February 2006 - Volume 1
In This Issue... Juan's February Events Black History Month Events Enterprise Zone Hearing Arambula Legislative Update CCLPEP Grants Juan's Website Assemblymember Juan Arambula Capitol Office: State Captiol P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0031 (916) 319 - 2031 (916) 319 - 2131 fax District Office: Hugh Burns State Building 2550 Maripose Mall Suite 5031 Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 445 - 5532 (559) 445 - 6006 fax	EVENTS JUAN IS HOSTING IN FEBRUARY For more information about any of these events, call Juan’s district office at (559) 445-5532. February 3 - Juan joins State Farm Insurance to donate used cell phones to Fresno’s Marjaree Mason Center. February 23 - Juan invites you to a ceremony honoring the winners of the 2006 African-American Heritage Awards at Fresno’s African American Museum.  See the full invitation at www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula/pdf/AfAmHeritageAwards.pdf, or nominate someone you admire for an award by visiting www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula and clicking “Submit a nomination.”  Admission is free and refreshments will be served. February 24 - Juan encourages high school students throughout the Valley to get assistance completing the FAFSA form and applying for a Cal Grant to help pay for college.  The public is welcome to this free workshop at 5:30 p.m. in the Reedley College Cafeteria. BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE 31ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT February is national African-American History Month.  Juan has encouraged his constituents, especially children, to use the month to learn more about the history of blacks in America.  Listen for more at www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula/psa/BlackHistoryPSA.mp3.  A wealth of events are planned in the 31^st Assembly District to celebrate this month.  Here are just a few: February 4 — Fresno’s African American Museum hosts the Harlem Renaissance Gala at the Fresno Convention Center.  For more information visit www.aahcmsjv.com or call (559) 681-9005. February 5, 12, 19, and 26 — Fresno State’s KFSR radio explores the history of blacks in art and politics in a series of shows on Sundays at 1 p.m.  Visit www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/blackhistory.html or tune in to FM 90.7. February 8 — Sample soul food in the Reedley College Cafeteria at 12:00 p.m.  To learn more visit www.reedleycollege.edu/calendar/eventdetails.asp?UID=615. Through February 26 — Student art celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is on display at the Fresno Metropolitan Museum’s Reeves ASK Science Center at 933 Van Ness Ave.  An opening reception will be held February 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. February 27 — Juan joins Senator Dean Florez for a press conference at 2 p.m. to announce the naming of a freeway interchange in south Fresno to honor the late activist Rosa Parks. All month — Fresno City College offers on- and off-campus presentations of music, photography, theater, dance, discussion, film, and food to celebrate the African-American experience.  See the complete list of events at www.fresnocitycollege.edu/activities/index.asp#February. ENTERPRISE ZONE HEARING On December 12, Juan brought the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (which he chairs) to the Valley to hear from local leaders about what the California Enterprise Zone Program has meant to their communities.  The hearing was the second in a series of three hearings held jointly with the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation. “The State annually provides more than $260 million in tax benefits to businesses located in Enterprise Zones,” Juan said.  “I have called these hearings to evaluate whether these monies are providing real value to the communities they are intended to serve.” The California Enterprise Zone Program was established in 1984 to stimulate business and industrial growth in economically depressed areas of the state.  Businesses in these areas can receive both local and state incentives — including tax credits for the creation of new jobs, sales tax credits for equipment purchases, accelerated expense deductions, and extended carry-forward of business losses.   By the end of 2006, the authorization for 18 of the state’s 42 Enterprise Zones will expire.  “Understanding the program from a Valley perspective is important.  Communities here have long faced great economic and social challenges,” Juan said at the Fresno hearing.  “If a program is successful here, then we will know it is truly an effective to tool to fight poverty and increase prosperity.” The third hearing will be held February 28 in Sacramento. ARAMBULA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AB 237 enhances the transparency of the Infrastructure Bank's project selection process by requiring the I-Bank to include an explanation of how the areas of greatest economic need are better served when changes are made to criteria, priorities, and guidelines adopted by the Bank. This bill builds upon the good work of Assemblyman Bill Maze, who in 2004 authored the law that requires the I-Bank to notify the Governor, Legislature, and relevant agencies of changes to the criteria, priorities, and guidelines for the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program. Knowing this alignment of need and action is particularly important in this era of limited economic development resources. Status: Passed the Assembly to Senate AB 389 authorizes the Department of Health Services to develop a swimming pool safety booklet and make this booklet available on the department's website. The tragedy of a child drowning or being injured around a swimming pool can often be prevented when parents have information about the options to improve pool safety. This bill is intended to give parents and homeowners a valuable resource to better protect our children. Status: Passed the Assembly to Senate AB 840 gives relief to students who were mistakenly awarded, through no fault of their own, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Program grants by the California Student Aid Commission. The Commission inadvertently instituted a system that did not check for pertinent information which would have disqualified students who were not California residents at the time of high school graduation. However, these same students would have been eligible for Cal Grant Competitive grants. AB 840 ensures that these continuing students do not have to pay for the state s mistake. Status: Passed the Assembly to Senate AB 1483 brings California into compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act by requiring an assessment for English Language Learners in Kindergarten and 1st grade. The State Department of Education is sponsoring this bill to make necessary changes to ensure continued school funding from the US Department of Education. This bill also specifies that these assessments are to be age and developmentally appropriate and that the incorporation of these assessments is to be done in a manner that minimizes testing time. Status: Passed the Assembly to Senate AB 1550 requires the Governor to consider Central Valley residents when making appointments to the California Transportation Commission (CTC), and encourages the Governor to choose individuals with a background related to meeting the state s transportation needs. The CTC makes critical decisions about which transportation projects receive state funding. This bill seeks to improve the Valley s standing on the CTC, and make progress toward meeting the Valley s unique transportation challenges. Status: Passed the Assembly to Senate CALIFORNIA CIVIL LIBERTIES PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM GRANTS The deadline for applications to California’s CCLPEP program is March 3.  CCLPEP’s purpose is to provide competitive grants for public educational activities and the development of educational materials to ensure that the events surrounding the exclusion, forced removal and incarceration of civilians and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry will be remembered and so that causes and circumstances of this and similar events may be illuminated and understood.  Since its inception, CCLPEP has funded nearly 200 projects related to the Japanese American experience during World War II.  To find out more about the program or apply for a grant, visit www.library.ca.gov/cclpep/index.cfm . WEBSITE Juan continues to update his website with new features to help constituents learn who he is, how he is working to represent them, when important events are happening, where to get help navigating State bureaucracy, and what services and opportunities are available to them as residents of the San Joaquin Valley.  If you haven’t had a chance lately, stop by for a visit at www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula.
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