Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva 2019 End of the Year Legislative Highlights
SACRAMENTO, CA: Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D- Orange County) As the deadline for Governor Newsom to sign or veto legislation concluded, marking the end of the 2019 legislative session, the Assemblywoman reflects on her legislative and budget accomplishments and priorities.
Housing and Homelessness were a central focus for legislation and budget matters in the 2019 legislative year as California struggles with unattainable home ownership, high rents, keeping up with the demand of new housing development, and the increasing rise in homelessness, said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. Issues important to the district and the state including our work on education, transparency, higher education, and veteran s affairs as well as securing state funds for Orange County were also undertaken this legislative year.
Legislation Signed into Law (partial list):
Assembly Bill 133 Property Tax Postponement Program: Expands the eligibility and utilization of the Property Tax Postponement Program.
Assembly Bill 136 Personal Income Tax Law: Deductions: Introduced in response to the recent college admission scandal, provides direction to the California Franchise Tax Board to pursue enforcement actions of tax fraud by California taxpayers who are named in a federal indictment, found guilty and exhausted all appeals. This bill prohibits these individuals from benefiting from illegal income tax charitable contributions or fraudulent business expense deductions.
Assembly Bill 139 Emergency and Transitional Housing Act of 2019: Updates California s Housing Element, implementing targeted strategies to long-term permanent housing for California s homeless population.
Budget Accomplishments (partial list):
$29.6 million was secured this year in the state funding through the 2019-20 California budget for specific district needs and an additional $55 million was supported through the budget for both district and regional requests. The combined $84.6 million has been appropriated for the following: (partial list):
Orange County Finance Trust - $1 million to be utilized for permanent supportive housing
Homeless Veteran Funding - $2.9 million to house Orange County s homeless veterans through the United to End Homelessness Welcome Home OC program.
Fullerton Community College $14 million for building modification for Fullerton Community College
Garden Grove Korean American Federation of Orange County- $100,000 for new safety features for their business facility.
There is still plenty to be accomplished, but this is a very promising start, said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. The beginning of 2020, the second year of the two-year legislative session, will provide opportunities to continue our work on issues that remain important to the district and the state.