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Friday, May 24, 2019

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the 2019-20 Assembly Budget Plan, which was adopted today by the full committee. Ting’s statement is as follows:

Statements on Final Assembly Budget Plan"The Assembly Budget Plan continues investing in priorities that strive to make life better for all Californians. With this spending proposal, we renew focus on ending Great Recession Era cuts and put the state on a path that lifts up more Californians by increasing educational opportunities, expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social infrastructure – all while building robust reserves to sustain these investments in the event of an economic downturn. In times of unparalleled prosperity, there’s no reason we can’t help our most vulnerable residents. I applaud Governor Newsom or starting this process with a responsible, progressive vision for California, and I look forward to working with him and the Senate to deliver a balanced, on-time budget.”

A statement from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) is as follows:

Speaker Statement on Final Assembly Budget Plan

“I’m grateful for the hard work that’s gone into putting forth an Assembly budget package that focuses on the things that will keep California moving forward. Under this budget, we take care of needs, continue strengthening the foundation of early childhood education, and bring $1.5 billion in new, needed cost relief to our school districts, all while adding to our savings for the future. It’s a road map that broadly combines the vision of Governor Gavin Newsom and the ideals valued by the Assembly.”

Thursday, May 23, 2019

In an effort to reduce waste and public health risks from paper receipts, the California State Assembly voted today to approve AB 161, a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that modernizes proofs of purchase. Starting in 2022, Skip the Slip legislation requires businesses to provide paper receipts only upon request. Two years later, they must allow customers to choose between no receipt, an e-receipt or a paper one. Paper receipts will always continue to be an option.

“Most of us don’t need a physical receipt for every transaction. It doesn’t make sense to kill so many trees and unnecessarily expose people to toxins for something we don’t often need,” said Ting.

According to Green America, up to 3 million trees and 9 billion gallons of water in the United States are used every year to create receipts. In recent years, paper receipts have not only included proof of the items purchased, but also coupons, promotions and surveys, making them unnecessarily long and ridiculed on the internet. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel even joked about it on his late night show a few weeks ago, saying paper receipts should not be tall enough to ride Space Mountain at Disneyland. See video clip below.

The public health impacts are especially alarming. The Ecology Center found 93% of receipts contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Bisphenol-S (BPS), which enable text to appear on the receipt. BPA and BPS are known endocrine disruptors and can cause developmental and neurological problems. These additives also mean paper receipts cannot be recycled.

“This policy will reduce the waste of unwanted paper and allow for customers to choose the receipt option that works best for them. It benefits the environment and reduces toxins exposure for workers and customers. Green America supports these goals and California’s leadership on this issue.” Beth Porter, Program Director, Green America.

During the legislative process, a few exemptions were added to AB 161:

  • Retailers and services grossing less than $2 million per year    
  • Businesses using BPA/BPS-free paper & printing only purchase information
  • Cash-only businesses
  • Health care providers

AB 161 allows for two warnings before a $25 per day, $300 per year fine can be imposed on businesses that don’t comply. Ting’s proposal now heads to the Senate for consideration. All bills must reach the Governor’s desk by September 13.

 

 

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Ting Proposal to Require Recycled Content in Plastic CRV Bottles Passes State AssemblySacramento – In a move to help reduce litter and boost demand for used plastic materials, the California State Assembly today approved AB 792, a proposal by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that phases-in the minimum amount of recycled materials plastic beverage bottles must contain.

“We need to use less plastic. Otherwise, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050,” said Ting. “That’s a terrible cost to our environment if manufacturers are allowed to continue making new plastic every time they need a bottle. They should reuse what they’ve already made.”

On top of dwindling domestic demand for recycled plastic, China and other overseas markets stopped buying much of California’s recycled waste last year. Now a crisis is mounting, as recyclable plastic is stacking up in warehouses or going to landfills. The European Union (EU) has already set a goal of 25% recycled content in their plastic bottles by 2025 and 30% by 2030. AB 792 establishes the following timeframe for minimum recycled content in plastic beverage bottles:

  • January 2021   - 25% minimum content
  • January 2025   - 50% minimum content
  • January 2030   - 75% minimum content

A 100% minimum content requirement by 2035 was stricken during a committee hearing this month.  Still, the proposal represents a big step in the right direction, going further than the EU and reducing the need to continue making new plastic.

“Beverage producers like touting the recyclability of their plastic bottles. AB 792 compels them to put their money where their mouth is and buy the plastic back to make new bottles—closing the loop,” said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste.

AB 792 now heads to the Senate for consideration. All bills must reach the Governor’s desk by September 13.

Get A Real ID

Monday, May 20, 2019

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) expects their field offices to be crowded in the summer months, as nearly 20 million residents have yet to come in to get their Real ID. Starting October 2020, this new identification card will be required to board a domestic flight without a passport or enter a federal facility. Since the only way to get one is to physically go to the DMV, I encourage you to make an appointment here to help reduce your wait time. Extended weekday and Saturday hours have been added to several locations to accommodate the demand.

Assemblymember Ting Real ID graphic 2

Before you go, please note that the federal government recently notified the DMV that anyone now applying for a Real ID must bring two proofs of residency. The list of acceptable residency documents can be found here.

Monday, May 13, 2019
Honoring the API Legislative Caucus' 2019 Heritage Award Honorees

 

(Sacramento, CA) -- May is Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month. The API Legislative Caucus recognizes outstanding leaders during floor ceremonies every year. The 2019 Honorees are:

  • Judy Ki - Excellence in Civic Engagement
  • Stewart Kwoh - Excellence in Civil Rights
  • James Syhabout - Excellence in Culinary Arts
  • "Crazy Rich Asians"/Represented by Adele Lim, Screenwriter - Excellence in Entertainment 
  • Richard Liu - Excellence in Journalism
  • Lata Krishman - Excellence in Philanthrophy 
  • Mona Pasquil - Excellence in Public Service

Pictured left to right: Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Honoree Lata Krishman, Honoree James Syhabout, Honoree Stewart Kwoh, Assemblymember David Chiu, Assemblymember Kansen Chu, Honoree Adele Lim, Honoree Judy Ki, Assemblymember Todd Gloria and Assemblymember Phil Ting

Monday, May 13, 2019
Assemblymember Ting Escorting Chef James Syhabout API Honoree During Floor Presentation
Assemblyman Ting Escorting Chef James Syhabout API Honoree During Floor Presentation
Assemblymember Ting with Other API Honorees
2019 Honorees for Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Thursday, May 9, 2019

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Phil Ting Says Budget Must Help All Californians at a Time of Unparalleled Prosperity

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the May Revision of Governor Gavin Newsom’s state budget proposal for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which starts on July 1. The Assembly Budget Committee released a preliminary analysis of the proposal. Ting’s statement is as follows:

“At a time of unparalleled prosperity in our state, nearly 20% of Californians live in poverty and millions more are living right on the edge.  Since our state budget is a declaration of our values, we must continue to rebuild our social infrastructure and invest in education, health, human services, and housing programs to make life better for all Californians.  I applaud the direction of Governor Newsom’s May Revision proposals and am pleased he has funded many long-standing legislative priorities.  While there are still some existing differences between our proposals and his, I am confident we will reconcile them and deliver a balanced, on-time budget by June 15.”

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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Ting Proposal Banning Facial Recognition Technology In Body Cams Approved by State AssemblySacramento, CA – In a move to protect privacy and prevent misuse of technology, the California State Assembly today approved AB 1215, a proposal by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that bans law enforcement from using facial recognition and biometric scanners in body cameras. Body cameras are typically adopted for accountability and transparency purposes, not to serve as roving surveillance systems. In addition, face scanning technology routinely misidentifies people, particularly women, youth and people of color.

“Without my bill, face recognition technology can subject law-abiding citizens to perpetual police line-ups, as their every movement is tracked without consent. Its use, if left unchecked, undermines public trust in government institutions and unduly intrudes on one’s constitutional right to privacy. AB 1215 is an important civil rights measure that will prevent exploitation of vulnerable communities,” said Ting.

Digital privacy has increasingly become a concern among Californians. In a March 2019 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) poll, 82% of likely voters statewide and 79% in the Bay Area disagreed with the government being able to monitor and track a person using biometric information. Such support is not surprising, in light of reports that technology developed by the U.S.’s top online retailer falsely identified 28 sitting members of Congress as people who have been arrested for crimes. The CEO of the largest provider of body cameras has also stated that facial recognition technology was not accurate enough to be deployed on his company’s products.

“Body cameras should work for the people, not against the people,” says Matt Cagle, Technology and Civil Liberties Policy Attorney for the ACLU of Northern California. “Face-scanning body cameras would be a dangerous, radical expansion of surveillance powers at a time when our top priority should be creating new approaches to public safety that work for all of us.”

Local Bay Area cities are also troubled by the implications of this still imperfect technology and are set to take action against its use. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on a proposal May 14 that bans local agencies from purchasing or using facial recognition technology. Oakland is also considering a similar prohibition. Both proposals go further than AB 1215, which only applies the ban to police-worn body cameras.

Ting’s proposal moves to the Senate for consideration. This year’s deadline for all bills to reach the Governor’s desk is September 13.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Expansion of CA’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) Law Approved by State Assembly(Sacramento, CA) – Less than two weeks after the Poway shooting, the California State Assembly today affirmed its commitment to preventing more gun violence by approving AB 61, by a vote of 54-17. The bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) enables more Californians to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) by adding school workers, employers and co-workers to the list of people who can ask a judge to temporarily take away someone’s firearms if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Current law only allows law enforcement and immediate family members to do so.

“Last year’s senseless shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks compelled me to renew efforts to expand California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law. We have another incident, this time at a place of worship in Poway – when will it end? I’m glad to see my Assembly colleagues agree we have to do more to prevent tragedies,” said Ting, who has seen two previous versions of his bill vetoed by Governor Brown. “Our new governor has indicated he is open to more gun safety laws. I am hopeful that third time’s the charm.”

Ting believes the expansion is necessary because school campuses and workplaces have increasingly become sites for mass shootings. “We often spend more time with our classmates and co-workers than we do at home. I’d like the people we interact with most to have this effective tool available to them,” said Ting.

GVROs are sometimes referred to as “red flag laws” and have been enacted in fourteen states. According to the California Department of Justice, GVROs have been issued 614 times from 2016 to the end of 2018 with the bulk of the orders (424) obtained last year, as more individuals become aware of this effective public safety tool. When a judge grants a restraining order, a gun owner must surrender their firearms for 21 days. It can be extended to a full year after a hearing.

AB 61 now heads to the Senate for consideration. All bills must reach Governor Newsom’s desk by September 13.   

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Ting Proposal Allowing Reservation & Pricing System For Lombard Street Approved by State AssemblySacramento, CA – A pilot program to test a Reservation and Pricing System at San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street was approved by the Assembly today, by a vote of 51-18. AB 1605 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) gives the City and County of San Francisco the authority to charge drivers seeking to experience the unique hairpin turns that attract more than two million visitors a year. The bill is necessary because existing law prohibits a local agency from imposing a tax, permit fee, or other charge for the privilege of using its streets or highways.

“It has become increasingly difficult to manage the crowds and traffic congestion at the Crooked Street,” said Ting, author of AB 1605.  “Neither the presence of parking enforcement officers, nor the closure of the crooked segment has changed the current situation. AB 1605 offers a solution worth trying to improve public safety and the quality of life for residents.”

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) concluded in its 2017 study that managing access to the popular tourist attraction has become necessary and recommended a Reservation and Pricing System. This strategy would regulate demand and flow at the entrance, while reducing the length of cars in the queue.

“We thank Assemblymember Ting and his colleagues in the Assembly for their support for a reservation system to improve safety and congestion on Lombard Street," said Tilly Chang, Executive Director of SFCTA. "The Transportation Authority looks forward to next steps to enabling San Francisco to pilot this project in the near future.”  

A second SFCTA study is currently underway to review options around the Reservation and Pricing System’s technology, method of enforcement, hours of operation, price level and exemptions. The results are expected this summer. As demonstrated by the system regulating visits to Muir Woods and other parks in California, one of the most efficient ways to manage vehicle congestion is through an electronic system administered without staff, which would also minimize the visual impact on Lombard Street.

Two weeks ago, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors also unanimously backed a resolution by Supervisor Catherine Stefani to support AB 1605. She represents District 2 where the crooked segment of Lombard Street is located.

Ting’s proposal moves to the Senate for consideration. This year’s deadline for all bills to reach the Governor’s desk is September 13.