2017 Legislative Achievements
Assembly Bill 422 – CSU Doctorate of Nursing Degree
Gives the California State University’s (CSU) authority to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs at up to three campuses, including authorizing Fresno State.
Assembly Bill 340 – Early Screening and Assessment for Childhood Trauma
Creates programs for low-income children, adolescents and teenagers to receive critical recovery services.
Assembly Bill 242 (co-author) – Certificates of Death Involving Veterans
Officially records a veteran’s cause of death as suicide, and provides stronger support for related advocacy groups to raise public awareness on this issue
Assembly Bill 1048 – Dispensing Opioids
Gives pharmacists a more discerning role in dispensing/tracking opioid prescriptions. This change also removes the requirement that pain be assessed as a vital sign.
Assembly Bill 470 – Equity in Mental Health Services
Establishes robust tracking/evaluation measures to ensure Medi-Cal recipients receive timely access to quality mental health services that meet their cultural and language needs.
Assembly Bill 760 (co-author) – Education Code and The Center for Advanced Research and Technology
Authorizes permanent operating status for the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), a high tech high school that is a joint collaboration of the Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified school districts.
Assembly Bill 258 – County Child Care Subsidy Plan
Expands access to $10M in state-subsidized child care programs, affecting up roughly 1,300 kids and their families in Fresno County.
Assembly Bill 563 – CalFresh Employment and Training Program
Eliminates an unintended penalty on individuals in the ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents) program seeking employment, and establishes a CalFresh E&T Center for Excellence. This also allows the Department of Social Services to directly contract with CalFresh E&T providers.