Learn about State Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance with updates on work search requirements for the unemployed. Questions can be submitted in advance, and attendees will have time during the town hall to ask general questions about both programs. RSVP here. Then go to Facebook here to join the Virtual Town Hall at 5:00 pm on July 14th.
Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement on today’s budget actions:
“Today’s budget presents us with a great opportunity to transform California. We are seizing the moment by lifting more families out of poverty through Golden State Stimulus checks and the expansion of safety net programs, including a lower age for Medi-Cal eligibility regardless of immigration status. We are also investing a record $12 billion in new funding for homeless programs. I’m especially pleased with the strides we are making in higher education, adding more slots for Californians at UC and CSU and making more financial aid available. We are doing more for communities that continue to face challenges as we recover from the pandemic. This spending plan is a true reflection of the things we value most in California: inclusivity and opportunity for all to succeed.”
Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about today’s passage of the 2021-22 state budget:
“It’s a privilege to have a hand in crafting such a historic and transformational state budget that will have lasting impact on Californians for decades. We are meeting the challenges of today – helping individuals, families and small businesses still struggling as a result of the pandemic – while also investing in tomorrow with priorities like infrastructure, university expansion, affordable housing supply and climate resilience.
I’m especially excited about the strides we’re making in early care and education, as we reform childcare rates, achieve universal transitional kindergarten, bring per-pupil spending to an all-time high, and expand access to higher education with more slots and financial aid. We are also taking the steps to build up mental health services for those students who have or will be dealing with the effects of a prolonged period of distance learning.
While we are addressing these critical needs, we’re further expanding vital social safety net programs, addressing homelessness in record levels and ensuring our economic recovery touches all communities. We’re seizing every opportunity to move California forward like never before.”
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New analysis from the California Energy Commission (CEC) shows the state will need nearly 1.2 million public and shared chargers by 2030 to meet the fueling demands of the 7.5 million passenger plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) anticipated to be on California roads.
More than 73,000 public and shared chargers have been installed to date, with an additional 123,000 planned by 2025. These numbers fall short of the state’s goal of 250,000 chargers by 54,000 installations. The Governor’s proposed 2021–22 budget includes $500 million to help fill the gap and ensure essential infrastructure arrives as more Californians go electric.
“To make the evolution to zero-emission vehicles successful, California must have a robust charging infrastructure. The assessment shows we must now scale up our installation efforts, building out our charging network in order for electric vehicle adoption to be as seamless as possible. With our mission set, I’m committed to keep our state marching toward a greener future,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee and author of AB 2127.
To read more from the CEC's press release, click here.
Read the full report here: 
AB 2127 EV Charging Infrastructure Assessment
SACRAMENTO — Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement regarding the Legislative Version of the 2021-22 State Budget:
SACRAMENTO — Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement regarding the Legislative Version of the 2021-22 State Budget:
“Guided by the vision of our colleagues and the values of the Californians who sent us here, we are pleased to announce that the Senate and the Assembly have reached historic early agreement on the state budget. It didn’t take long for us to find common ground because we built on common sense—the responsible budgets that Democratic Legislators and Governors have been enacting for a decade. This budget is a once-in-a-generation chance to make transformational change in California, including major investments in tax relief for millions of Californians, grants and unemployment mitigation for small business, child care and education, higher education, public health and Medi-Cal, justice reform, homelessness, aging and developmental services, and historic levels of funding to address climate change, wildfires, and drought. We’re encouraged by this early, united approach and look forward to working with Governor Newsom, who shares so many of our goals and values, to reach a three-party agreement on a historic budget for California.”
The Legislative summary of the 2021-22 proposed budget is here: CALeg Version of 2021-22 Budget Summary
Assembly Budget Committee's Agenda for June 2: June 2 Budget Agenda.pdf
Subcommittee Analysis of the proposal is here.
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In a letter to State Controller Betty Yee and State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and members of the San Francisco delegation urged the withholding of $12M in state school reopening funds from San Francisco Unified because their reopening plan does not meet the requirements spelled out in AB 86. Read the full letter: Letter Regarding SFUSD Reopening
In a letter to State Controller Betty Yee and State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and members of the San Francisco delegation urged the withholding of $12M in state school reopening funds from San Francisco Unified because their reopening plan does not meet the requirements spelled out in AB 86.
Read the full letter: Letter Regarding SFUSD Reopening
Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the Governor’s May Revision for the 2021-22 state budget:
“California is in a unique position. We need to think big! Not only can we keep helping Californians who are still struggling, but there’s also an opportunity to build a foundation for the next century. I’m eager to invest in priorities like infrastructure, university expansion, affordable housing supply and climate resilience – all of which will keep the state strong for generations.
To help us get there, we must first address the challenges of today. We need to stabilize working families by getting them back to work and school, while also ensuring they have a roof over their heads. We’ve already taken early budget action that sent stimulus checks to individuals and small businesses, ramped up wildfire protection and extended eviction safeguards. We can now do so much more. The Assembly Budget Blueprint unveiled last month outlines a vision that includes providing additional cash assistance, reversing budget cuts made last year, expanding critical support services, and stimulating the economy. This roadmap allows our state to emerge from the pandemic better than ever.
The Governor’s May Revise explores similar ambitions, and I look forward to spending the next month working with legislators and the Governor to deliver a balanced, on-time budget by the June 15th deadline.”
To view budget comments Assemblymember Ting made on May 10th, prior to May Revise, please watch here.
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Proposal to Address Hate Crimes in the AAPI Community
The California Asian Pacific Islander population has faced increased attacks against members of their community since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than one year ago. Racist rhetoric coming from the previous White House has mobilized and emboldened individuals who wish to sow hate against AAPIs by attacking them. California must take a strong stance against this violence and provide community support, services, prevention against these attacks, and cultural and economic development for the community. This proposal requests $200 million over a three-year period to address hate crimes against the AAPI community. (Click headline to see entire list.)
Direct Response – $159.5 million
Nonprofit or CBOs that are providing necessary services to victims of hate crimes, such as legal services, health care, mental health, victim’s compensation, or counseling will receive grant funding so that these services may be provided free of charge. Grantees that are service providers should be within the database that the hotline provides referrals to.
Nonprofits or CBOs providing services to protect and prevent attacks against API individuals (such as senior escort programs) will also receive grants to continue this work. Nonprofits or CBOs that provide educational or healing programs about the historic harms caused by structural and systemic racism across different communities of color will receive grants to continue or start this work.
Statewide Hate Crimes Hotline – $10 million
California lacks a single location for individuals to report hate crimes and incidents that can also connect callers with necessary services. This proposal seeks to provide a hotline run by a nonprofit entity that serves as a centralized hub that would connect caller’s in-language to the appropriate local resources, whether they be legal, health care, mental health, or law enforcement if they choose to report. The hotline will also collect data on these calls about the hate crimes and incidents occurring, which will be reported to the Legislature on July 1, 2024. This program may be eligible for federal funding.
Culture and Economic Development – $20 million
Hate rhetoric and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused rippling economic effects to ethnic hubs across the state. In order to rebuild these communities and recognize the important cultural role they provide to California, the state shall provide grants to local ethnic hubs to revitalize Chinatowns, Japantowns, Koreatowns, Little Manilas, etc. Local nonprofits or CBOs would receive grant funding to beautify ethnic corridors, create cultural monuments, revitalize community centers, notify local business owners about existing grant programs to assist small businesses, and provide direct assistance to businesses if necessary.