31st District Digest (June 22 to June 26)
The 31st District Digest (June 22 to June 26)
This week, the 2020-2021 State Budget was passed by the Legislature and sent to the Governor. This year’s budget is undoubtedly one of the most consequential budgets in recent history; the budget negotiations were not without intense debate and dialogue. The resulting budget maintains fundamental health and human services programs, supports public education, and pushes strategic investments in order to support our state’s recovery and future in the wake of COVID-19. Key points include:
- No cuts to Medi-Cal optional benefits and Proposition 56 supplemental provider payments
- No cuts to In-Home Support Services (IHSS)
- No cuts to Disability Services
- Preservation of the Song-Brown Health Care Workforce Training program funding
- No cuts to After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs
- $300 million to increase funding to combat homelessness
- Up to $1 billion to backfill county realignment funds
- Expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for California individuals and small business owners with small children that file their taxes using ITINs
Additionally, I am pleased to announce that we have secured the final piece of funding to expand the UC Riverside School of Medicine. The budget allocates $25 million in ongoing funding to support expanded enrollment, in addition to the $93.6 million that was authorized last year for the construction of a new facility. These strategic investments are critical to addressing the critical need of health care providers in our region. It is exciting our community is so close to realizing this goal!
The Governor is expected to sign the 2020-2021 budget in the coming days.
Until then, here are the updates that occurred this week:
California’s Path Forward
Safely Making California: A New Online Marketplace that will help Californian Companies Access PPE (link)
On Friday, Governor Newsom announced the new partnership between the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) and the State of California in the creation of the "Safely Making California" Marketplace to help fill a critical gap during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program went online this week to connect CMTA member manufacturers and other manufacturers to employers who have the need to purchase non-medical grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The Marketplace will be built out and improved over the next few weeks but it currently provides a directory of California non-medical grade PPE, such as face masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, sanitizer, and wipes.
For more information, visit https://www.safelymakingca.org/.
New Open Source COVID-19 Assessment Tool gives Californians access to the Most Current Data and Model Future Scenarios (link)
On Thursday, Governor Newsom announced the release of tools, technology, and data that allows all Californians, including scientists and researchers, to better understand the impact of COVID-19. The tools include the CA COVID Assessment Tool, or CalCAT, a “model of models” with features such as:
- “Nowcasts” – showing the rate at which COVID-19 is estimated to be spreading;
- “Forecasts” – showing what various models predict will happen over the next few weeks in California; and
- “Scenarios” – showing what could happen over the next few months under different conditions.
To learn more about the California COVID Assessment Tool, visit calcat.covid19.ca.gov.
To access the open-source code, go to https://github.com/StateOfCalifornia/CalCAT.
Governor Newsom Declares Budget Emergency to Support California’s Response to COVID-19 (link)
On Thursday, Governor Newsom issued a proclamation of a budget emergency to make additional resources available to fund the state’s ongoing response to COVID-19, ensuring the availability of funding for personal protective equipment, medical equipment and other expenditures as necessary to support a potential hospital surge and provide necessary services to vulnerable populations.
For the full text of the proclamation, click here.
New Collaborative Campaign to address the need for Social and Emotional Learning and the Impact of COVID-19 on Students (link)
On Wednesday, California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond launched “Advance SEL in California,” a campaign seeking to connect educators, school leaders, and families in a wider conversation about how to advance, elevate, and spur action on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in California in the wake of COVID-19. The campaign will host a series of virtual convenings in July with education stakeholders to further the discussion on the status of SEL in California. The intent is to put forth a report with their findings and recommendations for how teachers, school leaders, and families across the state can address the social and emotional needs of students, both in response to COVID-19 and over the long-term.
To learn more, or to participate in the Social Emotional Learning Forum, please send an email to AdvanceSELinCA@education-first.com.
To see the California Dept. of Education’s Social and Emotional Learning Guiding Principles and a Social and Emotional Learning Resource Guide, click here.
DMV Resumes Behind-the-Wheel Driving Tests as of Friday (link)
On Monday, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced they would resume administering behind-the-wheel driving tests beginning Friday, June 25, implementing a new set of protocols in order to protect the health and safety of applicants and test examiners. These protocols include a face covering requirement, a set of screening questions, as well as a temperature check. If an applicant’s permit has expired, they will need to fill out a new online application prior to their office visit, and check in 30 minutes before their appointment time. If an applicant’s appointment was cancelled during the statewide DMV closure, their appointment will be automatically rescheduled. New appointments will be available later this summer.
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 would have automatically received 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 July 15, 2020. Applications are now open and can be found here.
County Updates
Riverside County to begin Coronavirus Antibody Testing as part of Prevalence Study (link)
On Monday, Riverside County Public Health officials announced that county residents will soon be contacted and asked to take part in a county sponsored coronavirus antibody testing effort. As per their statement:
“About 3,500 randomly selected county residents will be asked if they are interested in taking part in the study, which could determine whether they have been exposed and developed COVID-19 antibodies. The study will help determine the Riverside County prevalence of COVID-19, which will be used to inform planning efforts. Potential participants will be contacted by telephone or email starting later this week.”
REMINDER: Testing at state and county run sites is open to everyone, whether they have symptoms or not, and there is no out-of-pocket cost to individuals. To make an appointment, visit https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus/testing or call 800-945-6171.
Riverside Superior Court now Livestreams Court Proceedings (link)
On Monday, the Riverside Superior Court began livestreaming non-confidential court proceedings in an effort to balance the right to view public court proceedings with the overall health and safety of the public, court participants, judicial officers and court employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Livestreaming will begin in the criminal trial courtrooms and will be expanded to all other courtrooms within the coming weeks, with the exception of juvenile court.
Livestreaming services can be found on the court’s website under the Online Services Tab, or by clicking here.
Additionally, the Superior Court also announced on Friday that it would be extending the closure of the Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula and Hemet Courts as well as the Riverside Self-Help Center and the Riverside Records Center from June 29, 2020 through July 10, 2020. For more information click here or visit https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/index.php.
Community-based Resources
Small Business Resources and Grants
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Next Round of Small Business Grant Funding Applications Opens Monday with Broader Eligibility (link)
Starting Monday, June 29, at 5 PM, eligibility for Riverside County’s COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program will be expanded to include sole proprietors, as well as businesses that have received an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan or advance as part of the grant program’s second application round.
Eligible businesses may receive up to $10,000 in assistance towards specified uses, including payroll, mortgage, inventory, working capital, and increasing technological capabilities.
For a full list of requirements for eligibility, applicable uses for grant funding, or to apply, click here. [Applications open Monday, June 29, at 5 PM]
CITY OF RIVERSIDE: Microenterprise Business Grant Program (link)
Businesses in the City of Riverside are encouraged to apply for the Microenterprise Business Grant Program designed to provide relief during COVID-19. These grants of up to $7,500 are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible, businesses must have fewer than five employees, a valid business license, and be of low or moderate income. When filling out the application, be sure to have your business license, insurance, and proof of income ready.
To apply, click here.
Renter’s Assistance Programs
CORONA: Emergency Housing Needs Assistance Program (link)
On June 3, the Corona City Council approved the federally funded Emergency Housing Needs Assistance Program (EHNAP), designed to provide financial assistance to low to moderate income households with rent and utility payment difficulties related to COVID-19. Corona renters that meet income qualifications and financial impacts as a result of COVID-19 may be eligible to receive a grant of up to $6,000.
For more information and to learn how to apply, click here.
Census 2020
Over 64% of our District has completed the 2020 Census – and there is still time!
Thank you to all of our community members who have done their part to ensure that our state and our community is able to secure crucial federal funding. With our over 64% self-response rate, we are ahead of the statewide average by 2% and are above the national average by 3%! If you have not had a chance to respond, 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. If you do not have your 12-digit code, you can still take the survey by clicking the link that says, “If you do not have a Census ID, click here." It is located below the Census ID login field.
Additionally, paper forms for the Census are being mailed to those who have not yet responded so be on the lookout so you can do your part today!
As we approach the 4th of July weekend, it is important to remember that our state and our community is still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As our community reopens, we are seeing a rise in new COVID-19 cases. It is imperative that we do not forget what is at stake in our road to recovery. Our reopening is contingent upon the health of our community, so please take all appropriate precautions and necessary steps to keep our loved ones and community healthy. We are all in this together.
Until next time, please have a safe, happy, and healthy weekend!
Very Sincerely,
RICHARD D. ROTH
Senator, 31st District