Friday, January 1, 2016

"January 2016 eNews" Speaker Toni G. Atkins, speaker of the Assembly of San Diego & Sacramento, California, United States for Happy New Year, Friday, 1 January 2016

"January 2016 eNews" Speaker Toni G. Atkins, speaker of the Assembly of San Diego & Sacramento, California, United States for Happy New Year, Friday, 1 January 2016

January 2016 eNews
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Check out my newsletter to see some photos of the UN Climate Conference, learn about key new laws and discover some tips for El Niño preparation!
IN THIS ISSUE:
A Note from Toni
Every other January marks an interesting time in the Capitol. As you might know, the state Legislature works in two-year sessions. The current session began last January and concludes on August 31, 2016. So, we’re right in the middle of session; a time to reflect on the first year’s work and look forward to the coming year.
I’m very proud of the things we achieved for the people of California in 2015. As the state budget continued to rebound from the Great Recession, we were able to beef up our rainy-day reserves and pay down debt, and we pumped more money into public schools, higher education, and childcare support.
We created a new system for the regulation of medical marijuana and solved a problem that has dogged the state for 20 years. We’ve made much progress in our efforts to conserve water amid a prolonged drought.
We passed a crucially important climate change law that pushes us more toward renewable energy and increases energy efficiency in our buildings. Further, several of my colleagues and I traveled to Paris last month to demonstrate to world leaders how California is leading the way in the fight against climate change.
And we created California’s first state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to supplement the federal EITC and put more money into the pockets of the workers who need it most, benefitting roughly 2 million people.
Still, not all of the important work was finished. Our system of highways, roads, and bridges is in serious decay, and we haven’t settled the question of how to pay for the needed repairs. Likewise, we must fill a billion-dollar shortfall in our Medi-Cal system, and more funding is needed to provide services for residents with developmental disabilities.
Nor have we decided on a permanent funding source for affordable housing. Housing affordability is a growing crisis in California, one that’s threatening to further erode the middle class and making it difficult for many working poor families to escape poverty.
The issues are complex and difficult, but we need to address them.
In 2016 I’ll also be assisting Assembly Speaker-Elect Rendon’s transition into the Speaker’s office. The Assembly Democratic Caucus selected Mr. Rendon as the next Speaker. He will be elected formally on January 11th and be officially sworn in on March 7, 2016, allowing for a two month transition period. After that, during what will be my final nine months in the Assembly, I’ll continue advocating for veterans, homeless people, the LGBT community, the working poor, and all San Diegans and Californians in my role as Speaker Emeritus.
Indeed, 2016 will be an interesting transitional year for me, and I am looking forward to it. I have high hopes for what can be accomplished for San Diego and California.
I wish you all a productive and joyous year.
Warmly,

Toni G. Atkins
Speaker of the Assembly
78th Assembly District
We Did It!
Last month, I shared with you some information about the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP 21, that took place in Paris from December 1st through 12th.
The goal of the conference was for nations to pledge to keep global warming from rising 2 degrees Celsius (above pre-Industrial Revolution temperatures) or, ideally, from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius. Every five years, nations will update their plans to ensure that they’re within the goal. I helped advocate for reducing the impacts of climate change as a representative of California and the San Diego region. It was my pleasure to be a first-hand witness to this historic agreement.
The agreement signed at the end of the conference is transformational. It will change the world’s approach to the use of fossil fuels and establishes an achievable path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to respond to the potential devastation caused by climate change.
The fact that almost 200 countries from around the globe signed on to the agreement is a breathtaking sign of unity and commitment. We’re all in this together, and this promise is proven by developed nations planning to invest $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries reach their climate goals. In so doing, economic opportunity, as well the consequences of climate change, incentivizes compliance with the agreement.
President Obama called the pact a “strong agreement that the world needed” and pledged to reduce U.S. emissions by up to 28% below 2005 levels in the next decade. China’s chief negotiator said the agreement propelled the world “historical steps forward” in the fight against climate change. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a sign that “climate justice has won and we are all working towards a greener future.”
I was honored to have been part of California's delegation to COP 21, and I am proud of our state's leadership and vision on climate change.
By showing what is possible, California helped open the door to this historic agreement. The Paris Agreement is by no means the end, however.
In California, we know the serious damage climate change can cause to everything from our supply of food and water to the health of our neighborhoods to our national security. California will continue to push the envelope.
The Under 2 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), championed by California and German state Baden-Württemberg, added 58 state and regional signatories at the conference. The Under 2 MOU is a commitment to reduce emissions by 80-90% below 1990 levels by 2050 – which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said could be a game changer. This is a sign of the increasingly important role of cities, states, and regions to ease the effects of climate change.
California will continue to lead, with legislation like AB 32 passed in 2006 and SB 350 last year. San Diego also plays a role, with a climate action plan just unanimously approved by the City Council that creates a legally binding decree to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local officials, including Solana Beach City Councilmember Peter Zahn and Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas, participated in COP 21, offering a perspective on climate change from some of our own local governments.
COP 21 has been lauded as a huge success, but now the hard work begins. Every person on our planet can play a part in ensuring the vitality for future generations by driving less, using less, and recycling.
The conference was extremely rewarding. COP 21 had a lot to offer, and I was glad that Governor Jerry Brown, Senate Pro Tem Kevin De León, and I, along with several delegates from the California Legislature, were active participants in the process.
Over the next two pages, you’ll get an insider’s look at the conference through photos of some of the panels, signings, speakers, and members of the California delegation. As we move forward in implementing this historic agreement, I hope you will share with me ways in which you are making a difference at the local level. We’re in this together.
Scenes from COP 21

Top: Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf discussed social equity and job creation; I was happy to meet with Mirei Endara, the Minister of Environment for Panama, home of one of San Diego’s sister cities, Panama City; taking part in the COP 21 Legislators Summit.
Middle: Paris City Hall joined in decorating the city for COP 21; a representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains global patterns; the panel at the COP 21 Legislators Summit.
Last: Claude Bartolone, President of the French National Assembly, speaking at the President’s residence at the COP 21 Legislators Summit; Minister Endara signs the Under 2 MOU, which makes it a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80-90% below 1990 levels by 2050; at the daily plenary waiting for updates.California at COP 21

California had the privilege of being invited to attend COP 21, due to our leadership on climate action. I’m happy to share some photos of our state’s delegation in Paris.
Top: Left to Right: Getting a moment with Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, who will be my successor as Speaker; Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia is chair of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee; and Governor Brown with some of the signers of the Under 2 MOU.
Middle: Left to Right: I was glad to be a part of the California Dreaming Panel on Climate Action; sharing the stage with Assemblymember Garcia, Senator Bob Wieckowski and Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León; panelists included Senator de León, California Secretary for Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriguez, Sunpower President and CEO Tom Werner, National Resources Defense Council President Rhea Suh and Bloom Energy Founder and CEO KR Sridhar.
Last: Art in Paris in honor of COP 21; With Governor Brown and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.California Earned Income Tax Credit
The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to fight poverty. That’s why California legislators for years have been trying to create a state-level EITC to augment the federal program. In 2015, we succeeded, establishing a new state credit that will help roughly 2 million low-income working Californians and pump $380 million into local economies throughout the state. The next step is to make sure that those who are eligible for the credit file a state tax return and claim that money for their families. A major outreach initiative was launched in November last year to spread the word.
On January 22nd, we’ll be kicking off a series of events designed to make sure as many people as possible know about both the federal and the state EITC.
Don’t know if you’re eligible for the federal or state EITC?

To qualify for the federal EITC, your tax year investment income must be $3,400 or less, you must not file the Foreign Earned Income (Form 2555) or Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555-EZ) forms, your earned income must be at least $1, and your earned income and adjusted gross income must be less than:
Filing Status
Qualifying Children Claimed
Zero
One
Two
Three or More
Single, Head of Household or Surviving Spouse
$14, 820
$39,131
$44,454
$47,747
Married Filing Jointly
$20,330
$44,651
$49,651
$53,267
This handy chart was available from the IRS. To learn more about the federal EITC, visitwww.irs.gov.
To qualify for the California EITC, you must have lived in the state for more than six months, you do not use the “married/RDP filing separately” filing status, your tax year investment income must be $3,400 or less, and your earned income and adjusted gross income must be less than:
Qualifying Children Claimed
Zero
One
Two or More
$6,580
$9,880
$13,870
CalEITC4me.com has a great tool to help you find out if you qualify:www.caleitc4me.org/earn-it/
We’ll be working to get the word out in the coming months, but if you know someone who might be eligible, please have them visit CalEITC4me.com to learn more or call our office at (619) 645-3090.
Carlsbad Desalination Plant is up and running
It was great to take part last month in the festivities surrounding the opening of the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, a major new infrastructure project that will help ensure a reliable water supply for the San Diego region.
The state-of-the-art plant will turn seawater into 50 million gallons of potable water per day, enough to serve roughly 400,000 people year in and year out and providing about 10% of the regional water supply.
This is a great development because the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the Colorado River don’t produce unlimited amounts of water. As such, we’re likely looking at increased periods of drought, and - let’s face it - Southern California is a desert to begin with.
The process of desalination is one of the ways the San Diego County Water Authority is diversifying its source portfolio in order to meet new challenges.
Having recently participated in the climate conference in Paris, it’s particularly gratifying that the Carlsbad plant is so smartly designed that it actually results in a zero net carbon footprint, so it helps California maintain its leading position in the global battle against climate change.
The natural environment is important to me. Several of my bills in 2015 were geared toward environmental protection and environmental justice, including my bill to make the San Diego River Conservancy a permanent state agency so that it can continue to benefit from grant-funded watershed protection programs.
I’m confident that the desalination plant will minimize impacts on surrounding marine life. It met stringent environmental requirements set forth by the state Water Resources Control Board and the state Coastal Commission. As mitigation for the minimal impacts that it does create, Poseidon Water, the company that developed the plant, is restoring 168 acres of wetlands in southern San Diego County along the Otay River. That project will create or enhance habitat for migratory seabirds and shorebirds, as well as other wetland-dwelling wildlife.
Further, as the first major desalination plant on the California coast, the project serves as a model for the Water Resources Control Board to enshrine rigorous requirements aimed at minimizing the environmental impacts of the desalination plants that are being proposed or considered up and down the state.
If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that there is no single answer to the severe drought we’re experiencing. Conservation is a key component, and so is adding to the regional supply so that we’re not so reliant on outside sources.
New Laws You Should Know About
It’s January, and that means new laws, passed during the 2015 legislative session, have taken effect.
With more than 800 bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year, I certainly can’t list them all here, but I thought I’d highlight just a few that will immediately change the way things operate in California.
Some new laws got a lot of attention last summer, such as SB 277, which eliminates the personal-belief exemption from the requirement for a child to be immunized before attending public school, and the package of three bills (AB 243, AB 266, SB 643) that establishes a new regulatory system for medical marijuana, fixing a problem that’s been hampering the state for 20 years.
You might also know about AB 1461, which automatically registers to vote anyone who gets a driver’s license. Hopefully, this bill will lead to a much higher rate of participation in the democratic process.
If you’re a beer connoisseur, you’ll be happy to know that thanks to Assemblymember Marc Levine’s AB 774, you can now enjoy tastings of craft brew at your local farmers market. Mr. Levine also held lovers of fine spirits close to his heart: His AB 1295 allows craft distillers to sell their wares directly to consumers, just as craft brewers have been long been allowed to do.
Meanwhile, we loosened some rules for homeowners and tenants, saving energy and water. Now, renters and homeowners can freely use clotheslines and drying racks for their laundry without interference from landlords or homeowners associations (AB 1448). Also, homeowners associations are no longer allowed to stop you from replacing your front lawn with artificial grass (AB 349).
On the education front, AB 329, by my friend and colleague Dr. Shirley Weber, beefs up the requirements when it comes to sexual-health education in public schools. Specifically, it includes a badly needed update of AIDS and HIV-prevention education. And AB 1307requires the California State University and University of California systems to work harder to justify student fee increases, explain to students the impacts of those increases, and consult with student groups before proposing increases.
How about consumer protection? AB 1116 makes it illegal for manufacturers of smart TVs to use voice-recognition technology to capture private conversations in your home without your knowledge or to use or sell such captured sound for advertising purposes - for instance, using private conversations as the basis for targeted marketing.
And AB 447, authored by my San Diego colleague Brian Maienschein, makes it illegal for insurers to deny habitation coverage to property owners simply because they have tenants who receive housing assistance. This will help our efforts to provide affordable housing as rents continue to rise in California.
In criminal justice, with SB 14, people who are defendants in civil cases involving sexual battery of a minor by an adult in a position of authority over that minor won’t be allowed to use consent as a defense.
And thanks to AB 40, pedestrians and bicyclists can’t be charged a toll to cross bridges that allow those activities. That law sunsets in 2021.
Again, that’s just a small smattering of the new laws that just took effect, and a few examples of the sort of work the Legislature does every session.
Now it’s back to work to solve a whole new list of problems!
Meet the Regulators: The California Air Resources Board
When it comes to important state departments, they don’t get much bigger than the California Air Resources Board (ARB).
If you pay close attention to Capitol politics, you know that the role that ARB plays was a major part of the discussion last year when we were discussing SB 350, the new climate change bill that increases energy efficiency in existing buildings and reliance on renewable energy.
And ARB was the department that discovered last September that Volkswagen had been violating air-quality rules by installing software that could cheat on emissions tests in nearly 500,000 of its cars. The scandal widened in November when additional testing by ARB and its partner agencies revealed that even more VW vehicles included the so-called “defeat device.”
So, what is the Air Resources Board, and what does it do?
Created in 1967, ARB functions under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At its most basic level, it’s California’s lead department on air quality and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. As such, it implements the federal Clean Air Act, establishing the rules that keep the air we breathe as free of pollution as possible, and it sets the standards that keep California on the vanguard in the battle against climate change.
Because cars and trucks represent the largest source of air pollution, ARB has methodically raised the bar on tailpipe emissions, making the rules more and more stringent over time. Since 1998, ARB has been cleaning up the state’s fleet of diesel trucks, with specific efforts targeted at trash trucks and short-haul port trucks, for example.
As a result, cars are significantly cleaner today than they were in the 1970s, and air quality around ports has become 50% cleaner in the past five years. This is important because neighborhoods around ports are vulnerable to high rates of asthma, as the residents of San Diego’s own Barrio Logan know all too well, due to the truck traffic heading into and out of the Port of San Diego.
And speaking of Barrio Logan, it and its neighboring community of Logan Heights are benefitting from a $300,000 grant provided by ARB to the San Diego Association of Governments that expands an electric-vehicle-sharing program. The grant is part of an effort to use proceeds from cap-and-trade allowance auctions to help disadvantaged communities get greener.
Cap-and-trade is one of the strategies that the state, through ARB, is using to meet the goals identified in AB 32, the landmark 2006 climate change law, which requires California to turn back the clock to 1990 by the year 2020, in terms of how much GHG we spew into the atmosphere.
If the federal Clean Air Act is ARB’s guiding force for reducing pollution, AB 32 is its guiding force in the fight against climate change.
So, each time ARB announces a new rule, it’s in the service of these mandates. And with each new rule comes an exhaustive public-participation process - policy papers, public hearings, workshops for various and competing stakeholders, etcetera.
Also, with each new rule comes the hope of groundbreaking innovation that makes it easier for industry to comply with the ever-tightening regulations. ARB’s staff and board members aim for a sweet spot - that small space where industry is not exactly thrilled with new regulations yet, with a little hard work, can meet them. These rules have driven technological advancement in vehicle engines. One example: The development of the three-way catalytic converter in the 1970s.
ARB is getting ready for a big year in 2016. I was pleased to get legislation passed to give a stronger voice to disadvantaged communities. Aside from adding two new board members to give a stronger voice to disadvantaged communities - a result of my bill AB 1288 - the department will be focused on planning to achieve Gov. Jerry Brown’s GHG-reduction goals for 2030. That planning effort will also help the state implement the provisions of SB 350, as well as the governor’s desire to reduce petroleum use.
This year, ARB will also plan for reducing so-called short-lived climate pollutants such as methane, black carbon and fluorinated gases; work on making freight transport greener; and complying with the U.S. EPA’s new clean power-plant rules.
If you want to get absolutely lost in tons of detailed information about what ARB is up to - in a good way! - please visit arb.ca.gov.
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
When we think about slavery in America, 19th-century cotton plantations come to mind. Unfortunately, slavery still exists. California has been identified as one of the biggest hubs for human trafficking, and San Diego is no exception - the FBI listed San Diego as one of the top 13 cities for this heinous practice.
A study published by the University of San Diego in October found that as many as 11,000 people become victims of human trafficking every year in San Diego. It might not seem like it, but human trafficking and slavery is all around us - we just don’t realize it. Victims can include your neighbor’s maid, a child taken from their home, the person who’s picking your produce. Slavery and human trafficking occur in many different forms.
Here are some circumstances associated with victims of human trafficking, including ways in which you might be able to spot them:
They’re not free to come and go as they wish.
They show signs of physical, mental, or sexual abuse.
They aren’t allowed to speak for themselves and are accompanied by an older male; the victim usually is looking down and isn’t making eye contact.
They work excessively long or unusual hours.
They were recruited through misleading or fraudulent recruitment practices, including:
  • deception about job terms, living conditions, location, legal status, or wages
  • contract fraud
  • Their identity documents (passport or driver’s license) were taken or destroyed.
  • Their employer (not head hunter) charged a recruitment fee.
  • Tattoos that appear to be branding, particularly if it includes a money symbol.
The San Diego District Attorney’s office has a full list of signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking. Visit its website to see the full list. The DA has also formed the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Unit to combat trafficking through detection, prevention, education, and prosecution.
Human trafficking is one of the vilest harms a human being can inflict on another. While police and investigators are doing their part to locate victims and prosecute traffickers, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all bandage; this issue requires people on all fronts to be vigilant.
January is Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Every person can participate by becoming more educated about the issue, being aware of those around us and looking for signs that someone may be a victim.
If you have any leads on victims of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center can help.
National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Call:
1-888-373-7888 FREE
Text: BeFree (233733)
El Niño Prep
After a very dry 2015, California is in need of heavy rain. Scientists predict that El Niño is likely to bring much more rain to the state; however, no matter how much water comes down, it won’t solve the drought. Instead, the rainfall from El Niño might cause major problems, like flooding, mud slides, and debris flow, damaging homes and eroding land across Southern California. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for the storms before they hit.
Experts think this year’s El Niño could be the biggest we’ve ever seen. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that California will get above-normal amounts of rain in January through March. In Los Angeles and San Diego, there is a 60% to 69% chance of above-normal precipitation.
There are many ways to get ready. State agencies have already begun planning for worst-case scenarios. Caltrans is preparing for snow and heavy rain by prepositioning equipment and materials and increasing staffing levels in regions most likely to experience extreme weather. Additionally, Caltrans crews have cleaned drains and culverts, replaced signs, , performed mountain rock scaling, and put erosion-control measures in place.
While careful planning and evaluation is taking place across the region, we can’t predict the impact that El Niño will have on the all-too-dry state. That’s why California residents, especially those in Southern California, need to know how to prepare.
Cleaning out gutters and downspouts is one way to protect your home. In strong storms, gutters and downspouts can get clogged with leaves and debris, leading to an overflow of water that can cause damage to walls and footings. Check your gutters to see if they need repairs. Are they loose, sagging, or leaking? It’s also important to make sure there aren’t any leaks in the roof. Be careful, though: This can be dangerous, and a professional may be needed.
Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol advise motorists to:
Always plan ahead and check weather and road conditions before traveling.
Reduce vehicle speed on wet surfaces and allow a safe following distance from other vehicles.
Pay attention to and follow flood warnings and barricades.
Give plenty of space to road workers, law enforcement, and emergency responders.
We can’t predict El Niño’s severity, but we can always plan ahead and be prepared for any situation. To evaluate your flood risk, visit floodsmart.gov.
A Helping Hand in Time for the Holidays
Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right department for help in a state as large as California. That’s where we step in.
Our district office staff can guide constituents in their dealings with many different agencies, including Covered California, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Board of Equalization.
For instance, a constituent recently found himself in a bind because his state disability benefits had been delayed. Prior to contacting us, he and his physician had mailed his application. Three weeks later, his application had yet to be received, so the constituent reached out to my staff for assistance.
Chevelle Newell helped him quickly turn his case around. She informed him about the new online system where he could file his disability claim and advised him to have his physician fill out his portion of the application online, as well.
Less than a week after contacting our office, the constituent received his first disability payment. We were pleased when he followed up and told us his benefits came just in time to make sure his family could enjoy their own Thanksgiving meal.
If you need help getting answers from a state agency, please call our office at (619) 645-3090. You’ll be referred to one of our field reps, who maintain contact with key state agencies. They will be happy to offer any guidance they can.
Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship
If you’re interested in a career in public policy or state government, please consider applying for the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program. It’s a unique opportunity that allows civic-minded individuals to experience full-time work as a legislative staffer. Co-sponsored by the California State Assembly and California State University, Sacramento, this prestigious program is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn and develop the skills necessary to be successful in the legislative process.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 20 years old by the beginning of their fellowship and must complete their undergraduate degree by September of the fellowship year. The application process is very rigorous and requires the applicant to supply a personal statement, a policy statement, college transcripts, and several letters of recommendation.
Interested candidates should submit their application by Feb. 8th. After the submission deadline, selected candidates will be invited to interview before a selection panel in April and May. Acceptance letters will be sent out by the end of May. The fellowship program begins in October.
Upon acceptance, Assembly fellows are placed in the Capitol offices of Assemblymembers for 11 months in order to gain direct exposure to a variety of legislative skills. These skills include researching and tracking legislation, interacting with constituents, and drafting committee analyses, among others. Fellows will also earn graduate-level units for attending seminars taught by CSU Sacramento faculty as part of an academic component to the fellowship.
The Jesse Unruh M. Assembly Fellowship program is a prestigious and competitive program. Many fellows have gone on to become elected officials, such as Congressman Mike Thompson and Assemblymembers Luis Alejo, James Gallagher, and Patrick O’Donnell. I urge college students to apply for this respected and distinguished program.
For more information, please visithttp://www.csus.edu/calst/assembly_fellowship_program.html
Last Chance to Get Covered
It’s that time of year again - time to get covered during Covered California’s open-enrollment period. Covered California is the state’s healthcare marketplace that opened under the Affordable Care Act.
The last day to enroll for a 2016 health-insurance plan is Jan. 31st, unless you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. Don’t hesitate and get covered today!
Healthcare is a necessity we cannot ignore - make sure you and your loved ones are covered. Covered California now covers adult dental insurance, as well.
To learn more or apply for coverage, visit www.coveredca.com. The website contains a wealth of information on plan options, community organizations that can assist you with enrolling, and costs.
Accomplishments in Healthcare
Healthy students learn more. Healthy workers produce more. Healthy families reduce the strain on already-crowded emergency rooms. California’s done a great job making healthcare more available and more affordable. But we have more work to do to ensure that everyone actually receives care.
Providing quality and affordable healthcare access has always been a priority for me since my days working in women’s health in the 1980s. Some of the legislation I’ve authored and got through the Legislature includes:
Allowing nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants to perform abortions by medication or aspiration techniques in the first trimester of pregnancy if they complete required training.
Preventing sexually transmitted diseases by expanding current law so that minors age 12 and older can consent to additional confidential medical services.
As Speaker of the Assembly, I’ve allocated funds for many important healthcare programs through the state budget. These include:
Expanding Medi-Cal for children regardless of immigration status.
Allocating $6.5 million for hepatitis C treatment costs in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
Approving $2.2 million for a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access and Affordability Pilot Program to reduce HIV transmission.
Expanding eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal to pregnant women who live at up to 138% of the federal poverty level.
Providing $4 million for the Black Infant Health Program to promote better health outcomes for black infants.
Providing $3 million to establish projects to provide outreach, HIV screenings, and linkages to care for underserved individuals with a high risk of HIV infection.
Seeing San Diego - While Getting in Shape
It’s that time of year – the time of reckoning when we begin to regret just how much we overindulged over the holidays.
It’s time for action, not guilt. Thankfully, if your preferred mode of fitness is a walk, run or bike ride, several of San Diego’s most popular paths and trails are in my district. There are great options, whether you prefer a good cityscape, an ocean view or something a bit more rustic in which to do your penance.
San Diego Magazine and DiscoverSD.com has put some great paths and trails in San Diego County in the spotlight and many of them happen to be in my district.

For starters, there’s Balboa Park. San Diego’s jewel has 19 trails covering 65 miles through all pockets of the park. You can choose every level of difficulty (or upgrade as your improving fitness level allows) and experience some of the best sights in the city in a way you may not have before.
San Diego is renowned for its beaches and bayfront, and these places are not just for sightseeing for your out-of-town family and friends. From the Silver Strand in Coronado on up to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, there are several prime spots for a good workout that offer up fabulous views as a reward. They include Fiesta Island, Sunset Cliffs, the boardwalk in Pacific Beach and the Bayshore Bikeway.
Even in urban areas, it’s nice to sometimes feel as if you’ve left the city behind. It’s not impossible. For instance, there are more rugged options in Balboa Park that take runners and walkers over sometimes steep trails, and also the Rose Canyon path in University City.

I think there are other great places to step out for hiking or walking in my district. They include the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve near Solana Beach, the San Dieguito Lagoon near Del Mar and the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach.

One of the toughest things about working out is keeping things fresh. With these great choices right in our region, I hope you find getting back in pre-holiday shape easy and fun.
National Stalking Awareness Month
We begin the New Year with National Stalking Awareness Month to focus on the seriousness of stalking. Stalking is broadly defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. A stalker’s behavior usually involves following the victim, sending them unwanted messages, and watching them.
In the United States, 7.5 million people are stalked each year, causing victims to miss work, move, and suffer from fear, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression.
The most tragic of all is loss of life. Some 89% of female homicide victims were stalked in the year before their murder. Likewise, 61% of female victims and 44% of male victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner. Indeed, the majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they already know.
Stalking is a serious and legitimate threat. If you or anyone you know thinks they’re being stalked, consider these essential steps. First, make sure contact from the stalker is saved as evidence. Second, report the behavior to the police, because stalking training programs have made their response more effective. Third, form a supportive and trusted network of family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Lastly, be aware of your use of technology; stalkers often use technology to gain information about their victims with Spyware programs and GPS devices.
Most importantly, the responsibility isn’t completely on the victim. The media sometimes portray stalking behavior as romantic, normal, and comedic. We must be aware of this and show we support stalking victims.
If you or someone you or someone you know may be a victim of stalking, alert the police or call the San Diego County District Attorney’s stalking information line at (619) 515-8900. For more security tips visit this website: http://www.sdcda.org/preventing/stalking/security-tips.html.
Around the District

We had much to celebrate in the district on Dec. 16th, from a special moment for the arts to great acts of generosity from San Diegans:
Top: Greeting guests at the annual Giftraiser I host with Assembly colleagues Shirley Weber and Lorena Gonzalez; laughing with special guest Snoopy, who delighted guests and children at the San Diego Natural History Museum, I helped announce that the California license plate bearing his image now can go into production; Snoopy holding his plate, surrounded by supporters, including 3rd from left, cartoonist Greg Evans, of San Marcos, whose "Luann" comic has been published for 30 years, to his right, Dr. Michael Hager, president and CEO of the museum and, far right, San Diego City Council member Todd Gloria.
Middle: The amazing bounty from our donors at the Giftraiser; representatives of the charities that benefited from the Giftraiser join the Assemblymembers, (left to right) CEO Robert Dean of Vista Hill, home of the Bridge Teen Recovery program, Assemblymember Gonzalez, Executive Director Marisa Ugarte of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition, Assemblymember Weber, and YWCA Director of Marketing and Development Gavon Morris. The YWCA manages Becky's House, which supports victims of domestic violence.
Last: Youngsters from Felicita Elementary School in Escondido join with Snoopy as we celebrate the Snoopy plate. Proceeds from the sales will support a grant program for California museums; happy for some personal time with Snoopy. You can get your plate at Snoopyplate.com.Warmly,

Toni G. Atkins
Speaker of the Assembly
78th Assembly District 

The Eiffel Tower is beautiful at night and made even more beautiful to celebrate the UN Climate Conference.P.S. Social media is a great way to connect with my office! Use the icon below to like my page on Facebook.

Website: http://www.asmdc.org/speakerEmail: Speaker Toni G. Atkins
Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0078, United States
Tel: (916) 319-2078
Fax: (916) 319-2178 District Office:
1350 Front Street
Room 6054
San Diego, California 92101, United States
Tel: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094

Speaker.Atkins@outreach.assembly.ca.gov
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