SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chair of the Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, said today he is grateful for a few small gains for the IDD community in the state budget the Legislature adopted today. These include a rate increase for some service providers – $125 million in this year’s budget and $150 million in next year’s – access to state minimum wage adjustments and restoration of a service exclusion (uniform holiday schedule) adopted during the 2009 recession.

However, Frazier said he is disappointed that the IDD community is still being left behind in budgets that each year increase spending in other parts of the social safety net. He expressed his frustration in an address to his colleagues in the Assembly during today’s Floor vote to adopt the budget:

“While this Budget puts funding into programs that serve Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we all have to acknowledge that we aren’t doing enough and will need to do more, maybe even this year.

AB 2441 CSLC Abandoned Commercial Vessel Removal Plan draft 06042019.pdf

Draft of plan, mandated by Frazier legislation, open for public comment

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), author of AB 2241 that directed State Lands to develop a plan to remove abandoned commercial vessels from Delta waterways by July 1, announced that a draft of the plan is ready and available for public comment.

 “I am grateful the State Lands Commission is fulfilling the requirement of AB 2441 on schedule,” Frazier said. “These abandoned, derelict commercial vessels pose a serious threat to the Delta’s ecosystem and navigation of its waterways. I urge interested parties to read and comment on the draft plan. I look forward to the final plan so that we can move forward with clearing the Delta of these hazards.”

SACRAMENTO – Every summer since Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) has served in the State Assembly, his district and Capitol staff – Team Frazier – has volunteered at the annual Summer Special Olympics. This year is no exception, Team Frazier will help with the tennis competition on Saturday, June 22 at UC Davis.

“My staff looks forward to this every year,” said Frazier, who has volunteered at the Special Olympics for 15 years running. “It’s such a rewarding experience for the athletes and for those who volunteer. The athletes have an opportunity to showcase their talents and expand their lives. The Special Olympics is an amazing organization. The annual Northern California summer games draw athletes from all over the region to compete in a variety of sports.”

AB 1172 would require greater oversight of nonpublic schools

SACRAMENTO – The full Assembly today approved a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to better protect special needs students at nonpublic schools by expanding local and state oversight of these schools.

Frazier, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, introduced AB 1172 in response to the November 2018 death of a 13-year-old autistic student after he was improperly restrained by staff at a nonpublic school in El Dorado Hills.

“This boy’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened,” Frazier said. “AB 1172 will ensure that these specialized nonpublic schools have the appropriately trained staff to educate and care for our most vulnerable students. It will also give the Department of Education the tools it needs to protect students across the nonpublic school system.”

SACRAMENTO – The full state Assembly unanimously approved a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to increase apprenticeship opportunities for Californians with an intellectual or developmental disability.

“California has created more than 3 million jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010,” Frazier said. “But there has been minimal growth in the employment rate for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities in that time.”

Frazier bill to increase fairness and security by online traffic violator schools also approved today

SACRAMENTO – The full Assembly today unanimously approved a transportation spending transparency bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay).

“Assembly Bill 313 is a common-sense good government bill that will create accountability and transparency for how research dollars under the Road Repair and Accountability Act are spent,” Frazier said.

REDDING SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING - Thursday, May 9, 2019, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Redding City Council Chambers - 777 Cypress Avenue, Redding, CA 96001

EUREKA SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING - Saturday, May 11, 2019, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Eureka City Council Chambers, 531 K Street, Eureka, CA 95501

COACHELLA SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING - Friday, May 17, 2019 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Coachella Public Library 1500 6th Street, Coachella CA 92236 

SAN DIEGO SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING - June 20, 2019, 5:30 PM  – 8:30 PM

Location: SDGE Energy Innovation Center, 4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92117

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Health Committee unanimously approved AB 1769, a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to appropriate $14 million for Solano County to construct two integrated mental health residential facilities on the county’s social services campus.

SACRAMENTO – Several bills authored by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) have advanced after winning committee approvals.

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously approved a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to clear a years-long backlog of rape kits that have not been tested.

Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Vacaville, which last year launched a successful campaign to clear a backlog of untested kits in their community, AB 1496 would mandate that all rape kits in law enforcement possession be sent to labs for testing within six months and for labs to process the kits quickly. It would also require rapid turnaround of all future rape kit evidence that is collected statewide.

“Collection of sexual assault forensic evidence can be a re-traumatizing experience for victims of sex crimes,” Frazier said. “Survivors expect kits to be tested quickly. Yet tens of thousands of rape kits remain untested in California. Requiring the prompt testing of the existing backlog of rape kit evidence will help law enforcement identify and convict serial offenders. Ensuring that future rape kits be tested promptly will help survivors receive justice.”