(SACRAMENTO, CA) - On the eve of the State Legislature’s final vote on a new multibillion dollar program to confront homelessness, Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced a legislative resolution requesting the Governor declare a state of emergency on homelessness and urging statewide coordination and leadership from all parts of government to confront homelessness.  The Assembly will vote on the item tomorrow.

“California is too prosperous a state for so many to suffer from homelessness,” said Santiago, Majority Whip of the State Assembly, who represents the notorious Skid Row of Los Angeles.  “The homeless are parents, children, and veterans.  They need our help to get off the street and succeed in life.  We will not end their suffering until we think differently and commit to action, as an emergency requires.”

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s signature of the 2016-17 California State Budget.

“This budget balances the need to save for the future while investing in the growth of a prosperous middle class.  We are building the state’s largest reserves in decades while making vital investments in public education, poverty reduction, and environmental protection.  Through an expansion of preschool to the creation of thousands more California student slots at our state universities, we will do a better job preparing our kids for greater success in life.  The historic repeal of the Maximum Family Grant Rule ends the stigma of being born into poverty for thousands of families struggling on the margins.  We are also taking a leading role in the largest dam removal project in American history in order to restore the water, wildlife, and communities that rely on the Klamath River.”

For more information, please see this analysis from the Assembly Budget Committee.

Ting presents Winnie Yu (left), Anni Chung (left center), Josephine Ma (right center), and Catarina Lai (right) with a resolution honoring Self Help for the Elderly on the Assembly Floor.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – During the inaugural celebration of California Nonprofits Day at the State Capitol, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) honored Self Help for the Elderly, of San Francisco, as his nonprofit of the year.

"Getting older brings new challenges. Routine aspects of life can become tough, which makes the work of Self Help for the Elderly so important," said Ting. "They help seniors live with dignity and grace in our community. No calling is more noble than this."

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – A bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to establish the nation’s most inclusive restroom access law among states passed a key vote in the State Senate.  Today’s vote occurred days before the nation’s largest gathering of the LGBT community and its allies at the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade.

“This bill sets California apart from the nation, which is now under a wave of intolerance.  We are sending a simple message that everyone’s rights must be respected and protected,” said Ting.  “Restrooms are a necessity of life so equal access to them is a matter of basic civil rights.  Gender segregated access to a solitary restroom defies common sense.  This is a fair, convenient, and safe alternative to the hate being legislated in other states.”

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement regarding the State Legislature’s passage of the 2016-17 California State Budget.

(San Francisco, CA) – LGBT, Muslim and gun safety advocates joined state lawmakers in the aftermath of the weekend’s mass shooting in Orlando and the arrest of a heavily armed suspect targeting the Los Angeles Pride Festival to condemn acts of hatred and urge support for a number of gun safety bills scheduled for a key vote in the State Senate tomorrow.

“The loss of so many innocent lives must inspire change.  The underlying hate behind the mass murder of LGBT people will not stop equality and the freedom to live authentic lives,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).  “We luckily avoided a tragedy in Los Angeles but relying on luck is no way to run a state.  By passing comprehensive gun safety laws, we can prevent mass shootings in California.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to help prevent gun tragedies in schools and workplaces with the strongest law of its kind in the nation.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2607 passed with a 41-37 vote and moves to the State Senate for further review.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to help pregnant and parenting foster care youth be better parents.

Sponsored by the John Burton Foundation, the Children’s Law Center of California and First Place for Youth, Assembly Bill (AB) 1838 passed unanimously with a 73-0 vote and moves to the State Senate for further review.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The Assembly Budget Committee approved the Assembly’s budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, setting the stage for final budget negotiations with the Senate and Governor Jerry Brown in the coming weeks leading up to the deadline to pass the state budget by June 15.