San Francisco, CA – Reaffirming the trade relationship between California and China in light of the nation’s strained economic relationship with the Trump Administration, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) will lead a trade mission to China in partnership with the Bay Area Council. China is California’s third largest export market, totaling more than $16 billion in 2018.

“During times of tension between the United States and Chinese governments, it is more important than ever for California to bolster its trade relationship with China,” said Ting. “I am proud to lead a delegation of business leaders and local officials, representing diverse California industries and communities, to China. Together, we will showcase that California remains open for business and committed to strengthening its economic ties with all trade partners.”

The 27-person delegation will visit the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing next week. In each city, Ting will lead conversations with local Chinese government and business leaders through trade and investment forums.

The focal point of the trip will be the second China International Import Exposition (CIIE), led by President Xi Jinping in Shanghai. Last year, the CIIE attracted 400,000 Chinese buyers that purchased more than $57 billion in goods and services with over 139 countries attending. California was the only United States government entity at the event. This year, the Bay Area Council has procured a large Pavilion for California companies to promote products to Chinese buyers.

Ting is the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Asia/California Trade and Investment Promotion. The goal of the Select Committee is to foster mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships for California.

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New law is in response to the recent shut down of rePlanet recycling centers

Sacramento, CA – Help is on the way for areas in the state that no longer have California Redemption Value (CRV) recycling centers. Governor Newsom today signed AB 54 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), which allocates $5 million to implement a mobile recycling pilot program administered by CalRecycle. The urgency measure takes effect immediately.

“AB 54 provides short-term relief to the thousands of Californians who need their container deposits refunded. Now the hard work begins. I will spend the next few months working on a more comprehensive solution that can start moving through the legislative process when we reconvene in January,” said Ting. “We can’t put off this reform any longer now that recycling programs are in a crisis.”

Ting’s bill is necessary after rePlanet shuttered its remaining 284 California recycling centers in August. AB 54 aims to relieve the long lines at remaining redemption sites and fill the void in areas that no longer have any. rePlanet was once California’s largest recycling company, operating about 20% of the redemption centers in the state. But a significant decrease in the scrap value of aluminum and recycled plastics has hampered their ability to stay open - even after the firm closed 191 centers in 2016 to cut costs. Exacerbating this problem are international market conditions, as countries around the world, most notably China, have imposed stricter standards on the types of waste materials they will purchase.

Under the mobile pilot program, local governments, non-profits and others can apply for one of five grants to expand recycling opportunities in areas severely impacted by the rePlanet closures. At least one pilot location must be in a rural area, and the roving redemption centers must be open at least eight hours during the weekend when demand for services is high. AB 54 also temporarily suspends, through March 2020, the fines assessed on grocers required to take back beverage containers in-store when there are no recycling centers nearby, as they are not prepared to assume the responsibility of providing redemption services.

In addition to AB 54, the 2019-20 state budget previously included another $5 million to help more than 400 low-volume recycling centers stay open.

(Sacramento, CA) – California is expanding its red flag gun law. Governor Newsom signed AB 61, a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), which gives more people access to a court process that could temporarily take away someone’s firearms through a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Ting’s law enables educators, employers and co-workers to also use the tool. Current law only allows law enforcement and immediate family members to file a GVRO.

“Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. GVROs are a proven gun violence prevention tool that can help save lives. With school and workplace shootings on the rise, it’s common sense to give the people we see every day the power to intervene and prevent tragedies,” said Ting.

The Governor’s approval comes just a few months after researchers at the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis closely examined a sample of individuals who were subjected to a GVRO and found none were involved in subsequent gun-related violence. While the study cited how difficult it is to say how many incidents were prevented, it is reasonable to conclude GVROs play a role in reducing the chance of gun-related violence. From 2016 (when California’s red flag law took effect) through 2018, more than 600 people had weapons removed from their possession via GVROs.

Seventeen states have a version of red flag laws on the books. Twelve enacted their measures after the 2018 Parkland, FL shooting. In California, there are two ways a GVRO can be granted:

• For a duration of 21 days, immediately, which can be extended for up to one year after a court hearing; or,
• For a duration of one year, after a court hearing; five years after AB 61 takes effect.

For GVRO requests in the latter category, Ting has a companion bill, AB 1493, which the Governor also approved. It allows the subject of a GVRO to surrender their firearms to authorities without contesting the order. Under current law, even a subject who agrees guns should not be in their possession must still go through a court hearing, wasting time and resources.

AB 61 & AB 1493 will take effect September 1, 2020.

Los Angeles – Backyards and surplus government land are now prime real estate for the development of more housing units in California, thanks to two proposals by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) signed by Governor Newsom today. AB 68 eases local red tape to encourage a greater number of homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as backyard cottages, “in-law units” or “granny flats,” on their properties. The other bill, AB 1486, prioritizes construction of affordable housing projects when local public land is no longer needed.

“One of the quickest ways to ramp up our housing supply is to build more Accessory Dwelling Units. They also enable homeowners to be part of the solution in helping us address California’s unprecedented housing crisis,” said Ting. “Regarding surplus land, I can’t think of a better use for property the government no longer needs than to build affordable housing on it.”

By some estimates, California is nearly four million units short of meeting its housing demand. After the state relaxed some barriers to ADU construction in 2017, there was an immediate boost to their numbers. Los Angeles, for example, has approved more than 10,500 ADUs since the change, compared to only a few hundred ADUs in years prior. But some obstacles remain. Ting’s bill would:

• Speed up the approval process to 60 days;
• Prohibit restrictive local requirements pertaining to lot size and parking; and,
• Allow more types of units, such as units in multi-family dwellings, to be approved with less bureaucratic review.

The Governor also signed other ADU bills that:

• Reduce local government construction fees;
• Suspend local rules for five years requiring the homeowner to live on site; and,
• Forbid homeowners associations from banning ADUs.

“California YIMBY is proud to have sponsored AB 68, which will create many thousands of new homes each year,” said Brian Hanlon, President and CEO of California YIMBY. “This bill empowers homeowners to help end the housing crisis by building Accessory Dwelling Units, which fit seamlessly into existing neighborhoods. These granny flats help keep multi-generational families together, and enable homeowners to make some extra money while providing more affordable homes for people who need them. We’re grateful to Asm. Ting for his strong leadership on this issue.”

According to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, applications for ADU permits have jumped significantly since the Legislature eased some regulations a few years ago, but homeowners still face challenges when it comes to building codes, limiting the full potential of ADUs.

Under AB 1486, Ting’s surplus land legislation gives more affordable housing projects the first right of refusal to build on public surplus land, taking advantage of strategically located sites next to transit, schools and jobs that have remained dormant for decades.

AB 68 & AB 1486 will take effect January 1, 2020.