Asm. Phil Ting

This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United States to develop a comprehensive federal approach to reducing and preventing gun violence, promptly place assault weapons and high-capacity assault magazines under the scope of the National Firearms Act, and require a universal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the transfer of all firearms. This measure would additionally urge the President to take steps to ensure that all states and applicable federal agencies are reporting all necessary records to the NICS.

This measure would specify goals for the reform of the nation's immigration system, and would urge Congress and the President of the United States to take a humane and just approach to solving the nation's broken immigration system.

This measure would urge the California State Legislature and the Governor to restore budget funding to early care and education programs and to support efforts to fund and implement the Quality Rating and Improvement System and other programs that support early care and education. The measure would also urge the California State Legislature to commit to improving the public's understanding of the role that early care and education plays in securing an educated, nimble, and stable workforce to help keep California's economy vibrant and strong for years to come.

This measure would declare the Legislature's recognition of the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and development of all Californians. This measure would also declare the month of July 2013 as "Parks Make Life Better!" Month.

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Under existing law, households are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits to the extent permitted by federal law. Further, existing law requires county welfare departments to develop information, and make that information available to homeless shelters, emergency food programs, and other community agencies that provide services to homeless people, on expedited services targeted to the homeless and to provide training to homeless shelter operators on CalFresh application procedures. This bill would clarify that eligibility for CalFresh benefits, including expedited services, is not dependent on the age of an applicant and would require county welfare departments, upon receipt of a signed CalFresh application from an unaccompanied child or youth under 18 years of age, to determine his or her eligibility for benefits, as specified, and entitlement to expedited services, as specified. If the application is denied, the county welfare department would be required to notify the child or youth in writing of the reason for the denial. This bill would also require that county welfare departments make information about CalFresh expedited services targeted to the homeless population available to local educational agency liaisons, as defined, and include information regarding CalFresh eligibility for unaccompanied homeless children and youths in the training provided to homeless shelter operators. By expanding the number of people a county welfare department must make information available to, and requiring county welfare departments to augment the training they provide to homeless shelter operators and provide notice, as specified, to an unaccompanied child or youth, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

This measure would designate September 2013 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California.

This measure would declare April 9, 2013, as Equal Pay Day.

This measure would proclaim the week of September 17 through 22, 2013, as Constitution Week and urge California citizens to reaffirm the ideals of the framers of the Constitution of 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights might never be regained.

This measure would designate May 31, 2013, to June 30, 2013, inclusive, as Sober Graduation Month and would encourage Californians to participate in this observance and join the Department of the California Highway Patrol in supporting efforts to save lives of young people through a Sober Graduation Month.

This measure would urge the Supreme Court of the United States to affirm the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.