Sacramento, California - Thursday, the California State Legislature voted to approve the 2018-2019 Budget. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) applauds several 56th Assembly District budget victories.

“Proud that my colleagues and I were able to come together to approve another on-time, balanced budget that provides for California’s most pressing needs while not only filling our rainy day fund but establishing yet another special savings account as a safeguard in the event of future economic uncertainty,” stated Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.

“I commend the leadership of both houses of the Legislature in conjunction with our Governor for putting forward a budget that would empower our communities, alleviate poverty, curb barriers to employment, address homelessness, fortify investments into education including special education and career technical programs, help make college more affordable and ensure that our most vulnerable have equitable opportunities to succeed.” 

56th Assembly District Budget Victory Highlights

Education

• $1 million – Imperial Valley College’s Medical Assistant Program and Correctional Academy Program

Assemblymember Garcia worked hand in hand with Imperial Valley College to advocate for these critical regional curriculum investments.

• $269 million – investments into the University of California system
• $364 million – investments into the California State University system
• $35 million – Online Education Initiative grants for community college districts
• $1 billion – additional childcare and preschool slots
• $300 million – Low-Performing Students Grant Funding

Proposition 98 funding to allocate for low-performing students, based on performance on assessments in English language arts and math. 

• $50 million - Local Solutions Grant Program

Investments to develop and implement new, or expand existing locally identified solutions that address a local need for special education teachers.

• $150 million – Technical Education Incentive Grant
• $150 million – K-12 Career Technical Education Program
• $15 million – Kids Coding in After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs
• $10 million –Special Education Local Plan Areas to improve their ability to serve students with disabilities
• $1.7 million – Suicide prevention training resources in schools.

Workforce Development

• $15 million – AB 1111 (E. Garcia, 2017), Breaking Barriers to Employment grant program. 

Allocation into this grant program was a priority for both our Riverside County Economic Development Agency and Imperial County Workforce Development Board in order to curb unemployment and build stronger regional economies. Funds would go towards training and employment for veterans, farmworkers, seniors, the formerly incarcerated and others experiencing difficulties re-entering the workforce.

• $16 million – Prison to Employment Program

Small Business

• $20 million – Small Business Development Technical Assistance Expansion Program
• $3 million – California Small Business Development Center Program

These additional funds for small business technical assistance and development centers will open up critical resources for local veterans, women as well as other underserved minority business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Youth Reinvestment

• $37.3 million – Youth Reinvestment Fund

This fund will help support and further enhance the prevention services and leadership curriculums taking place in vulnerable California communities.

Public Safety

• $3 million – General Fund to the Bureaus of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse
• $ 41,944,000  – El Centro Courthouse construction
• $45,327,000 – Indio Juvenile and Family Courthouse construction
• $10 million – California Family Justice Centers

Funding for multi-agency centers that provide support services to victims of interpersonal violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elderly abuse, and human trafficking.

• $6.5 million – towards reducing the backlog of untested sexual assault kits

Homelessness

• $500 million – to address homelessness across our state

Veteran

• $1 million – CalVet mental health service grants
• $8.5 million – Veterans resource centers