Spring Newsletter

SB 14: Pupil Attendance: Excused Absences: Mental or Behavioral Health.

SB 15: Local Government: Property Rezoning: Workforce Housing

SB 45: Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022

SB 224: Pupil Instruction: Mental Health Education

SB 230: Statewide Constituents of Emerging Concern Drinking Water Program

SB 237: Dyslexia: Universal Screening

SB 255: Health Insurance: Employer Associations: Large Group Health Insurance

SB 269: Credit Unions

SB 328: Local Education Agencies: Educational Programs

SB 381: Surplus Residential Property

SB 387: Peace Officers: Certification, Education, and Recruitment

SB 457: CalPERS: Divestment from Turkey

SB 485: Filming Industry Building: Tax Credit

SB 562: Health Care Coverage: Pervasive Developmental Disorders or Autism

SB 612: Electrical Corporations: Allocation of Legacy Resources

SB 715: Criminal Law

SB 748: Trespassing on Private University Property

You can follow and read more about my full legislative package on my website by clicking here.

Track the status of any bill by clicking here.

Each year, members of the State Legislature recognize the exceptional women in their district with a celebration commemorating their accomplishments and positive impact on their communities.

This year, Los Feliz community activist Marian Dodge was named Woman of the Year by Senator Portantino. You can read more about SD25 Women of the Year Marian Dodge by clicking here.

Everyone in California will have an opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at no cost. For the latest information on vaccines, eligibility, and how to make an appointment, please visit:

• https://myturn.ca.gov
• https://VaccineLACounty.com  

A new special-enrollment period is open for Covered California from February 1 through May 15. Uninsured Californians can sign up for coverage without needing to meet a qualifying life event, such as a recent loss of coverage or a move. There are multiple ways to get covered through Covered California. Special enrollment is open until May 15.

• Visit www.CoveredCA.com.
• Have a certified enroller call you for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

Learn more at CoveredCA.com

On January 29, a new law took effect to extend tenant eviction and homeowner protections through June 30th, 2021. It also created a new program to help tenants and landlords deal with unpaid rental debt.

• Eviction Relief.  Tenants cannot be evicted for a COVID-19 related hardship from September 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021, if tenant returns a declaration of hardship form to their landlord and pays at least 25% of the rent due by June 30, 2021. To learn more and download a "Declaration of COVID-19 Related Financial Stress" form, please visit https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/partners/resources.html.
• Rental Assistance.  Applications are now open. For more information, please visit http://housingiskey.com or call the California Housing COVID-19 Assistance Line at (833) 422-4255.
• Property Owner Protections. The new law also extends consumer protections for requests of mortgage forbearance for homeowners impacted by COVID-19 until September 1, 2021.

• For full details on the tenant, landlord, and homeowner protections, as well as the upcoming rental assistance program, please visit the following websites:
  • Tenant, Landlord, and Homeowner Protections: https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/index.html
  • Community Resources: https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/partners/resources.html
  • California COVID-19 Information App for Tenants & Landlords: https://ucilaw.neotalogic.com/a/Cal-Covid-Info-App-for-Tenants-and-Landlords
  • Rental Assistance Program: https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/ab3088/

If you require further assistance with a housing-related issue, our office may be able to connect you with services that can assist you.

California will provide the Golden Status Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify. This is a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment. You may receive this payment if you receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

The Golden State Stimulus aims to:

• Support low-income Californians
• Help those facing a hardship due to COVID-19

For most Californians who qualify, you don't need to do anything to receive the stimulus payment.

Check if you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus

To qualify, you must:

• Have filed your 2020 taxes
• Be either:
  • A CalEITC recipient
  • An ITIN filer who made $75,000 or less (total CA AGI)
• Be a California resident on the date payment is issued

Qualify for CalEITC

To qualify for CalEITC, you must:

• Have taxable earned income up to $30,000
• Not use "married/RDP filing separately" if married or RDP
• Live in California for more than half the year
• Meet all other qualifications

What you'll receive

If you qualify, you may receive either:

• A one-time $600 payment
• A one-time $1,200 payment

To make sure you receive your payment, file your 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021. The payment will be by direct deposit or check in the mail per tax return.

Visit CalEITC for more qualifications and other information.

Check stimulus payment status

Refer to when you'll receive your payment. Allow 45 days beyond mailing timeframes to allow for processing. If it has been over 45 days, contact the Franchise Tax Board.

In December 2020, the state began the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program that provides micro grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions. The State built on the program it began in December by allocating an additional $2.1 billion, including a special program allotment of $50M for non-profit cultural institutions. This new allocation represents a four-fold increase from the original allocation. The initial $500 million competitive grant program was delivered in two rounds serving over 40,000 small businesses.

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate, through their selected intermediary, Lendistry, will administer the new $2.1 billion allocation. The next few rounds will be conducted as follows:

Round 4: (nonprofit cultural institutions only): Tuesday, March 16th through Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021

• Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1 and 2; grants will only be available to nonprofits that did not receive funding in Rounds 1, 2 or 3; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019 

Round 5: Thursday, March 25th through Wednesday, March 31st

• Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, & 3 do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into Round 5. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.

Round 6: Date to be announced soon

• Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.

For more information, please visit CAReliefGrant.com.

Resuming in-person instruction is critical for children and their families. Being back in the classroom means that we will be able to meet the learning needs, as well as the mental health and social-emotional needs, of our students. The agreement is an important step forward in getting more of our kids back into the classroom.

The $6.6 billion agreement that was reached earlier this month will create safe learning environments for students and safe workplaces for educators and administrators.  It also prioritizes and accelerates vaccinations for education workers. With support from state health officials, school districts will have the flexibility to create the in-person education plan that works for them, while providing families the option of continuing remote learning.

For more information, please visit: https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/