Assemblyman Cunningham announces 2017 legislative agenda
Jordan Cunningham
– Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton) has announced his 2017 legislative agenda. Cunningham’s priorities include measures to enhance career technical education, improve transparency and accountability in state government, promote small business, increase our water supply and enhance public safety.
“My legislative agenda is based upon the priorities of our community,” said Cunningham. “During the campaign, I listened to folks on the Central Coast and heard their concerns. This legislation is aimed at solving problems both here locally and statewide.”
Below are selected highlights of the agenda:
Supporting career technical education
AB 445: This bill would ensure reliable funding of Career Technical Education (CTE) by creating a permanent $300 million CTE fund within the existing state education budget to help schools provide up-to-date classes for California’s rapidly changing job market. The bill also includes support for vocational education in community college.
Expanding our water supply
AB 457: This legislation would ask the state to conduct a study on the feasibility of repurposing the desalination facility of Diablo Canyon for local use.
AB 554: This bill would establish a statewide goal to desalinate 300,000 acre-feet of water per year by the year 2025 and 500,000 acre-feet of water per year by the year 2030.
Enhancing public safety
AB 484: This bill would require registration as a sex offender if found guilty of rape against the victim’s will by threatening use of the authority of a public official to incarcerate or deport the victim or other.
AB 903: This legislation will commission a study to explore creating a uniform standard for THC intoxication levels for the purpose of driving under the influence. Drugged driving is an increasingly important issue in light of marijuana legalization.
Increasing government transparency & accountability
AB 744: This bill would promote transparency by time stamping a bill to ensure that the legislature is in compliance with the “72-hour in print” rule, recently passed by voters in Proposition 54.
AB 1233: This bill would establish a Transportation Inspector General for more extensive oversight of California’s transportation projects and bureaucracy.
Improving small business in California
AB 657: This bill would require that upon a vacancy of a Small Business Liaison in a state agency, the agency would have six-months to fill the position and publish contact information on agency’s website. This will ensure that state agencies are prioritizing Small Business Liaisons, which advocate for small business within state government.
AB 996: This legislation would require the California State License Board (CSLB) to adopt website enhancements for consumers and licensees to monitor worker’s compensation renewal applications. This will help small businesses by providing detailed updates and progress reports during the application process.
