ANAHEIM, CA – Dec 6, 2017 – Anaheim Beautiful welcomed CA District 65 Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva as the featured guest speaker at the 2017 Holiday Luncheon. Guests enjoyed entertainment by the Kennedy Singers and the organization’s quarterly property awards were presented. Priscilla Oropeza, Miss Anaheim Fall Festival Teen Ambassador was on hand to greet members and help with the opportunity drawing.

ORANGE COUNTY - Last week, in accordance with the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act, the California State Student Association (CSSA) Executive Board received communication from the Chancellor’s Office regarding a possible tuition increase proposal for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Photo of Governor Jerry Brown, Leland Wilson, and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill 490 (AB 490), authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D - Orange County) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 490 will extend the College Access Tax Credit Program for 5 years, and support Cal Grant B Access Awards for California students, in an effort to shorten the time it takes to graduate and to allow students to spend more time focusing on their studies.

“This law provides a continuation of funding for Cal Grant B awards that cover textbooks, housing, transportation, childcare and other living expenses, and additional costs associated with higher education for low-income students,” said Quirk-Silva. “The College Access Tax Credit is an innovative program that will help students, while allowing individuals and businesses to get the maximum benefit from that investment.”

Sacramento, CA – Assembly Bill 363 (AB 363) by Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) was successfully signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The law will waive the processing fee for homeless and low-income veterans who apply for a veteran designation on their California driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Current law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to offer a driver's license or identification card printed with the word "veteran" on it, indicating that the possessor is a military veteran. However, all veterans are currently charged a fee for this service, a cost that homeless veterans may not be able to afford. AB 363 will waive the fee for low-income and homeless veterans that do not have the extra resources readily available to pay for the veteran designation.

(SACRAMENTO) –Assembly Bill 584 (AB 584) by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) was signed into law, by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 584 will help students improve their academic performance and make information about postsecondary education, and financial aid more widely available. This new law will bring together resources in Orange County for the purposes of improving academic performance, and providing information to underserved populations of Orange County.

“Orange County students overall, outscore, outperform, and outrank the state average on standardized testing and other measures of achievement, but minority students in the Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana school districts are far more likely to drop out of high school,” said Quirk-Silva. “We have witnessed an education achievement gap, which is fueled by poverty, language and cultural barriers, lack of advocacy, and limited education support outside of the school system.”

Orange County, California – Today, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, (D - Orange County) hosted a Joint Informational hearing to discuss the future of high school Career Technical Education (CTE).

The hearing covered how the 3-year, $900 million California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant, established as part of the 2015-2016 state budget, has been implemented to expand and enhance district CTE programs. The hearing also discussed the need for ongoing funding to ensure students have access to CTE education that prepares them for well-paying careers in industries like agriculture, energy, manufacturing, construction and engineering, healthcare, hospitality, and more.

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, during Mental Health Awareness Week, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) announces that Assembly Bill 974 (AB 974) was signed into law, by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 974 will require all counties to submit an annual report to the legislature on Mental Health Services Act spending on clinical services provided to veterans.

“In Southern California and throughout the country many veterans are not going to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) for mental health services, leaving the task of outreach and providing long-term care to a patchwork of local services and private nonprofits,” said Quirk-Silva. “We can no longer look the other way or continue to underfund the mental health care system that our veterans use.”