Assemblywoman Luz Rivas Holds The Share Our Values Film Tax Credit in Fiscal Committee

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) author of Assembly Bill (AB) 1442, held her bill in the fiscal Senate Appropriations Committee to continue to work with stakeholders. AB 1442 establishes the Share Our Values Film Tax Credit which allocates $50 million per year for five years, for the relocation of film production to California…

Employment Training Panel Awards $11 million to Train 7,700 employees

DreamWorks Animation LLC Awarded $258,000 to Train 870 employees SACRAMENTO – The State of California’s Employment Training Panel announced it approved 23 contracts worth nearly $11 million to train nearly 7,700 workers. Included is a $258,000 contract to DreamWorks Animation LLC to train 870 employees in entertainment multimedia. “The entertainment industry has a high demand…

California Fire Safe Council announces receipt of a $500,000 Edison International Wildfire Assistance Fund grant

SACRAMENTO, Aug. 27, 2019 — California Fire Safe Council is pleased to announce the award of $500,000 from Edison International, parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE). The grant is in addition to an earlier 2018 Edison International $250,000 grant that provided small grants for community fire prevention and preparedness projects to 12 fire safe…

State Treasurer Fiona Ma Announces $73.7 Million Green Bond Sale for Rice Waste Recycling Plant

SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma today announced that $73.7 million in tax-exempt green bond financing has been issued for CalPlant I, LLC, a company that will turn rice straw into medium density fiberboard at its Willows plant in the Sacramento Valley. The fiberboard can be used in manufacturing flooring, furniture, doors, shelves and…

Employment Training Panel Awards $8 million to Train 7,000 Workers

BioMarin Pharmaceutical to receive $750,000 to train 815 employees SACRAMENTO – The State of California’s Employment Training Panel announced that it approved 23 contracts worth more than $8 million in job training funds for 7,000 workers. The panel awarded a $750,000 contract to BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. to train 815 employees. “The Employment Training Panel is…

Lead Detected in Drinking Water of Almost 1 in 5 California Schools

https://www.ewg.org/release/lead-detected-drinking-water-almost-1-5-california-schools SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Almost 20 percent of California’s K-12 school campuses serve drinking water with detectable levels of lead. The State Water Resources Control Board confirmed in an email to EWG that 1,166 out of 6,595 schools that submitted test results found at least one fountain that served water with more than 5 parts…

New State Budget Provides Big Wins for Inland Empire Communities

Sacramento – Last Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the 2019-2020 California state budget that makes historic investments in California’s future including funding for early childhood education, homelessness prevention, higher education access, largest investment in K-14 education in California’s history, expansion of Cal-EITC Working Families Tax Credit and $19.2 billion in reserves, the largest of any…

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Announces New Sales and Use Tax Rates Operative July 1, 2019

Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reminds Californians that new sales and use tax rates will take effect July 1, 2019. The new rates are the result of voter-approved initiatives. The tax rate changes listed below apply only within the indicated city or county limits.      To find the…

Assemblyman Obernolte Recognizes Apple Valley Police Activities League as Nonprofit of the Year

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) recognized Apple Valley Police Activities League as the 2019 Nonprofit of the Year for the 33rd Assembly District. The Apple Valley Police Activities League was founded in 2003 by the Apple Valley Police Department. The department wanted to create a program that would provide positive activities for youth…

California State Auditor Opens Online Applications For The 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission

Eligible citizens can apply at ShapeCaliforniasFuture.auditor.ca.gov today Sacramento, Calif. (June 10, 2019) – The California State Auditor, Elaine M. Howle, announced online applications are now open for qualified Californians to apply for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. Alongside several partners – including those representing business, good government advocates, party representatives, and ethnic organizations – the…

Assembly Public Safety Committee Approves Leyva Bill Requiring Prompt Rape Kit Testing

SB 22 Continues Senator Leyva’s Commitment to Ensuring Justice for Survivors SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the Assembly Public Safety Committee passed critical legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) requiring that law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories promptly analyze and test all newly collected rape kit evidence in California. Passing from committee today with…

Leyva Legislation to Help Community College Students Cover Total Cost of Attendance Passes Senate

SB 291 will improve college access and student graduation rates SACRAMENTO – In order to address the quickly escalating total costs of attending community college, the California State Senate approved legislation earlier today that establishes the California Community College Student Financial Aid Program that would base financial aid on not only the cost of tuition,…

U.S. EPA Awards up to $9.24 Million in Beach Water Quality Monitoring Grants

California, Hawaii and Pacific Island Territories Expected to Receive Total of $1.6 Million SAN FRANCISCO – As the nation heads into the summer beach season, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun awarding up to $9.24 million across 39 states, territories and tribes to develop and implement beach monitoring and notification programs. Upon meeting…

Senate Passes Leyva Bill Ensuring College Students’ Access to Medication Abortion

SB 24 Would Remove Barriers to Abortion Care for UC and CSU Students SACRAMENTO – As other states continue to ban or severely restrict abortion, the California State Senate today approved the “College Student Right to Access Act” by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will ensure access to medication abortion on California public university…

The CROWN Act’ To End Hair Discrimination In The Workplace And Schools Passes Senate Vote In California

SB 188 Introduced  by Senator  Holly J.  Mitchell  Sponsored by National Urban League, Dove, Color of Change and Western Center on Law & Poverty SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The CROWN Coalition, a national alliance comprised of the National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Color Of Change, and Dove, is…

Volunteers And Vulnerable Communities At The Center Of Governor Newsom’s Strategy To Ready California For Disaster

California  For  All  Emergency  Preparedness  Campaign  grants released  to  empower  communities  and  engage  one  million vulnerable  Californians  on  emergency  preparedness Sacramento, Calif. – California Volunteers, Office of the Governor, announced today the release of nine available grants for the California For All Emergency Preparedness Campaign to deploy a network of volunteers and transform how Californians get…

Legislation Improving Hospital Patient Safety Passes Senate Health Committee

SB 227 Supported by Broad Coalition of Patient, Labor and Consumer Advocates SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will protect patient safety and reinforce nurse staffing ratio requirements passed from the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday. With the goal of enhancing patient safety in hospitals, Senate Bill 227 would require…

California State Auditor Announces Information Page For The 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission

ShapeCaliforniasFuture.auditor.ca.gov  provides  essential    information   about  the  opportunity to apply for the 2020 Commission Sacramento, Calif. (March 20, 2019) – Today, the California State Auditor launched the Shape California’s Future informational webpage, ShapeCalifor niasFuture.auditor.ca.gov, for the public, community organizations, and stakeholders to provide information about the application and selection process for the 2020 Citizens…

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Presents Free Small Business Tax Seminar in Apple Valley

Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) invites business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to attend a free Small Business Tax Seminar in Apple Valley on Thursday, March 21, 2019. This seminar will deliver informative presentations for those looking for assistance with state and federal tax issues, as well as those who…

The California Natural Resources Agency and Department of Conservation Announce $20 Million Block Grant Awards for the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program

The California Fire Safe Council in Partnership with the Watershed Research and Training Center has been awarded a Three Million Dollar Statewide Sub-Grant SACRAMENTO – The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program aims to help communities prioritize, develop, and implement projects to strengthen fire resiliency, increase carbon sequestration, and facilitate greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the…

Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers Honored by State Legislature as 2019 Woman of the Year

San Bernardino – On Tuesday, March 5th,  Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers of San Bernardino as the 2019 Assembly District 47 Woman of the Year. Organized by the Legislative Women’s Caucus, the Woman of the Year award recognizes women from all over the state for accomplishments in their respective fields and for…

Bureau Of Cannabis Control Announces Enforcement On Unlicensed Cannabis Businesses

SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Division of Investigation-Cannabis Enforcement Unit (DOI-CEU) today announced enforcement actions against two unlicensed cannabis businesses operating out of multiple locations in Sacramento, Davis and Los Angeles. On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, DOI-CEU and the Davis Police Department served search warrants on…

Employment Training Panel Awards Butte-Glenn Community College District $600,000 to Train 600 Workers for Camp Fire Cleanup and Emergency Response

SACRAMENTO – The State of California’s Employment Training Panel announced that it approved a nearly $600,000 contract to the Butte-Glenn Community College District to train 608 workers through Butte College for hazardous debris cleanup and emergency response in the aftermath of the Camp Fire. “With the massive efforts underway to clean up the debris and…