March 2018 Newsletter
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Before I entered public service in the 1990s as an aide to Christine Kehoe, who was then a member of the San Diego City Council, I served as director of clinic services at Womancare Health Center. During that time, I saw firsthand how important it is to provide safety-net healthcare services for people who are uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford medical care.
I myself grew up in a family with no health insurance. I watched my parents worry when someone in the family got sick. So, I understand the ever-present fear that many people feel – fear of how a sudden or chronic illness can cause financial hardship, if not utter devastation.
That’s why I am an unwavering defender of the Affordable Care Act, and why I will continue to press for universal healthcare in California. Until we get there, I will work toward expanding healthcare however I can.
In 2016, Gov. Jerry Brown signed my bill, AB 1795, which served two purposes: It removed the minimum eligibility age for symptomatic women to receive a breast-cancer screening, and it ensured treatment for women who experience a recurrence of cancer, regardless of whether or not it appears in the same part of the body as the first occurrence.
This year, I introduced SB 945, which builds on AB 1795 by removing a third barrier blocking treatment for low-income Californians with breast cancer or cervical cancer. Currently, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program caps care for breast cancer at 18 months and care for cervical cancer at 24 months. This means women lose coverage arbitrarily, with no regard for their health status. Those who need additional treatment are left with nowhere to turn.
SB 945 removes these arbitrary limits, allowing the program to continue treat women as long as necessary. Cancer doesn’t affect everyone the same way. Treatment time can vary dramatically from patient to patient. There is no good reason to stop providing care while someone is still in need of it.
I was proud to work closely on AB 1795 with Susan G. Komen, an organization dedicated to dramatically reducing the number of deaths in this country caused by breast cancer, and I am proud to work with Komen again on SB 945. Each of the bills is a life-saving measure positively affecting thousands of California women – as well as men, because men are susceptible to breast cancer, too.
Healthcare advocacy, particularly providing access to care for struggling residents, will always be a priority for me – it’s in my DNA.
I believe healthcare should be a right, just as we view education or public safety – for every San Diegan, every Californian, every American.
With our uninsured rate down to a record-low 7%, California has done a good job of expanding access to care, but in addition to those who have no coverage, many people are underinsured, and healthcare costs are still too high.
As the new President pro Tem of the Senate, I will look for any and all ways to keep our residents healthy and ensure peace of mind, at the lowest possible cost to their families.
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In 2017, the first year of the current two-year session, Governor Jerry Brown signed all 12 of my bills that were sent to him by the Legislature. As I get set to become the Senate President pro Tem later this month, I am carrying a smaller bill package this year, but my 2018 bills improve California in important ways. Here is a rundown of the legislation I have introduced:
SB 945: In 2016, Governor Brown signed my bill AB 1795, providing uninsured and underinsured Californians with expanded access to treatment for breast cancer and cervical cancer. SB 945 builds on AB 1795 by removing arbitrary time limits for care. Currently, the state Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program stops providing medical care for breast cancer after 18 months and cervical cancer after 24 months, regardless of medical need. SB 945 removes those limits and requires continuation of treatment as long as necessary.
SB 970: Hotels and motels are ground zero for human traffickers, which means they’re hiding their criminal activities in plain sight. SB 970 will require all hotels and motels in California to provide training for their employees on how to spot the signs of human trafficking and report those signs to law enforcement.
SB 1005: Sometimes, survivors of domestic abuse who must flee their home to get away from their abuser can’t afford the extra rent or deposit required to move their dog or cat into a new apartment. SB 1005 makes explicitly clear that survivors of violent crimes, such as domestic violence, may use the state-provided victim-relocation funds to which they are already entitled to pay for expenses related to housing an animal companion.
SB 1086: Thanks to AB 1035, passed in 2014, if a public-safety officer dies from a job-related illness more than 240 weeks after being diagnosed, his or her family can still qualify for state-provided survivor death benefits. The bill stretched that statute of limitations to 420 weeks. However, AB 1035 is scheduled to sunset in 2019. My bill, SB 1086, removes the sunset and makes the 420-week limit permanent. A police officer or firefighter’s family should not have to suffer because she or he lived too long.
SB 1125: Currently, if a patient receives treatment through Medi-Cal at a community health center from both a medical provider and a mental-health specialist on the same day, the state will reimburse the center for only one visit. A patient must seek mental-health treatment on a subsequent day in order for that treatment to be reimbursed as a second visit. There’s not good reason for that. SB 1125 allows health centers to bill Medi-Cal for both visits, even if they occur on the same day. This change will ensure that more people get the mental-health services they need.
SB 1367: This bill follows up on two of my previous bills – AB 392, which made the San Diego River Conservancy permanent, and SB 214, which strengthened the conservancy’s capacity to protect and enhance the San Diego River watershed. SB 1367 gives the San Diego River Conservancy the power to help protect and enhance other nearby rivers – the Otay, Sweetwater, and Tijuana Rivers – and their watersheds by helping identify and pursue funding sources, developing strategic plans, and working with local nonprofits and government agencies.
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Tax season is in full swing, and last month, I helped launch Free Tax Prep San Diego, a program run by the San Diego Housing Commission, in partnership with the City-County Reinvestment Task Force and the San Diego Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, with financial support from Citi Community Development.
The program is an initiative to help connect low-income families and individuals with free assistance in preparing and filing their taxes, and potentially adding up to thousands of dollars to their tax refund through the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC).
Free Tax Prep San Diego is raising awareness of the two EITCs and letting people know of that there are local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites where they can get help.
For the 2017 tax year, low-income families who apply for the tax credits can get back nearly $9,000 if they qualify for the maximum amounts of federal and state EITCs. Families may qualify for the state EITC if their annual income is less than $22,300 and for the federal EITC if their income is less than $54,000.
One of my proudest moments as an elected official was when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the 2015-16 state budget, which, for the first time ever, included funding for a state EITC. Creating the state EITC was a top priority of mine during my time as Assembly Speaker.
To make an appointment for free tax preparation services, eligible families should call 2-1-1 or visit www.myfreetaxes.org.
Another one of my highest priorities is helping students in San Diego and all of California achieve their educational goals, to give them the best chance to thrive as adults. That’s why I want my constituents to know about assistance opportunities in our region. Here are some free upcoming SAT / ACT preparation workshops provided by Cal-SOAP -- the California Student Opportunity and Access Program:
- One-day Preparation Workshops for Juniors: Cal-SOAP offers one-day test preparation workshops on various dates and locations. Registration is online at http://sandiegocalsoap.com/star/Events under the “Test Prep” tab. SAT Prep dates include March 3 at UCSD, April 21 at Chula Vista High, or May 12 at UCSD. ACT Prep dates include April 7 at Chula Vista High or May 19 at UCSD.
- SWAG: Students With Academic Goals SAT Prep Academy: SWAG is an intensive, three-week SAT Prep Academy located at Bayview Baptist Church in Encanto, weekdays from June 14 through 29. Students must currently be in Grade 9, 10 or 11 (in Grade 10, 11 or 12 in Fall 2018.) The program includes SAT instruction, tutoring, lunch, team building, and field trips to three local universities. SWAG applications are due March 23; it is a competitive process and acceptance is not guaranteed. Families must attend an orientation in May, and students must take a pre-test on June 2. Information and application: http://sandiegocalsoap.com/star/Events#567
- SAT Scholars: SAT Scholars is an intensive SAT prep academy located at the University of San Diego over the course of seven Saturdays from June 30 through August 11. Students must currently be in Grade 9, 10 or 11 (Grade 10, 11 or 12 in Fall 2018) and must have taken Integrated Math III or higher by June 2018. Each session is 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Unlike SWAG, this program doesn’t include field trips, food, tutoring, etc. It is strictly SAT preparation instruction. SAT Scholars applications are due by April 13; it is a competitive process and acceptance is not guaranteed. Information and application: http://sandiegocalsoap.com/star/Events#569
My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies.
Recently, we received a call from a constituent who needed help with CalFresh, the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She had re-enrolled in the program but experienced an interruption in her benefit. Unable to connect with anyone at the CalFresh office, she reached out to my office, and we contacted the San Diego Hunger Coalition on her behalf.
A representative from the Hunger Coalition scheduled a three-way phone call with the constituent and a CalFresh program specialist from San Diego County to resolve the problem - it turns out the constituent’s paperwork hadn’t been processed properly.
The county specialist was able to process the paperwork that day and the constituent was able to access a portion of her January and February benefits on the next day, and the remainder of the benefits soon after.
The specialist also followed up with the managers at the county office where the error occurred to make sure a similar issue doesn’t happen again. My office was informed that the county has implemented a new document-processing system that should help avoid repeat problems. Even so, the Hunger Coalition will be following up with its partners in the San Diego anti-hunger community to monitor system improvement.
CalFresh is a lifeline for struggling members of our community, and I am glad we were able to help resolve the glitch and make sure my constituent had access to this vital assistance. If you’re having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.
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My District Staff |
Where to Find Me Online
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My district office is located at 1350 Front St., Room 4061, San Diego, CA 92101.
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