Garcia Sends More than 12 Bills to Governor

SACRAMENTO — Before the California State Legislature concluded the 2020 legislative session this week, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, had passed more than a dozen authored and coauthored bills that now await the Governor’s signature.

The bills address issues and topics that address everything from veterans and economic development to suicide and education.

“This year the Legislature was called to respond to unprecedented challenges,” Garcia said in a prepared statement. “My colleagues and I came together to prioritize COVID-19 relief and economic recovery. While this important work is far from over, I am proud that we were able to defend a majority of our district priorities, and remain committed to alleviating the burden this pandemic has placed on our community.”

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia 2020 Legislation:

Economic Development and Relief:

AB 1657, Blue Ribbon Commission on Lithium Extraction in California (E. Garcia): requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to establish and convene the Blue Ribbon Commission on Lithium Extraction in California, with 14 members appointed by a combination of the CEC, other state agencies, Assembly Speaker, and Senate Committee on Rules.

AB 2663, Sale of Dimethyl Ether Fuel Blend (E. Garcia): enables retail sale of dimethyl ether (DME)-propane fuel blend. Authorizes owners or operators of DME or DME-propane fuel blend powered vehicles, except interstate users, to pay the flat rate fuel tax.

AB 1457, Regional business training center network: pilot project (Cervantes/E. Garcia):  this bill establishes a pilot project, administered through the Employment Training Panel (ETP), to leverage the expertise of the state’s regionally focused statewide network of Community College Contract Education Centers to provide short term training courses to new and incumbent workers. Business training needs are identified through direct consultation with local businesses and a regional skills gap analysis to be developed by the Community College Centers of Excellence.

AB 1993, Family Caregiver Economic Security (Kamlager/E. Garcia): provides unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to family members who are paid by the InHome Supportive Services (IHSS) and the Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) program.

AB 1525, Cannabis Financial Institutions (Jones-Sawyer/ E. Garcia): clarifies that no state law prohibits an entity from providing financial services, as specified, to a licensed cannabis business. Permits a cannabis business to authorize a state regulatory agency to share the business’ track-and-trace data with financial institutions.

Education:

AB 331, Ethnic Studies (Medina/E. Garcia): requires ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for high school.

Protections for Farmworkers and Rural Communities:

AB 2043, Agricultural Workplace Health & Safety Act (Rivas/E. Garcia): directs the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CALOSHA) to disseminate information on best practices regarding COVID-19 infection prevention to agricultural employees by conducting a targeted outreach campaign in conjunction with community and employee organizations and to compile and report on its website information regarding investigations in agriculture of COVID-19 safety practices or conditions, as well as injuries and illnesses related to COVID-19.

AB 2165, E-Filing and Rural Access to Justice Act (Rivas/E. Garcia): clarifies procedures governing electronic filing of court documents, with specific attention paid to filing fees, allocation of costs, consistency of requirements between courts, notices to filers, statutes of limitations, and methods for signing documents.

AB 2164, Telehealth and E-Consult Services for Rural and Community Health Centers (Rivas/E. Garcia): allows Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Centers (RHC) to expands access to telehealth services for the most vulnerable populations, such as rural communities.

Affordable Housing:

AB 2405, Right to Safe, Decent, and Affordable Housing (Burke/E. Garcia): establishes that it is the policy of the state that every individual in California has a right to safe, decent, and affordable housing.

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health:

AB 2112, Office of Suicide Prevention (Ramos/E. Garcia): authorizes the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) to among other functions, provide information and technical assistance to statewide and regional partners regarding best practices on suicide prevention policies and programs and conduct and convene experts and stakeholders to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention. Provides that if OSP is established, DPH may focus resources on groups with the highest risk, including the youth and Native Americans.

Public Safety:

AB 1196, Peace Officers Use of Force – Carotid Restraint Holds and Choke Holds (Gipson/E. Garcia): prohibits law enforcement agencies from authorizing carotid restraint holds and choke holds.

AB 901, Juvenile Justice (Gipson/E. Garcia): repeals the jurisdiction of the juvenile criminal court over minors who habitually refuse to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of school authorities. Require a peace officer to refer a minor who habitually refuses to obey the reasonable and proper orders of the minor’s parents or has four or more truancies within one school year to a community-based resource, the probation department, a health agency, a local educational agency, or other governmental entities that may provide services.

AB 2147, Second Chances to Inmate Fire Crews (Reyes/E. Garcia): allows a defendant who successfully participated in the California Conservation Camp Program (Fire Camp) or a county incarcerated individual hand crew to petition for a dismissal of their conviction.

Veterans:

AB 408, Disabled Veterans Vehicle License Plate (Frazier/E. Garcia):  requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to accept a certificate certifying a veteran is disabled for the purpose of a disability license plate from a County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) or the Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet).

AB 2141, Veterans Commercial Driver’s License Tests (Mathis/ E. Garcia): would exempt specified veterans from certain commercial driver’s license (CDL) tests. authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to exempt specified veterans from certain commercial driver’s license (CDL) tests.

Garcia represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.