Legislative Wrap-Up: Care Facilities, Pre-School Programs, Energy Neutrality

State Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) announced she will introduce legislation that will strengthen the inspection and complaint investigation process for assisted living facilities.

The legislation was spurred by what authorities described as the abandonment of patients last month at Valley Manor Springs in Castro Valley.

“Though the ongoing federal, state and local investigation into what happened at Valley Springs Manor continues, this situation in Castro Valley is a clear reminder that there is an urgent need for increased protections to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again,” said Corbett, the Senate majority leader. “Residents at assisted living facilities are certainly vulnerable and both they and their families deserve the peace of mind of knowing that there are safeguards in place to protect residents if and when another facility closure occurs.”

State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) released a statement commending U.C. President Janet Napolitano's proposal to have the university system reach net energy neutrality by 2025.

“I applaud UC for their commitment to energy efficiency and willingness to directly generate electricity from renewable sources," said Skinner. "UC’s long-standing accomplishments in energy efficiency combined with this newly announced goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 reflects UC's unique ability to apply science to solve real problems for California."

State Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) received a Distinguished Citizen Award for his work to help care facility residents.

The honor was presented by the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Wieckowski authored AB 937, a new law that protects seniors from isolation from conservators who were overstepping their boundaries.

Rep. George Miller (D-Concord) introduced legislation to improve access and affordability to high-quality early learning programs for 20 million children.

The Strong Start for America's Children Act of 2013 would provide grants to states to improve access to pre-school programs for 4-year-old children.

“Education is often cited as the 'great equalizer' of opportunity leading to greater employment opportunities and economic prosperity,” said Miller. “The fact is, quality early childhood education works. The problem is, most kids don't have access to it. The Strong Start for America's Children Act will help close the achievement gap, job gap and wage gap between rich and poor."

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) released a statement asking the Obama Administration to work with Congress to create Trade Promotion Authority legislation.

“Increasing exports and eliminating trade barriers can be a win for our economy provided the playing field is level and everyone operates under a fair and basic set of rules," said Thompson. “Any Trade Promotion Authority must support and help create good American jobs, grow the U.S. economy, set basic standards for our partners to live up to, improve market access, protect the environment, and allows for Congressional oversight."