Press Release

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath Working for You - 2020 Year in Review

Monday, October 19, 2020

Boerner Horvath Accepting Nominations for 2020 Veteran and Military Service Awards for Assembly District 76

Friday, October 16, 2020
   

 

CARLSBAD — In recognition of the extraordinary volunteerism of military service members, veterans, and their family, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath is calling for nominations to spotlight military-connected community members in the 76th Assembly District.

 

“With so many active and retired service members who call North County home, it’s no wonder so many of us can say that our lives have been touched by someone who has worn a uniform,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “These heroes are all around us, taking care of our neighborhoods, bringing people together, and improving lives. It’s important that we give these community champions the recognition they deserve.”
 
To thank and honor these individuals for their outstanding community service, the Assemblymember’s office is collecting nominations for each of the following categories: Distinguished Veteran of the Year, Military Spouse of the Year, Excellence in Mentorship, Excellence in Advocacy, Excellence in the Arts, Excellence in Service (California National Guard), and Youth Leader Achievement Award (ROTC). Individuals will then be selected for each category to be honored at a virtual military and veteran’s recognition event in November.
 
Nominees must reside or work in the 76th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Camp Pendleton, and some surrounding unincorporated areas. Nominees can be veterans, active duty service members, military spouses, or youth members of the military community. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, October 23rd.
 
Those interested in submitting a nomination are encouraged to visit the Assemblymember’s webpage and fill out a submission form at https://a76.asmdc.org/vmsa. The nomination form can also be downloaded, printed, and mailed to the Assemblymember’s district office, located at 325 Carlsbad Village Drive, Suite A-2, Carlsbad, CA 92008. For questions about the nomination process, please call (760) 434-7605 or email District Director Janet Chin at Janet.Chin@asm.ca.gov for more details.

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Strengthen and Expand the Carlsbad Marine Hatchery Program Signed by Governor

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

 

   

 

SACRAMENTO —  AB 1949, Assemblymember Boerner Horvath’s bill to strengthen and expand the marine hatchery program in Carlsbad was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

The Leon Raymond Hubbard Jr. Marine Fish Hatchery in Carlsbad is the only salt-water fish hatchery on the West Coast and operates as the main facility for the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP). As the longest-running program of this kind in the country, the OREHP has significantly contributed to the world’s understanding of how to successfully spawn, rear, and release saltwater fish. 

AB 1949 reforms the program in step with the core recommendations from a California Sea Grant evaluation conducted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the state’s request in 2015. This includes a restructuring of the program’s advisory panel so that it facilitates a more direct decision-making process while providing stakeholders with more appropriate representation, among other changes. 

“The combination of stakeholder control and independent oversight will ensure that taxpayer dollars that go towards hatchery operations are being used efficiently and in a way that benefits all of us,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “This bill gives us a shot at securing a sustainable fishing future by equipping us with the tools needed to become effective stewards of our marine resources. I’m looking forward to everything that we’ll be able to accomplish with this new and improved program.”

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Increase Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors Signed by Governor

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

 

   

 

SACRAMENTO — AB 1927, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath’s bill establishing an amnesty clause to encourage victims and witnesses of sexual assault to testify in court was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

AB 1927 provides immunity for victims and witnesses of sexual assault from the consequences of illegal alcohol or drug use occurring at the time of their alleged assault. Higher education institutions nationwide, including the University of California, have already implemented such amnesty clauses on their campuses.

“The signing of AB 1927 sends a strong message to the thousands of victims of sexual assault who remained silent – we hear you, we understand your fears, and your stories are valid,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “For too long, our judicial system has placed unnecessary burdens on victims seeking justice.”

Boerner Horvath’s Economic Recovery Bill to Save Jobs and Expand Unemployment Benefits to Employees on Reduced Hours Signed by Governor

Monday, September 28, 2020

 

   

 

SACRAMENTO — AB 1731, a bill authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) to incentivize businesses’ participation in the state’s Work Share Program and to expand the number of workers covered under partial unemployment assistance was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Under California’s unemployment insurance Work Share Program, businesses are able to reduce employees’ hours and wages as an alternative to layoffs as eligible workers receive prorated unemployment benefits to replace lost wages. Businesses retain valuable, trained workers on staff and workers keep their jobs and their benefits.  

“Our state is facing two parallel and related catastrophes,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “We will eventually defeat the health crisis if we follow public health orders and continue working towards an eventual vaccine or therapeutic. However, unless we act quickly to protect the health of our businesses and the resiliency of our workers, we run the risk of deepening and lengthening the economic crisis. AB 1731 puts us on track to meet these goals — it’s a win for business, a win for workers, and a win for California.” 

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Permanently Protect San Onofre State Beach Signed by Governor

Friday, September 25, 2020

 

 

   

 

SACRAMENTO —  AB 1426, by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas), to enshrine in state law a settlement agreement protecting San Onofre State Beach from infrastructure development was signed by Governor Newsom. This marks the successful conclusion of what has been a nearly two-decade fight to save the iconic world class surf spot, Trestles, and the surrounding state park, which is enjoyed by more than 2.5 million yearly visitors.

AB 1426 prohibits any transportation agency or government entity from authorizing, funding, or constructing any new infrastructure that encroaches on the land currently protected by a combination of San Onofre State Beach and the Richard H. and Donna O’Neill Conservancy.

Ever since the early 2000’s, a broad coalition of conservation groups have advocated against the use of the park in a proposal to build a multi-lane extension from the Foothill south toll road in Orange County south to Highway 5. The signing of AB 1426 into law codifies the settlement reached in 2016 between the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), the Save San Onofre Coalition, and the State that has prevented road construction to date.

“I am incredibly grateful to all of the amazing people who have kept the pressure up over all these years to bring us to this point,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “This new law ensures that the hard work of everyone who fought to save this park cannot be undone. This is a huge victory for the cause of conservation in Southern California and for the future generations of surfers, bikers, hikers, and fishermen who will be able to enjoy this special park just as we have.”

Boerner Horvath Comments on Findings of State Auditor’s Report on UC Admissions Issues

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) issued the following statement responding to the release of the California State Auditor’s report on University of California admissions, an audit she requested in May of 2019:

“The State Audit released today on the UC Admission process unfortunately reveals much of what we suspected – that our UC admissions process is far too vulnerable to manipulation by well-connected individuals. These practices undermine the equality of opportunity in the UC system and the State of California and are especially troublesome given that these are prestigious taxpayer-supported public institutions.

As a UC Berkeley alumna, this is personal for me. I know that my admission to Cal set me on a path to success tat I would not have had otherwise. As a legislator, I’m committed to ensuring that our public higher educational institutions guarantee a fair process for all California students.

The results of this audit uncovered previously unknown issues separate from the back-door exceptions we’ve been learning about ever since the FBI released its “Varsity Blues” investigations more than a year ago. In addition to 64 questionable admissions decisions flagged by the State Auditor, the report also concluded that some campuses have major inconsistencies amongst application reviewers and lack basic criteria to support their admissions decisions.

This report is about more than just the affluent and powerful buying their way into our public universities. It is also about the stifled dreams of high-achieving students, sometimes from difficult circumstances who are denied their opportunity because of the inequity of access. We must end these practices and ensure that the admission offices and reviewers implement best practices that are transparent and accountable to the public.

With AB 1383 (McCarty) we took some initial steps towards improving this system, and the results of this state audit reveal there is more work to do. My colleagues and I will be meeting with stakeholders to ensure the State Auditor’s recommendations are implemented in full. The students, businesses, and taxpayers of California deserve no less.”