Press Releases

(San Francisco) – Recognizing that the state must do more to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) unveiled AB 1046 today to drastically reform the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), California’s existing rebate program for clean cars. The proposal gears up efforts to get more zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on our roads and do so at a faster pace than ever before. Modeled after the state’s solar rebate program, the revamped CVRP would initially increase the rebate amount given to consumers. Then, as market penetration grows, the rebates would decline over time.

“There is no real incentive to buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle right now if consumers know the rebate level will be the same year after year – or even worse, run out during the year,” said Ting. “But if consumers have certainty that the rebates will diminish as time goes on, they might act sooner rather than later.”

Since transportation accounts for nearly 40% of GHG emissions in California, cleaner cars are key to reducing harmful pollutants from the air we breathe and helping slow the climate crisis. Then-Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order last year, calling for five million ZEVs to hit the road by 2030. California still has a long way to go – at the beginning of 2019, there were only 550,000 clean cars estimated on its roads. Reform of the rebate program envisioned through AB 1046 would spur greater adoption of ZEVs.   

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement after Governor Newsom signed the 2019-2020 budget for California. Ting’s statement is as follows:

California’s latest budget is an incredible and historic spending plan that invests in our long-held priorities and restores cuts made during the Great Recession, while still maintaining healthy reserves to protect programs through the next economic downturn. I commend Governor Newsom for setting the expectation that bold actions are necessary to build a stronger state. The Legislature shares that same progressive vision, which includes strengthening social infrastructure to lift families from homelessness and poverty; opening the door to more educational opportunities from pre-school to college; and closing the gap on universal health care. This is our best state budget yet.

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(Sacramento, CA) – Effective July 1, 2019, California law enforcement must release body camera footage within 45 days of a critical incident, as required under AB 748 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), signed into law by Governor Brown last year. The new mandate aims to increase police transparency by making the recordings available to the public. 

“Public access to body camera footage is necessary to boost confidence and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Ting. “This law sets clear expectations for agencies - they can no longer withhold body camera video or audio from us.”

Prior to the passage of AB 748, California had no consistent policy regarding the release of body camera recordings. In April of 2018, the Los Angeles Police Commission adopted a policy similar to the new state law. But other departments commonly cite “pending investigation” as a reason to deny requests for footage under the Public Records Act. Such secrecy fosters mistrust after a critical incident, which AB 748 defined as the discharge of a firearm or use-of-force that causes death or great bodily harm.

Footage from body-worn cameras can help shed light and provide clarity when there is confusion in the community after tragic events. The footage can even help clear law enforcement of any perceived wrongdoing. If releasing body camera recordings interferes with an investigation, AB 748 also allows for subsequent 30-day extensions.

Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will close its offices statewide for a half day on July 24, 2019, to better prepare employees to process REAL ID transactions and reinforce training on providing excellent customer service.

Operation Excellence: DMV Training will result in more consistent customer experiences statewide and equip employees with the tools they need to handle an unprecedented volume of REAL ID applications, which are more complex and take more time to process.

The training will take place at 183 DMV field offices, Commercial Drive Test Centers and Industry Business Centers throughout the state. More than 5,000 employees will receive the training at their home offices, which will open for business at 1 p.m.

“Our employees are at the heart of every transaction we perform,” said Kathleen Webb, DMV acting director. “With this commitment to training, we can ensure they have the proper tools, knowledge, and experience to provide excellent customer service to the people of California.”

Operation Excellence is an initiative of the DMV Reinvention Strike Team, which Governor Gavin Newsom created in January to lead a comprehensive modernization and reinvention of the DMV with an emphasis on transparency, worker performance, speed of service and overall consumer satisfaction. The Strike Team was created in response to long wait times in DMV field offices, which were exacerbated by the federal government’s REAL ID requirements.

More info here. 

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the State Legislature’s passage of the 2019-2020 budget for California.  An Assembly Budget Committee overview of the spending plan is available here.  Ting’s statement is as follows:

“California’s long-held values and priorities are prominently reflected in the new state budget. Strong revenues allow us to make investments that ensure our state’s unparalleled prosperity touches all Californians. That includes strengthening social infrastructure to lift families from homelessness and poverty, opening the door to more educational opportunities from pre-school to college, and closing the gap on universal health care. We accomplish all this while still having healthy reserves to protect these programs through the next economic downturn. This is how we demonstrate leadership in California.”

The California State Assembly paved the way for more housing units in the state by approving three proposals by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) before a key legislative deadline. Two bills (AB 68 & AB 69) encourage greater adoption of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as “in-law units” or “granny flats,” while the third, AB 1486, gives priority to more affordable housing projects when surplus public land becomes available. 

“In a housing crunch like ours, all reasonable solutions should be on the table. I’m a big supporter of ADUs because they are one of the fastest ways to expand our affordable housing supply, but we need to do more to spur widespread adoption,” 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.”

Ting’s ADU bills aim to make it even easier and faster for homeowners to build livable space on their properties by:

• Speeding up the approval process to 60 days
• Prohibiting restrictive local requirements pertaining to lot size and parking
• Allowing more types of units, such as units in multi-family dwellings, to be approved with less bureaucratic review
• Creating a Small Home Building Standards Code to make construction more cost-effective and safe

Sacramento, CA – The California State Assembly opened the doors to employment, housing and educational opportunities for millions of Californians today by approving AB 1076, a clean slate effort by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The proposal uses technology to automate arrest and conviction relief for those already entitled to record clearance under existing law. The current system is too burdensome and expensive for most people to navigate, resulting in barriers to re-entering society.

“There’s a great cost to our economy and society when we shut out job-seeking workers looking for a better future,” said Ting. “Everybody deserves a second chance. We must use available technology to help people who have already paid their debt to society get back on their feet.”

Studies show that lack of access to jobs and housing are primary factors that drive individuals to reoffend. The obstacles to successful re-entry also disproportionately impact communities of color and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. By requiring no additional action by petitioners, AB 1076 can make the system more fair and equitable, while also improving public safety through reduced recidivism.

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:

"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 for 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:

“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.”

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.

Sacramento – 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.