SACRAMENTO, CA - On Thursday, June 15th, 2023, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo commended the passing of the 2023-24 California State Budget by the legislature, marking a major milestone for this legislative cycle.
Assemblywoman Carrillo issued the following statement regarding the budget, marking the wide array of crucial investments to address California’s greatest challenges:
“I am proud that the legislature passed a budget today that reflects our commitment to California's future that is now on its way to the Governor’s desk.” said Assemblywoman Carrillo. “We fought to restore transportation funding and we are investing in housing and homelessness prevention. We are ensuring the allocation of adequate resources to fund K-12 education and are making significant investments in higher education. We prioritized families by providing cost of living adjustments for childcare, while other states play politics with human lives, we maintain our commitment to immigrant rights organizations by ensuring funding for legal services and support. We propelled the growth of California's creative economy, enhanced theater arts programs in correctional facilities, and expanded the Film & Television tax credit program, ensuring we stop runaway productions, increase workforce diversity and keep thousands of good jobs in our state for years to come.”
“While we face budget challenges, I look forward to our ongoing negotiations with Governor Newsom as we aim to secure a budget that is reflective of our values and promotes a California for All.”
Highlights from this year’s budget:
Investments in Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Provides $1 billion in additional funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) grant program, so that our local partners have the resources to continue tackling homelessness.
Make available $2 million to qualified immigrant rights organizations to provide immigrant individuals with consistent, comprehensive support when entering a public shelter.
Support homeowners through additional investments in the Multifamily Housing Program and Cal Home Program, while restoring funds to support accessory dwelling units and the Dream for All program to assist first-time homebuyers.
Restore Transportation Funding
Restore the full $2 billion Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) budget giving agencies the flexibility to spend those dollars on transit operations to improve services throughout Southern California.
Investing in Our Students, Youth, and Children
Provides $2.5 million to support the East Los Angeles Community College Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center whose mission is to accelerate startup and growth-phase minority, women, veteran, formerly incarcerated, and LGBTQIA owned business in the communities of East Los Angeles.
Increases funding for student housing and student basic needs at the university systems and community colleges, and significant enrollment increases at both UC and CSU.
Approves $50 million annually until 2026-27 to expand the California Youth Jobs Corps at Cal Volunteers to include eligible AB 540 California Dream Act students, DACA recipients and immigrant youth with work authorization.
Includes a childcare funding cost of living adjustment, increasing funding by 25%, which is necessary to stabilize the childcare sector and help parents struggling to find providers.
Workforce Investments
Extends the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program for 2025 to 2030 at $330 million per year to attract more production to California, while creating jobs and increasing opportunities in these industries for diverse communities.
Includes $45 million in funding to establish health and safety protections for domestic workers under California’s Occupational Safety and Health Act, and allocates $500,000 to convene a working group consisting of state and local stakeholders to explore ways of creating and supporting a permanent fund for excluded immigrant workers to access unemployment benefits paid for by their employers.
Restore $25 million for the California Workplace Outreach Program to provide workers’ rights education by organizations that support workers in California’s low-wage industries, who face hazards and exploitation.
$15 million for the Women in Construction Priority Unit, created to assist and provide resources to women in the construction workforce.
$5 million in one-time funds to support the Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program to reduce the incidence of cancer among California firefighters.
Invests $1,000,000 to create a strategic cultural equity plan to guide the resources and investments needed to build California’s creative economy, which includes fine and performing arts, and other related services.
Environmental Justice for Our Communities
Provide $67.3 million from the Lead-Acid Battery Cleanup Fund over two years to cleanup 6,425 parkways surrounding the former Exide Technologies facility identified with high levels of lead.
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
Provides $1.5 million for site improvements at the Women’s Twentieth Century Club, a historic clubhouse in Eagle Rock dedicated to self-improvement, public service, and community.
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo was elected to the California State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 52nd District of California, encompassing East LA, Northeast LA, and parts of Glendale. She has served as the Chair of Budget Sub-Committee #4 on State Administration, and a member of the Appropriations, Health, Housing and Community Development, and Utilities and Energy Committees, as well as Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities.
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