I am hearing from many of you about the challenging times we are facing. As your Assemblywoman, I am working hard to protect your rights and livelihoods during this economic uncertainty. I am focused on tackling hard issues and ensuring that we make progress together on public safety, economic development, and educational opportunity.

Biotechnology and biomedical manufacturing is one of the top growth sectors in Assembly District 76 and North County. According to the North County Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), biotechnology and biomedical manufacturing has grown 13% since 2018. Additionally, institutions of higher education have seen a 19% increase in degrees/certificates in this area since 2018. I am proud that institutions such as Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) are keeping pace with demand for these jobs in the area.

 
A student participates in cell research at Cal State San Marcos.
Source: CSUSM Image and Video Library 

Last month, I introduced my first legislative package including Assembly Bill (AB) 237 which enhances public safety in our community. This bill closes a dangerous loophole and will now enable criminal prosecution for credible threats against schools, hospitals, workplaces, houses of worship, and other public spaces. This bill came about after a person threatened violence hundreds of times against a school in Assembly District 76. Current law provides for swift action if a specific person is threatened, but not if a threat is made against a place. I have heard from many parents demanding accountability for the person who made the threats against the specific school where children attend every day to receive an education.

No one should live in fear of going to school, or the hospital, or other public place. And whether a building is threatened, or a person in the building is threatened, the result can be wide-spread fear that disrupts our lives. We must hold people accountable who threaten violence to our community and this bill will do that.

My legislative package focuses on providing opportunities and protection for Californians. You can read more about the full package on my website.

My bill, AB 402, increases Cal Grants for private, non-profit colleges, such as Stanford, USC, and Harvey Mudd, so that more students can attend post-secondary school. The bill restores the Cal Grant A and B funding to the levels available in 2001 and opens more doors to students transferring from community colleges. I am where I am because of government scholarship funding opportunities. As the only Assemblymember to both request and be granted appointments to all three education committees, it is important to me to pay it forward so that more students may access quality higher education.

Firefighters are increasingly facing toxic fires and sometimes they do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). My bill, AB 841, directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Cal-OSHA to work together to recommend better PPE and decontamination procedures to keep our firefighters safer from toxic fire.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel's legislative package focuses on providing opportunity and protecting Californians. 

I am proud to apply my experience and expertise by serving on 7 Committees: Budget, Education and Finance Budget Subcommittee, Economic Growth, Development, and Household Impact, Education, Health, Higher Education, and Rules.

Last month, the Assembly Committee on Health held an informational hearing on the State's Behavioral Health Transformation, where we discussed implementation and planning updates. As a member of the Health Committee, I participated in the panel and applied my expertise in healthcare research to ask questions about how we can better care for our neighbors.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (center) queries experts in behavioral health policy during the Assembly Health Committee Informational Hearing.

Community events are a great way for me to meet constituents and hear about your concerns first-hand. Children's Rights and You (C.R.Y.) America, a fierce advocate for protecting the right of children, sponsored its annual Holi festival in partnership with Miramar College. Holi is an annual tradition that celebrates love and the triumph of good over evil. I enjoyed celebrating this spring tradition and learning more about how we can work together to enable opportunity and protect the rights of youth.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (third from left) celebrates Holi along with San Diego City Councilmember Kent Lee (fourth from left) and members of the community.

I have been hearing from many veteran community members with concerns about cuts to veteran benefits. We've partnered with veteran leaders to learn more about those concerns. I am grateful to community member Danny Jackson for meeting with our team to share his concerns and facilitate connections with organizations that serve veterans. I am proud to be a principal co-author of AB 53, the Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act. Those who have served this country should not have to pay taxes on the benefits they receive as veterans. This bill would provide a $20,000 state tax exemption for retired members of the Armed Forces and recipients of the Department of Defense (DoD) Survivor Benefits Program beginning in 2025. If you would like to write a letter of support for AB 53, click here to learn more.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (right) with community member and Vietnam Veteran Danny Jackson (center) and team members Gonzalo Rocha-Vazquez, Field Representative (left), and Dr. Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, District Director (second from left).

And, congratulations to the Assembly District 76 Woman of the Year, Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey who was honored on the Assembly floor, March 10^th.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (second from left) presents Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey (center) with the Assembly District 76 Distinguished Woman of the Year recognition. 

I was honored to join California Secretary of State Shirley Weber to celebrate Meals on Wheels San Diego Champions Week honoring elected officials and key stakeholders. The celebration recognized the powerful collaborations between organizations such as Meals on Wheels and Feeding San Diego to keep our neighbors fed and well.

 
Feeding San Diego CEO, Bob Kamensky (left), California Secretary of State, Shirley Weber (center), and Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (right) attend the Meals on Wheels event.

Ross Pike joined Team Patel in January after working as the Outreach and Engagement Manager and a certified mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center in partnership with the San Diego District Attorney's Juvenile Diversion Initiative. He loves cow jokes as his family owned and operated a dairy farm for nearly 100 years in Michigan, where he grew up. Ross is also an elected Director with the North County Fire Protection District, an elected Member of the Fallbrook Planning Group, and an Associate Director with the Mission Resource Conservation District. With a strong background in local government, Ross is our office's liaison with local government agencies. In addition to working as our office's constituent casework manager for EDD and DMV, Ross' policy areas include insurance, agriculture, emergency management, governmental operations, housing and community development, utilities and energy, and public safety.

 
Ross Pike, Field Representative, specializes in EDD and DMV casework.

Our office is open and serving constituents in a number of ways. You can contact us by completing the form on our website, calling, emailing, or stopping by our office. We are here to help! We are proud to be open during hours that serve working people Monday through Friday.

 
Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel's contact form from the website. 

What can we do for you? My office's job is to connect you with resources and help solve problems. Here are some recent ways we have helped constituents:

• Recovered over $95,000 in owed unemployment benefits for constituents
• Held a well-attended Webinar, the first in our Know Your Rights Series, in partnership with the California Department of Insurance about catastrophic insurance. The Webinar recording is available here.
• Provided regular legislative updates to Community meetings, Town Council Planning Groups throughout Assembly District 76
• Recognized local students for their character and academic accomplishments as part of the San Marcos and Escondido Chambers of Commerce Rising Stars Program
• Awarded certificates of appreciation to local businesses and organizations for good work in the community

Please reach out to us!

In Service,

Dr. Darshana R. Patel
Assemblymember, District 76

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory and homelands of the Luiseño/Payómkawichum people. For more information please go to www.csusm.edu/cicsc.