(Sacramento, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) that will help California receive federal funding from the 2014 farm bill to expand healthy food access for low-income Californians on food stamps shopping at farmers’ markets.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1321 passed with a 54-16 vote and passes to the State Senate for further review.

“Diet is the foundation for good health.  We can expand access to our state’s bounty by enlisting farmers’ markets in the fight against hunger and malnutrition,” said Ting.  “The timing of this legislation could not be more critical.  The drought has pushed food prices upward, squeezing families still waiting for the economic recovery to benefit their bottom line.”

(Sacramento, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) to prevent sidewalk tolls for pedestrians and cyclists crossing California’s toll bridges, all located in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and seven state-owned bridges.

Assembly Bill (AB) 40 passed with a 57-12 vote and passes to the State Senate for further review.

(San Francisco, CA) –  The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to enable transportation network companies (TNCs) - like Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar - to charge split and reduced fares between multiple passengers with similar pickup locations and destinations.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1360 passed with a 69-0 vote and passes to the State Senate for further review.

“With climate change accelerating, we must take a hard look at transportation because it is the largest single source of emissions,” said Ting.  “We have long encouraged public transit and carpooling to reduce traffic and air pollution.  Extending the environmental mindset to ridesharing requires changing a fifty year old law.  That’s what this is all about.”

(San Francisco, CA) –  The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that will help 6.5 million Californians with limited English proficiency to understand their medications by requiring pharmacists to distribute standardized translations of drug information materials.

Ting’s Assembly Bill (AB) 1073 passed 74-0 and moves to the State Senate for further review.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement about Governor Jerry Brown’s May budget proposal, which is available online at http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/.

“California’s growing economy and voter-approved taxes create exciting opportunities to make California a much better place, notably by investing more in the education our children deserve.  After bearing the weight of so many budget cuts, the poorest among us finally get a break with the Governor’s proposal to create an equivalent to the federal earned income tax credit.  It is also exciting to see an unprecedented commitment to confront climate change.  There are some disagreements we must bridge to complete this budget.  We want more of our hardworking students to receive a world class education through our public universities.  The persistent problem of access to higher education must be resolved.  We also want to see more help for working parents who need childcare.  Both are critical investments to ensure that a more prosperous future is in reach for all Californians.”

Contact: Anthony Matthews, tel. (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov

(Sacramento, CA) –  Students and teachers from across California rallied at the State Capitol to urge the State Assembly Committee on Higher Education to pass legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to reform the accreditation process affecting California’s 112 community colleges serving 2.1 million students.

Inspired by systematic abuses of power from our accreditor – the San Rafael-based Accreditation Commission on Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) – both reform bills impose new standards for accountability in accreditation.

(San Francisco, CA) –  Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced new legislation to enable transportation network companies (TNCs) - like Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar - to charge split and reduced fares between multiple passengers with similar pickup locations and destinations.

Ting announced the bill at the San Francisco Caltrain Station, where over 12,000 people arrive daily, in order to highlight how on-demand carpooling services can work in tandem with public transportation.  The bill faces its first vote today in the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce.

(San Francisco, CA) –  Flanked by health care advocates at a Sunset District center specializing in care for Chinese-speaking seniors, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced new legislation helping 6.5 million Californians with limited English proficiency to understand their medications by requiring pharmacists to distribute standardized translations of drug information materials.

“Healthcare access requires effective communication between patients and the medical professionals treating them,” said Ting.  “Failure to understand prescriptions causes preventable tragedies.  By ensuring that all patients understand their medications, we will save lives and improve healthcare for millions of Californians.”

Bill creates new standard for government transparency and accountability

(Sacramento, CA) –  Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced legislation to make California a leader in open data at a Data Summit organized by California Forward, a government reform non-profit organization, which convened leading government transparency tool developers.  Ting’s objective is to make more information about our state government freely available for everyone to access, analyze, and republish without restrictions.

“We know open data leads to more accountability and efficiency,” said Ting.  “As the home of Silicon Valley, California should be an open data leader.  We have seen how open data works in communities across the state, especially San Francisco.  Data crunching technology is readily available and inexpensive, making it easier than ever for citizens to assess the performance of their government.  We must seize the potential of the next frontier in open government.”