The 31st District Digest (May 11 to May 15)

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May 16, 2020

 

The 31st District Digest (May 11 to May 15)

 
This week marked the California State Senate’s return to the Capitol, where Governor Newsom’s revised State Budget proposal and the ongoing oversight of the State’s response to COVID-19 stood ready for action. My extended time in our 31st District has given me much to consider and share with my colleagues.

My actions have always been informed by the needs and interests of our communities. I am eager to resume the carrying out of my legislative duty on behalf of all who call our District home.

While I may be back in Sacramento, my heart is with the District. If my office can be of any assistance during this time, please feel free to reach out. Our contact information can be found at the conclusion of these updates.

For now, here are the updates that occurred this week:
 
 

California’s Path Forward

Western Pact Urges Federal Support for States and Cities Responding to COVID-19 (link)
On Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Atkins, Assembly Speaker Rendon, and Assembly Minority Leader Waldron joined the Governor and other leaders across the 5 states of the Western States Pact to send a letter to Congressional leadership requesting $1 trillion in direct and flexible relief to states and local governments in order to preserve core government services like public health, public safety, and public education, and help people get back to work in the wake of COVID-19.
For the full letter, click here.
 

May 2020 is Older Californians Month (link)
On Tuesday, Governor Newsom issued a proclamation declaring May 2020 as “Older Californians Month”, highlighting the unique challenges that older Californians have faced in light of COVID-19. In the proclamation, the Governor states the following:
“There is no moment more significant than now to honor older Californians for their sacrifices and their service. We deeply appreciate that older Californians were the first to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result are saving lives every day through their commitment and resolve. We remember those older Californians who have lost their lives to this terrible pandemic, and we offer our comfort and support to their loved ones. Older Californians have helped build our Golden State and are meeting the moment still today.”


For the full proclamation click here.
 

Testing Update: California has conducted over 1 Million Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19 (link)
On Tuesday, Governor Newsom announced that California has conducted more than 1 million diagnostic tests for COVID-19, making considerable progress towards the 25,000 daily test goal set just over a month ago. He shared the following:

“Ramping up our testing capacity is critical as we begin modifying our stay at home order. In addition to standing up more than 80 new testing sites across the state in under-served communities, soon Californians will be able to get tested when they pick up their prescriptions at some pharmacies across the state.”
 

Increasing testing capacity is among one of the six critical indicators identified in California’s Resilience Roadmap announced last month. For the full Resilience Roadmap, click here.

 
 

Governor Newsom submits his May Revision Budget Proposal to the Legislature (link)

On Thursday, Governor Newsom submitted his 2020-2021 May Revision budget proposal to the Legislature, outlining California’s plans to close a budget gap brought upon by the COVID-19 induced recession. The Governor stated the following:
 

“COVID-19 has caused California and economies across the country to confront a steep and unprecedented economic crisis – facing massive job losses and revenue shortfalls... Our budget today reflects that emergency. We are proposing a budget to fund our most essential priorities – public health, public safety, and public education – and to support workers and small businesses as we restart our economy. But difficult decisions lie ahead. With shared sacrifice and the resilient spirit that makes California great, I am confident we will emerge stronger from this crisis in the years ahead.”


The revised proposal reflects the stark difference from the revenue surplus that was anticipated in January, which ultimately turned into a deficit as a result of COVID-19 response. It is our constitutional duty to ensure that the state budget is balanced and in order to do so this year, there are many difficult decisions that must be made. As Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, I have the privilege of being part of these deliberations and will do so with the needs of our District and all of California’s students in mind.

I have issued a short statement with my thoughts on the May Revise that can be found here.

For a summary of the Governor’s full May Revision, click here.
 

DMV Expands Virtual Field Office (link) (Spanish)
On Tuesday, the CA Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the expansion of their services and transactions available through their Virtual Field Office. Now, customers can:

To visit the Virtual Field Office click here.

 

California Workers, Businesses & Community Organizations Join Governor Newsom, State Legislative Leaders’ Call for Federal Relief (link)

On Friday, labor, business, and civic leaders from throughout California joined Governor Newsom and state legislative leaders’ call for the federal government to provide relief to states and cities. Among the professions and organizations represented were: the California Professional Firefighters, CalNonprofits, the California Labor Federation, California Medical Association, the California State Association of Counties, the League of Cities, the Building the California Dream Alliance, and the California Travel & Tourism Coalition.

 
 

P-EBT: Food Assistance for Families with Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals (link) (Spanish)
Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals may qualify for extra food benefits of up to $365 per eligible child in the form of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer or P-EBT, while their school is closed due to COVID-19.  Most families with children who receive CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care benefits will automatically receive their P-EBT card from May 11 to May 22. Families who applied for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care benefits after their school closed will receive their P-EBT card in the mail before June 30.

Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and who do NOT get CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care benefits must apply online before June 30, 2020. The application opens on May 22 and can be found here
 

 

Census 2020

Be Sure to Complete the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is your opportunity to help secure crucial federal funding for our community. COVID-19 has shown us the importance of adequately funded public health and education systems, among others, so make sure you do your part to ensure that California is properly supported.

While you still have the option of filling out the nine-question survey online at my2020census.gov using a code provided to you through the mail, or to be counted over the phone in your preferred language, paper forms for the Census are also being mailed to those who have not yet participated. Be sure to do your part before the Oct 31st Deadline!
 

 

Riverside County Updates 

Teenagers and Young Adults Encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 (link) (Spanish)
On Monday, Riverside County Health officials issued a message encouraging people 25 years old and younger to get tested for COVID-19 as they have been underrepresented in testing efforts so far. By testing this age group, County health officials are seeking to get a clearer understanding of how the disease may be spread among families and throughout our communities.

Testing is free of charge, regardless of immigration status or insurance, and has been expanded to be available for those with and without symptoms. Again, ALL AGE GROUPS are encouraged to get tested.

To make an appointment for the Riverside County-operated drive up testing sites in Indio, Perris, Riverside, and Lake Elsinore, please call (800) 945-6171.
​
To make an appointment for one of the eight state-operated walk-up testing sites, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call (888) 634-1123.
 

Great Plates Delivered: More Business for Restaurants that Join New Meal Program (link) (Spanish)
On Wednesday, Riverside County Health officials issued a call for restaurants in Sac Jacinto, Hemet, Perris, Banning, Beaumont, and surrounding areas to take part in the “Great Plates Delivered” meal program for at-risk seniors who are home-bound to avoid exposure to COVID-19. As per the County’s statement:
 

“Participating restaurants will provide three meals per day, seven days a week for those 65 and older, including delivery. In turn, the restaurants will receive up to $66 – $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch, $28 for dinner, and $5 for incidentals – from the county through at least June 10. The program may be extended.”
 

The Great Plates Delivered Program was initially developed by the state, in collaboration with the California Dept. of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Governor Newsom announced its launch in late-April, giving local governments the full range of control as to how best to implement this first-in-the-nation program in their respective communities.

If you are a restaurant owner in our area and would like to participate, please submit a Restaurant Interest Form here.

If you or a loved one are homebound, age 60 or older, are not currently receiving other federal nutrition-assistance programs, and believe that you are eligible, please complete the Eligibility Screening Form here.

Additionally, the City of Moreno Valley has announced their city counterpart to Great Plates Delivered program, called Senior Eats (link)

Senior residents of Moreno Valley are encouraged to apply by calling (951) 413-3775 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and restaurants interested in participating in Moreno Valley’s Senior Eats program can submit an interest form here.

The City of Perris has also launched its Great Plates Delivered program: interested seniors are encouraged to call the City’s Public Health Hotline at (951) 435-7206 to apply or to receive more information.
 

Riverside Superior Court Restores Services in Family Law Matters (link)
Effective Monday, May 18, 2020, the Riverside County Superior Court will be resuming operation for all non-emergency general family law and Dept. of Child Support Services (DCSS) filings which were delayed as a result of COVID-19, except for Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights filings, which will resume on June 15. Additionally, the court will resume conducting Child Custody Recommending Counselor (CCRC) appointments via video conference and will begin in-person hearings for permanent domestic violence restraining orders and telephonic hearings for general family law matters.

Throughout the closures, emergency matters have been and will continue to be heard on a limited basis, depending on case type. For more information on these emergency matters, click here.

For all other non-emergency proceedings and matters, the court has extended their temporary closures through Friday, May 29 (link)
 
 
Our work in the capitol is in full swing! I appreciate our community’s compassion throughout these past few months. As we begin the steps towards reopening, I am encouraged by the commitment of each of our community members and am eager to see how we can continue to prioritize health for our loved ones and all in our District. We are all in this together.

I look forward to the day we can meet again in the community. Until then, have a safe and healthy weekend!
 
Very Sincerely,
 
Richard D. Roth
Senator, 31st District