunications providers to residents is critical to our take steps necessary to stop illegal robocall scams known as success in addressing those neighbor spoofing, and also ensures that the CPUC can issues through our work in collaborate with the California Attorney General's Office to Sacramento. support action against illegal robocallers.
As always, if you have any SB 313: Circus Cruelty Prevention Act - This law protects questions about the legislative wild or exotic animals by prohibiting any person from process or need assistance with sponsoring, conducting, operating, or participating in a circus a state agency, please do not that uses animals. hesitate to contact my offices.
We are here to serve you. SB 338: Elder & Disability Justice Policies - By establishing Sincerely, a comprehensive and complete listing of laws protecting seniors and people with disabilities, this legislation gives local Ben Hueso law enforcement agencies tools to better protect California's State Senator most vulnerable populations from harm and abuse. 40th District SB 367: State Coastal Conservancy - This legislation WELCOME enhances the State Coastal Conservancy's authority to provide grants for the purpose of protecting state's coastal resources and improving public access across the state. It was sponsored by the San Diego Maritime Museum and will in part enhance their educational programs.
SB 656: Coronado Bridge Suicide Prevention Initiative - This law creates an advisory committee to provide input into the selection of a suicide deterrent system for the San Diego- Coronado Bridge. Coupled with the $5 million allocation I Last day for Governor to secured in the state budget, this law will help speed efforts to 10/13: sign or veto bills implement a permanent barrier on the bridge and ensure that it reflects the views of the surrounding communities and other 10/16: World Food Day interested stakeholders. 10/23- Red Ribbon Week 10/31: SB 690: Tijuana River Valley: Funding Prioritization - This 10/24: United Nations Day year, I secured $15 million in the state budget allocated to addressing transboundary flows and pollution in the Tijuana Halloween, Dia de 10/31: River Valley. SB 690 complements this allocation by los Muertos begins encouraging the Coastal Conservancy, when granting these funds, to prioritize those projects identified in the County For the complete legislative comprehensive studies required by SB 507 (a bill I authored in calendar, please visit: 2016), to the extent feasible. Legislative Calendar Red Ribbon Week 2019
Red Ribbon Week was started right here in our district, in Calexico. It is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the US, reaching millions of young people every year during the week of October 23rd - 31st. The Red Ribbon Campaign began after Mexican drug traffickers murdered DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena of Calexico in 1985. The tragedy prompted a continuing tradition of displaying red ribbons in Camarena's memory and to symbolize intolerance towards the use of drugs. Today, the red ribbon serves as a symbol to galvanize communities around educating youth and encouraging participation in drug prevention activities. Every year for Red Ribbon Week, our office provides materials promoting healthy, drug-free lifestyles and reminding children of the importance of making good choices. This year we distributed more than 32,000 red ribbon brochures to schools throughout the 40th Senate District.
Community Coffee in Imperial Beach
This month, I held a community coffee meet-and-greet at the Imperial Beach Library to talk with constituents and discuss my office's work in Sacramento last session, as well as how we can work together to solve the issues and address the needs of the 40th Senate District. We will have another community gathering in November so stay tuned for more information – I'd love to meet with you!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT ...
Citizen of the Month: Lynn Pittman Congratulations to Lynn Pittman of the California Small Business Development Center (SBDC) San Diego & Imperial Valley Network, our citizen of the month for October. Lynn's steadfast advocacy and support has contributed to the success of so many small businesses in the 40th Senate District. Between 2017 and 2019, Lynn and her team helped start 246 new businesses and create 1,225 jobs in our region. SBDC helps small businesses grow by providing low-cost or often- free workshops, classes, one-on-one consulting and other services. Lynn – who specializes in marketing, outreach and public relations – works tirelessly to spread the word about SBDC so that more small businesses in the San Diego and Imperial Valley region succeed and, in turn, contribute to our local economy. Lynn's leadership in assisting local small businesses and entrepreneurs in our District is instrumental in building a foundation for those companies' success. She helped create the "Connecting with Capital Expo" series, which are monthly workshops focused on helping local business owners learn from and connect with finance and banking experts about funding options for their company. Lynn's passion for helping small businesses succeed is clear from the moment you meet her. Please join me in recognizing and thanking her and the entire team at SBDC for their dedication to SBDC's mission of growing the economic vitality of our community. Organization of the Month: Chula Vista Police Department Homeless Outreach Team
It is my honor to recognize a trailblazing and innovative organization in Chula Vista, which works every day to break down barriers allowing the homeless to take their first steps on a path to recovery. Established in 2016, the Chula Vista Police Department Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) is a multi-department, multi-disciplinary group focused on daily outreach to the homeless population in Chula Vista. This collaborative effort involves the Chula Vista Police Department, Public Works Department, Parks and Recreation Department, as well as County of San Diego and community partners. The HOT team analyzes the environmental and societal factors related to homelessness that influence the quality of life in Chula Vista, works to develop strategies to deal with these factors, and implements these strategies for the betterment of our community. On a daily basis, HOT team members make contact with our homeless population and encourage them to take advantage of the services that are available. In just two years, HOT has made 800 contacts with the homeless in the City of Chula Vista. Specific emphasis is made on Tuesdays when the group provides outreach to five City parks: Eucalyptus, Friendship, Harborside, Lauderbach, and Memorial. From January through August 2018, Park Rangers removed 106,330 lbs (51 tons) of trash and 1,033 shopping carts from various locations throughout the City. They have also housed 90 people. A new aspect of the Chula Vista HOT, in collaboration with McAlister Institute, is the "Work for Hope" job training program. Work for Hope is funded by a Kaiser Foundation Hospitals grant, and selected homeless individuals are offered work such as graffiti removal, painting, and other beautification projects in the City. Homelessness is not a crime and the homeless have rights just like any other person. However, certain issues related to the living conditions of homelessness affect all citizens. HOT works to balance the needs of all groups in the City, while promoting a healthy quality of life and honoring their commitment to keep our neighborhoods safe. Being responsive to the needs of our community, the Chula Vista Police Department has consistently been on the cutting edge of police work and their HOT Team is a perfect example of a community working together. I want to thank everyone who contributes to the success of the Chula Vista HOT. These folks are on the front lines of the homelessness crisis in our city to help those in need, and are more than deserving of our gratitude.
WHAT'S NEW ...
Public Safety Power Shutoffs
As wildfires burn across our state, it is important to remember that we all need to be prepared – both for a potential fire, and for a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). If extreme fire danger conditions threaten a portion of the electric system serving your community, it may be necessary for SDG&E to turn off electricity in the interest of public safety. If you have questions about how to prepare for these shutoffs, please contact my office for materials. This month I was appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate to be part of a working group to study the issue of PSPS, and will also chair an oversight hearing by the Senate Energy Utilities and Communications Committee on the subject. I will continue to keep you informed of our progress in Sacramento in this area. A non-emergency hotline has been established to help medically vulnerable Californians and health and community care facilities find resources in their communities during power shutoffs. The hotline is (833) 284-3473. For more information and resources, please visit response.ca.gov.
Covered California Open Enrollment Has Begun Health insurance can be expensive. That's why Covered California offers financial help and other benefits for qualified individuals and families. In fact, the state allocated a billion dollars in the budget to expand Covered California financial assistance to more Californians. Open Enrollment for the Covered California program began October 15 and ends January 15, for coverage beginning in January 2020. If you have questions about Covered California and/or to apply, please visit https://www.coveredca.com/apply/.
Apply for State Arts Funding Grant season is in full swing at the California Arts Council! Fifteen programs are now open with nearly $35 million projected to be awarded, the most in the agency's history. Funding is available to support community arts, arts for youth, arts and justice projects, and operational and field support. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.
New Statewide Earthquake Early Warning System The Governor's Office of Emergency Services this month officially launched the statewide Earthquake Early Warning System. This app, which you can download on your smartphone or tablet, makes earthquake early warning alerts publicly available throughout California. By using ground motion sensors from across the state, the system can detect earthquakes before humans can feel them and notifies users in real time. For more information or to download the app, please visit http://www.earthquake.ca.gov.
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California State Senator Ben Hueso - Fortieth Senate District Representing portions of San Diego County and all of Imperial County. Web site: http://sd40.senate.ca.gov/ Contact: Senator Ben Hueso Capitol Office Chula Vista Office El Centro State Capitol, Room 4035 303 H Street., Suite 200 1224 State Street, Suite D Sacramento, CA 95814 Chula Vista, CA 91910 El Centro, CA 92243 Phone: (916) 651-4040 Phone: (619) 409-7690 Phone: (760) 335-3442 Fax: (916) 651-4940 Fax: (619) 409-7688 Fax: (760) 335-3444
(c) 2019 California State Senate