Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo makes remarks on the Assembly floor. January 2019.
In her second year in office, California State Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) built off the momentum she established during her first year in the Legislature. Assemblywoman Carrillo had eight bills signed into law, honored distinguished community members on the Assembly Floor, hosted numerous events in Assembly District 51 and represented the state of California on a trip to El Salvador with Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. She also aided in the passage of several significant pieces of legislation related to affordable housing, police use of force, protections for immigrants and public health, among many others. Most of all, 2019 was a year of building community and legislative partners to improve the quality of life of the residents of Assembly District 51 and the 40 million that call California home.
LEGISLATION
Eight of Assemblywoman Carrillo’s bills were signed into law by Governor Newsom, addressing mental health, worker protections, access to care and pathways to employment. Here is an overview of Assemblywoman Carrillo’s legislative accomplishments:
AB 46: Removes dehumanizing language from California law that discriminates against people with mental health issues.
AB 593: Improves the effectiveness of public workforce development programs by allowing Local Workforce Development Boards to access quarterly wage data in order to evaluate, research or forecast the effectiveness of public workforce development programs.
AB 673: Ensures an employee can collect fees if their paycheck is late through a hearing before the Labor Commissioner.
AB 1535: Increases consumer transparency for pet owners by adding a disclosure requirement on pet insurance documents which includes the California Department of Insurance’s contact information as well as the contact information of the insuring agency.
AB 1622: Enables family physicians to provide healthcare access to all Californians by adding them to areas in state law where they have been excluded.
AB 1668: Offers career opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals who have assisted in fighting California’s wildfires by creating an Employment and Reentry Education Program within the California Conservation Corps.
AB 1695: Protects our seniors and people living with disabilities by increasing transparency and accountability within our health facilities through a 90-day notice prior to sale or transfer of a nursing facility ownership.
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo and members of SEIU 2015 advocating for AB1695. July 10, 2019.
AB 1768: Ensures workers are paid the prevailing wage for their contributions to public works projects
This year, Assemblywoman Carrillo also worked on numerous pieces of legislation whose work may be continued in 2020. Some of these important bills include:
AB 556: Provides greater access to outdoor experiences to state parks and beaches for low-income and disadvantaged communities by requiring the Natural Resources Agency to develop and implement a community access program and authorizing the agency to develop a grant program.
AB 1158: Ensures stronger protections for workers who install elevators by temporarily suspending a company’s permit if they are knowingly installing an elevator that is in violation of state standards for worker safety.
AB 1225: Provides additional funding to help schools that have a high number of homeless students.
AB 1284: Creates a definition of “carbon neutrality” to establish clear guidelines moving forward in California’s fight against climate change.
AB 1500: Protects communities against hazardous waste disasters by empowering local authorities to take immediate action against threats to the public’s health and safety, including the ability to temporarily discontinue the operations of the facility that caused a harmful exposure.
AB 1658: Establishes a workgroup to enhance the adult education teacher credentialing process.
AB 1753: Ensures that immigrants and their families receive legal services in high-stakes immigration matters only from individuals who are qualified to provide these services.
In addition to her diverse bill package, Assemblywoman Carrillo co-authored and supported key legislation addressing women’s reproductive rights on college campuses, protections for workers, education equity and reduction of single-use plastics. Some of these highlights include:
AB 2 (Santiago): Increases access to higher education opportunities for youth and all Californians by providing two years of free community college.
AB 5 (Gonzalez): Protects workers against misclassification to ensure they receive overtime pay, healthcare benefits, workers’ compensation and other protections.
AB 142 (C. Garcia): Ensures the health and safety of local communities by providing additional funding to clean-up contaminated areas following a hazardous waste disaster. This is especially important to the communities impacted by the EXIDE Battery Plant lead contamination.
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo with AB142 author, Asm. Cristina Garcia and supporters. November 25, 2019.
AB 392 (Weber): Increases trust between the public and law enforcement by updating the standards for use of deadly force by peace officers.
AB 547 (Gonzalez): Provides great protections for janitors by requiring an advisory committee to refine the recommendations of sexual violence and harassment prevention training requirements for janitorial employers and employees.
AB 598 (Bloom): Expands access to care for children by requiring a health plan contract or health insurance policy (after January 1, 2020) to include coverage for hearing aids for minors.
AB 857 (Chiu): Allows local agencies to establish a public bank, which will provide more transparency and safeguard taxpayer money.
AB 1482 (Chiu): Establishes the “nations strongest statewide renter protections,” helping working families avoid rent gouging and unfair evictions.
SB 10 (Beall): Increases access to mental health care by requiring the establishment of a certification program for peer support specialists (PSS) for purposes of assisting clients with mental health and substance use disorders.
SB 13 (Wieckowski): Encourages more affordable housing by tackling barriers that block the construction of accessory dwelling units, also known as granny flats.
SB 24 (Leyva): Ensures that students have access to counseling services and comprehensive reproductive healthcare on their college campus.
SB 142 (Wiener): Increases comfort for new mothers at the workplace by establishing new building and employer requirements to provide access to adequate lactation space.
SB 227 (Leyva): Ensures hospital patients receive the best care possible by requiring hospitals to have an adequate number of nurses for patients.
BUDGET WINS
Assemblywoman Carrillo fought for and won funding to improve Assembly District 51 as part of the 2019–20 State Budget that passed earlier this year. For the people of the District and all of California, Assemblywoman Carrillo secured:
$50 million in additional annual funds to keep the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program operating, benefiting 4,200 centers and 400,000 children across California.
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo with students of LA’s Best
$8.3 million to provide children and families with medical, mental and behavioral health services by public health nurses.
$500,000 for a comprehensive study to revitalize the Bowtie Parcel, an 18-acre State Parks open space, adjacent to the LA River in Glassell Park.
Additionally, Assemblywoman Carrillo worked closely with her colleagues to provide support in securing funding for:
$98 million to allow undocumented young people between the ages of 19–26 to enroll in Medi-Cal. California is the first state in the country to provide coverage to this group.
$12 million for the Dolores Huerta Foundation and the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center to increase civic participation among low-income disenfranchised youth and their families.
$5 million to fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
$650 million in additional funding for the fight against homelessness, including $275 million to California’s 13 largest cities and $175 million to all 58 counties statewide.
An expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit, a cashback credit program for low-wage earner, into a $1 billion program.
HONOREES
Throughout 2019, Assemblywoman Carrillo welcomed several members of Assembly District 51 to Sacramento and honored them on the Assembly Floor for their outstanding service to our community.
Woman of the Year — Bricia Lopez, Head of Operations — Guelaguetza Restaurant
Nonprofit of the Year — Barrio Action Youth & Family Center
Small Business of the Year — Guisados
As a special note, through the California Latino Legislative Caucus, Assemblywoman Carrillo nominated and honored Cristela Alonzo with Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Advocacy & Entertainment. Watch the video HERE.
(R-L): Asm. Sharon Quirk-Silva, Senator Melissa Hurtado, Minority Leader Marie Waldron, Latino Caucus Vice Chair Maria Elena Durazo, Latino Spirit Award Recipient Cristela Alonzo, Latino Caucus Chair Lorena Gonzalez, Asm. Speaker Anthony Rendon, Asm. Wendy Carrillo. May 6, 2019.
Additionally, through the Latino Caucus, Assemblymember Carrillo was able to provide two $5,000 scholarships to two well deserving students.
Daniel Isaiah Andalon, Highland Park attending Cal State Los Angeles
Pamela Cano Reyes, East Los Angeles, attending UC Davids
DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS
The below are only a few of the many community events that the office of Assemblywoman Carrillo held throughout the 2019 year.
Over 150 fruit and shade trees were adopted by community members through a partnership with City Plants Los Angeles, helping build a greener and more sustainable city with cleaner air, improved health and quality of life.
Assemblymember Carrillo held a hiking event the Audubon at Debs Park, a wonderful open green space in the heart of the district with hiking trails and bird watching. Most members of the community were not aware of the park’s existence or its free programs for youth which are important to the Assemblymember’s “Parks for All” agenda.
Working with the City of Los Angeles Animal Services, several dogs and cats were adopted and given forever homes while providing residents with valuable city and state services.
In partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cal Water, over 300 turkeys were provided to families and organizations in need throughout the district.
In partnership with AT&T, over 100 backpacks filled with school supplies were given to students at Hillside Elementary School who participate in LA’s Best Afterschool Enrichment Program.
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo with students from LA’s Best. November 2019.
Alongside the East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Assemblymember Carrillo visited several businesses located on Whittier Blvd., within the Small Business Historic Corridor. Small businesses are the heart of our communities and employ local residents amplifying good jobs and economic stability. This tour is helping develop the AD51 small business advisory council.
Provided families and senior citizens in El Sereno and Ramona Gardens with free and low cost wireless service through Lifeline, a state and federal government program that provides affordable wireless service to low-income consumers and True Connect, a great community service provider.
710 FWY update: The office of Assemblymember Carrillo hosted an informational meeting with residents from El Sereno, Hillside Village and City Terrace with Metro, CalTrans, and the City of Los Angeles to address questions relating to two pieces of legislation AB29 (Holden) and SB7 (Portantino), both of which address the 710 FWY on Valley Blvd. The meeting was well received and is only the beginning of a larger conversation.
Visiting Los Angeles Fire Department Open House Day: Assemblymember Carrillo visited several LAFD stations during the annual open house day to hear from the men and women directly that care for our communities. Several issues came up including homelessness, mental health, resources and rise of 911 calls related to the housing crisis. Assemblymember Carrillo also went on a ride along with the Eagle Rock Station 42 to witness first hand how LAFD helps those in need.
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo on a ride along with LAFD station 42. R-L: Firefighter/Paramedic Martin Blount, Captain David Sifuentes, Firefighter Benny Wong. May 2019.
In addition to the LAFD ride along, Assemblymember Carrillo also went on the road with the California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA Sheriff’s Department to understand first hand the impact of the work and how the state can help address concerns for community needs as well the well being and safety of law enforcement.
As a member of the Health Committee, Assemblymember Carrillo made it a point to visit several community health clinics in the district including Clinica Romero, Saint John’s Well Child, Nuestra Clinica and many others to learn first hand the health needs of our community. Additionally, Assemblymember Carrillo held a roundtable conversation with Democratic National Committee Chairman, Tom Perez and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Latinos and Access to Healthcare.
Representing the state legislature, Assemblymember Carrillo was invited to travel with Governor Gavin Newson and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to El Salvador. As the only Salvadoran-born elected in the state, the trip helped inform the group on some of the challenges facing migrating families in what is now seen as a humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border.
“To all my community members, I cannot thank you enough for putting your trust in me to best serve you in our State Capitol,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo. “Every day, I am encouraged by the kindness, compassion, determination and good will of all who reside in Assembly District 51. In only two years we have accomplished so much, and I cannot wait to continue working with all of you to keep building on the foundation we have established. It is an absolute honor and a privilege to represent you in Sacramento.”
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo was elected as the representative of the 51st Assembly District in December of 2017. She is a member of the Rules, Appropriations, Health and Utilities and Energy Committees. Carrillo represents the people of East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, and the neighborhoods of El Sereno, Echo Park, Lincoln Heights, Chinatown and parts of Silver Lake.