SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Brian Maienschein has wrapped up the 2021 Legislative Session with significant victories for the 77th Assembly District. Seven of Maienschein’s bills have been signed into statewide law, and one has been secured in the State Budget.
“I am very proud of the work we have done in the Legislature to represent the 77th Assembly District,” said Maienschein. “I’m confident that my legislation will provide much-needed resources and assistance not just to San Diego County, but to many throughout the state.”
Maienschein secured $3 million in funding for AB 114, the Rare Disease Sequencing for Critically Ill Infants Act. This funding will expand access to rapid whole genome sequencing for critically ill babies covered by Medi-Cal, helping those most in need to receive access to this life-changing technology.
AB 856, the COVID-19 Youth Health Information Act, became law in July of this year. This bill paves the way for a safe return to youth physical activity by ensuring that parents, families, and students are aware of the COVID-19 risks and guidelines of returning to activity. AB 856 requires the California Department of Education to publish and distribute current guidelines, and encourages schools to distribute this information annually through 2025.
The following bills authored by Maienschein will become California law on January 1, 2022.
AB 546 reduces foster youth homelessness by requiring county welfare agencies to report information on whether or not a foster youth aging out of the foster care system has stable housing, or provide additional referrals to prevent the foster youth from becoming homeless.
AB 556 gives victims of fertility fraud another path to justice by allowing them to seek civil penalties, providing the chance to recover actual damages or $50,000, whichever is greater. AB 556 builds upon Maienschein’s work in 2020 with AB 2014, which changed the statute of limitations in fertility fraud cases from three years after commission of the crime to one year after discovery.
AB 576 guarantees that equitable funding is provided to community college courses offered on military bases. Oftentimes, military personnel and their families cannot benefit from community college courses offered on base due to service requirements and schedule conflicts. This bill will waive open course provisions for classes offered on bases, expanding the variety of courses available.
AB 636 works to prevent various forms of elder abuse by increasing collaboration on elder abuse cases, particularly in investigating substandard care in Independent Living Facilities (ILFs).
AB 1065 creates the Mental Health Help Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, opening an opportunity for California taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to intensive training programs for law enforcement officers to learn how to best handle mental health crisis calls.
AB 414 makes technical and non-substantive changes to current law to remove obsolete code sections as identified by the California Law Review Commission.
Assemblymember Maienschein and the rest of the California State Legislature will return to Sacramento for the 2022 Legislative Session on January 3, 2022.