Press Release

Boerner Horvath’s Economic Recovery Bill to Streamline State Work Sharing Program Passes Senate Labor Committee

Wednesday, August 5, 2020
   

 

SACRAMENTO — A bill authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) to streamline the application process for the state’s Work Share Program administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD), passed the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee on a 4-1 vote. 

Work-sharing, or short-time compensation, gives employers the option of reducing employee hours during an economic downturn to avoid layoffs by providing the employee prorated unemployment benefit payments to replace the loss in wages. Despite the many benefits the program provides for employers and employees, this state program is currently underutilized because the application process can be administratively burdensome and the employers may not even be aware the program exists. 

"As our economy opens and closes to help manage the spread of the coronavirus, participating in the work share program is a better alternative to layoffs,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “AB 1731 will help employers retain trained workers, employees on reduced hours will keep their benefits, and the state will maximize federal dollars already allocated to fund the program by streamlining an application process that incentivizes employers' participation in the program. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Protect San Onofre State Beach Passes Senate Natural Resources Committee

Wednesday, August 5, 2020
 
 
   

 

SACRAMENTO —  Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath's bill to enshrine in state law a settlement agreement protecting San Onofre State Beach from infrastructure development passed the Senate Natural Resources and Water committee on a 6-1 vote.   

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.
 
The main threat to the park in recent years has come from a proposal put forth to build a multi-lane extension from the Foothill south toll road to Highway 5. The project would have bisected the protected coastal land and tainted the watershed for the creek flowing into the ocean at the world-renowned surf spot, Trestles Beach. A settlement reached in 2016 between the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), the Save San Onofre Coalition, and the State has prevented road construction to date, but lawsuits filed since the settlement have threatened to undermine the agreement.
 
“For years now, the Coalition’s efforts have successfully prevented damage to this last-of-its-kind coastal watershed habitat while ensuring access for more than 2.5 million annual visitors to enjoy this iconic beach and upland areas.” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “AB 1426 makes certain the settlement agreement is implemented as intended and protects one of the five most visited parks in the whole system for future generations of campers, birders, hikers, fishermen, and surfers.”
 

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Help Victims of Sexual Assault Approved in Senate Public Safety Committee

Friday, July 31, 2020
   

 

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath’s bill establishing an amnesty clause to encourage victims and witnesses of sexual assault to testify in court once again received bipartisan support with a 7-0 vote in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

AB 1927 would provide 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. Under current law, victims must go through a process that requires them to be compelled to testify in court before it can be granted. This process unnecessarily increases trauma to the victim by requiring them to appear in front of a judge for offenses unrelated to the sexual assault.

 
“We all know too well that sexual assault is the most underreported violent crime in America. Many victims and survivors do not come forward for fear of retaliation, even fear of being blamed for the assault,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “This bill will empower them to report the abuse without fear of prosecution. Today’s vote brings us closer to extending the same amnesty already provided on college campuses to sexual assault victims and witnesses throughout California."
 

Boerner Horvath Comments on Passage of 2020-21 State Budget

Monday, June 15, 2020
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) released the following statement regarding her vote on the 2020-21 state budget bill that was approved today by the Legislature.
 
“Given the state’s current economic shortfall and sobering revenue projections, my colleagues and I approved a budget that allows for continued state programs and services while setting the stage for continued budget deliberations in the next two months.  This budget relies on federal relief and uses state reserves to avoid reducing vital state services for families, who now more than ever need the support to stay afloat during uncertain economic times.”
 
“While the state still faces many challenges, this budget continues support for K-12 education and colleges and universities.  As a mother and businesswoman, I think it is critical that we protect funding for education, childcare and after school programs.  Parents, especially moms, cannot fully go back to work when our kids are not in school five days a week.”
 
“This budget also protects vital health and human services programs, and increases support for housing the homeless. We are in the middle of a pandemic and it is our job to protect our most vulnerable, including our seniors.  So cuts to Medi-Cal, community clinics, hospitals, and our healthcare and in-home care workers should rightly be off the table.”

Boerner Horvath’s Sexual Assault Victim Amnesty Bill Passes the Assembly

Wednesday, June 10, 2020
   
 
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Boerner Horvath’s bill establishing an amnesty clause to encourage victims and witnesses of sexual assault to testify in court was passed off the California State Assembly floor with an overwhelmingly bipartisan 73 votes, and is now headed to the Senate.
 
AB 1927 by Assemblymember Boerner Horvath would provide immunity to victims and witnesses of sexual assault from the consequences of alcohol or drug use at the time of the victimization. Studies estimate that half of sexual assault victims were consuming alcohol at the time of the incident. Federal reports on campus sexual assault have found that liability for illegal consumption of alcohol or drugs is a common factor in why victims choose not to report their assault. Higher education institutions nationwide, including the University of California, have already implemented amnesty clauses that provide immunity from the consequences of drug and alcohol use to encourage reporting.
 
“We know we already have a huge problem with the underreporting of sexual assault incidents,” said Assembylmember Boerner Horvath. “It’s hard enough as it is for victims to make the tough decision to come forward and describe their experience to close loved ones. The last thing we should be doing as a state is adding the fear of prosecution to their burden. It’s time we extend this amnesty to all sexual assault victims and witnesses in California so that we can remove this deterrent and pursue justice for these victims.
 

Boerner Horvath Hosts Food Distribution for Hospitality Workers Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

Friday, June 5, 2020
   

 

VISTA— Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath joins volunteers from Unite Here Local 30 and Carlsbad Councilmember Cori Schumacher to host a drive-thru food distribution for hospitality workers at the North County Food Bank. Hotel workers in the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, and Vista are some of the most severely impacted as a result of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In San Diego County, employment in the hospitality industry plummeted by about 50% in the one month between March and April as travel for work and leisure fell significantly in the wake of the pandemic. This means many of the staff from North County hotels and resorts have found themselves in need of other ways to support their families.

“I’m volunteering today to help provide some much-needed assistance to hospitality workers and spotlight the efforts happening in my district. As I’m sure you can imagine with three out of four direct hotel employees laid off or furloughed, putting food on the table and ensuring no child goes hungry is a top priority,” said Assemblymember Boerner Horvath. “I am so thankful for the regional leadership of the San Diego Food Bank and their focus on food insecurity during these challenging times.

Boerner Horvath’s Bill to Ensure Sustainable Fishing Moves Forward

Thursday, May 14, 2020

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Boerner Horvath’s bill to strengthen the structure of the marine hatchery program in Carlsbad, AB 1949, was unanimously approved by the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.

The primary hatchery facility for the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) activities is the Leon Raymond Hubbard Jr. Marine Fish Hatchery in Carlsbad. The Carlsbad hatchery is the only marine fish hatchery in the state conducting research on marine species, their habitats and their survivability at a time when climate change severely strains the world’s oceans. AB 1949 ensures that the legacy of sustainability-based hatchery management can continue in coastal North County.

“I am proud to continue the good work of former State Senator Dede Alpert in support of the marine fish hatchery. The goal of this bill is to implement sound recommendations to ensure sustainable fishing,” said Boerner Horvath. “The program was established to evaluate the economic and ecological feasibility of releasing hatchery-reared fish to restore depleted, native, marine fish populations.”