Dear Central Valley Family & Friends,

As we move past the first quarter of the 2019-2020 legislative year, I’d like to take this moment to reflect on the last four months. On January 7th, I kicked off my first year as a State Senator by welcoming a wonderful team who is just as passionate as I am about serving the Central Valley. With the team on board, our goals for the Central Valley are to expand access to health care, restore clean water supply and build a pathway towards upward mobility for our most vulnerable communities.

Although our team is determined and dedicated to advocate for the Central Valley, we know that there will be many challenges to reaching these goals. First and foremost, the Central Valley has often felt underappreciated and disenfranchised from decisions made in Sacramento. As a result, many of our voices have been left out of crucial conversations which have led to policies within Sacramento not fully reflecting our needs as a community. Simply put, one size does not fit all and this especially rings true in the Central Valley.

However, in February 2019, our community witnessed firsthand, a Governor who prioritized our needs. As our community has recognized for many years, an investment in the Central Valley is an investment in California. During Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State speech, he expressed his openness to work inclusively with diverse communities throughout the state. To demonstrate his commitment, the Governor signed his first set of bills within Senate District 14. Assembly Bills 72 and 73, which are early action budget bills that provide urgent assistance for communities that have contaminated and unsafe drinking water, were the first steps to “unlock the economic potential of the Central Valley”.

Although these are merely the first steps to advocating for our communities, it launched this legislative year onto the right path – prioritizing critical needs of the Southern Central Valley. In this newsletter, you’ll find legislation that I’ve authored to ensure that the Valley receives our fair share. In addition, I’m empowering you to share your thoughts with me – whether it’s through social media, reaching out to the local offices or visiting my website. The opportunities to continue bringing in resources for the Central Valley are extensive, but I can’t do it alone.

As we move through the next quarter, I encourage you to raise your voice. It is absolutely essential for the wellbeing of the Central Valley. More importantly, your voice is needed for your family, for your friends, for your neighbors and for the Central Valley.

Sincerely,

Your State Senator,
Melissa Hurtado – SD14

Senator Melissa Hurtado has had a busy four months not only building a team in and around the Capitol, but also introducing key legislation that will help the Valley reach its goals. From expanding access to health care to restoring clean water supply, Senator Hurtado has been a key player in ensuring that the Valley receive its fair share of resources.

SB 207 – Access to Asthma Prevention Services

Senate Bill 207 will ensure vulnerable communities have access to asthma prevention services by allowing Medi-Cal to reimburse for asthma education and home trigger assessments provided by qualified, non-licensed professionals including community health workers, and increase financial support for environmental trigger remediation in the home. The bill advanced through the Senate Health Committee to the Senate Appropriation Committee with bi-partisan support. 

SB 260 – Helping Families Keep Their Health Coverage When Life Changes

Senate Bill 260 will require health plans and insurers to give consumers who lose their coverage for any reason notices of the availability of Medi-Cal and Covered California coverage. The bill will also make it easier for Covered California to reach out to consumers, who have lost their coverage to help minimize gaps in their coverage. The bill advanced through the Senate Health Committee to the Senate Appropriation Committee with bi-partisan support.

SB 331 – Teen Suicide Prevention

Senate Bill 331 will require all California counties to develop a suicide prevention strategic plan, with an emphasis on adolescents. The bill advanced through the Senate Health Committee to the Senate Appropriation Committee with bi-partisan support.

SB 559 – Restoring Water Supply in the Southern Central Valley

Senate Bill 559, authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), representing the 14th Senate District in California, and principal co-authored by Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), will help secure California’s water supply by investing $400 million in general funds towards restoring lost conveyance capacity on the Friant-Kern Canal, one of San Joaquin Valley’s most critical water delivery facilities. The bill advanced through the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water by 7 - 0 vote. The legislation, which received bipartisan support, will invest $400 million from the State’s General Fund towards the Friant-Kern Canal, one of the Central Valley’s most critical water delivery facilities.

For more information, click here.

Budget Requests

Senator Melissa Hurtado Calls for a $12 Million Investment in Dolores Huerta Foundation and Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center

Senator Melissa Hurtado met during the Senate Budget Subcommittee 3 on Health and Human Services on Thursday, April 11th. Among the topic of issues is a onetime appropriation ask, requested by Senator Melissa Hurtado. The request includes a $12 million appropriation in the 2019 Budget Act for the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) and Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center (MLKJFC)’s Youth and Family Civic Engagement Initiative. (Read More)

To Help Immigrant Families in the Central Valley, Senator Melissa Hurtado Requests a Onetime Investment of $4.7 Million for the California Immigrant Justice Fellowship Program

On April 11, Senator Melissa Hurtado requested a onetime investment of $4.7 million for the California Immigrant Justice Fellowship program. The appropriation of funds is a direct investment in a legal fellows program that leverages the legal expertise of established service providers as a training ground for new attorneys, before they are placed with organizations in the most underserved regions in California, with ongoing mentorship and technical assistance. (Read More)

Senate District 14 is made up of four counties (Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern), and close to 1 million constituents. Senator Melissa Hurtado and her team have spent the last four months with a boots on the ground approach to meet with community members, attend events and gather data to ensure that the Central Valley is being heard in Sacramento.

Senator Melissa Hurtado Hosted Swearing-In Events in Fresno and Bakersfield

Senator Melissa Hurtado hosted two separate Swearing-In events in her first quarter as State Senator. The events, held in Fresno and Bakersfield, drew in hundreds of community members who had the opportunity to engage with the Senator.

To find out more about the Fresno Community Swearing-In Event, click here.

To find out more about the Bakersfield Community Swearing-In Event, click here.

Senator Melissa Hurtado Joins Governor Gavin Newsom in the Central Valley to Sign the Emergency Water Bills

At the beginning of February 2019, Senator Melissa Hurtado joined Governor Gavin Newsom to sign his first set of bills within Senate District 14. AB 72 and 73, which are early action budget bills that provide urgent assistance for communities that have contaminated and unsafe water, were the first steps to “unlocking the economic potential of the Central Valley”. The event was held at Riverview Elementary School in Parlier, California. To watch the bill signing, click here.

Senator Melissa Hurtado Introduces Bipartisan Supported Legislation to Invest $400 Million to Fix Friant-Kern Canal

Senator Melissa Hurtado, along with principal co-authors Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), introduced Senate Bill 559 on March 1.  The introduction, held on the Friant-Kern Canal in Terra Bella, included Porterville Mayor, Martha A. Flores; Tulare County Supervisor, Eddie Valero; Arvin-Edison Water Storage District President, Edwin Camp; and Kern Water Bank General Manager, Jon Parker. The bipartisan supported legislation will secure California’s water supply by investing $400 million in general funds towards the Friant-Kern Canal, one of the Central Valley’s most critical water delivery facilities. To watch the press conference, click here.

Senator Melissa Hurtado and the California Contractors State License Board, the City of Woodlake, and Supervisor Eddie Valero to Hold Free Senior Scam Stopper Seminar

On May 29, the California Contractors State License Board, the City of Woodlake, Supervisor Eddie Valero of Tulare County District 4 along with Senator Melissa Hurtado will be hosting a Free Senior Scam Stopper Seminar. The event will be held at the Woodlake Community Center, 145 N. Magnolia Street, Woodlake, CA 93286 from 9a.m. – 11a.m.

With one in five seniors being a victim of fraud, seniors are the most targeted and vulnerable groups today. Please join us to hear from experts on how to protect yourself and your family from scams.

To RSVP, contact Senator Melissa Hurtado’s office at (559) 264-3070.

Barbara Jean Hill Recognized as Woman of the Year for Senate District 14

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