Recent News in the 24th District

Here are some of the highlights from my week:

• Two of my bills – AB 154 and AB 171 – were passed out of the Assembly and now move to the state Senate.
  
  Assembly Bill 154, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Act, requires private health insurers and health plans to cover the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses of a person of any age, with specified exceptions.
  
  Assembly Bill 171 clarifies that insurers and health plans may not deny coverage to children and adults with autism or pervasive developmental disorders for medically necessary, basic healthcare services—including speech, occupational, and physical therapy
  
  
• Met with a number of groups including the California Coalition for Youth, Santa Clara Public Utilities, M & G  Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceutics, California Association of Food Banks; California Department of Social Services, California Pawnbrokers Association, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area.

Assemblymember Beall is holding four community events throughout Assembly District 24 in February to answer residents' questions about state issues and to listen to their ideas and concerns.

Feb. 4, Saturday: Cup & Saucer, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Princeton Plaza Mall, 1375 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose. Talk to Assemblymember Beall one-on-one.

Feb. 9, Thursday: Assembly District 24 Open House, 4 to 6 p.m., 100 Paseo De San Antonio, Suite 319, in downtown San Jose. Meet the District Office's staff and find out how they can help you. Light refreshments will be available. To view a map location, click here. Please RSVP by either clicking here or by phoning the District Office staff at (408) 282-8920.

Feb. 24, Friday: MoonBeans Coffee, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Plaza de Santa Teresa, 6219 Santa Teresa Boulevard, San Jose. Talk to Assemblymember Beall one-on-one.

Feb. 25, Saturday: Assembly District 24's Free Community Pancake Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.- 11 a.m., Campbell Community Center (Orchard City Banquet Hall), 1 West Campbell Ave., Campbell. Enjoy breakfast with your neighbors and discuss legislative and community issues. Special guest speaker, Christian Griffith, from the Assembly Budget Committee, will provide information about the Governor's budget proposal and answer questions. Please RSVP by either clicking here or by phoning the District Office at (408) 282-8920.

This year, the Select Committee on Foster Care – chaired by Assemblymember Jim Beall -- is holding hearings across the state to analyze the factors behind the overrepresentation of African Americans and Latino children in California’s child welfare system.

These hearings will examine solutions to overcome societal conditions, such as poverty and cultural issues, which perpetuate children of color entering and languishing in the system.

The overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system is a troubling and persistent problem for both the nation and California, a state that prides itself on furnishing opportunity for all.

The first hearing, held Jan. 6 in San Jose, focused on Latino children in the system. Among those testifying were Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farmworkers of American and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation; San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed; Benny Diaz, president of the California League of United Latin American Citizens; and Victor Garza, chairman of La Raza Roundtable de California.

To view photos of the San Jose meeting, click here.

A second hearing will be held in Los Angeles to understand the problems and circumstances that have led to the disparate numbers of African American children in the system. The Select Committee is in the process of scheduling that hearing and will soon announce the date, place, and time.

A third hearing is also being planned and will be held in San Francisco.

Sgt. Carl Geoffrey Perez, right, with me on the floor of the Assembly Chambers

It was a privilege to present the District 24 Veteran of the Year accommodation to Carl Geoffrey Perez for all his contributions to our country. We owe our veterans so much. They have given more than any of us could ask in the name of the United States and our liberty.

Sgt. Perez served two tours of duty in the Iraq/Afghanistan War Zone as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 2001-2011. While serving in the Reserves, Perez worked for the San Jose Vet Center where he participated in 32 outreach events and reached a total of 726 new generation veterans returning home from the war zone.

This week we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was honored to participate in several events both here in my district and in the Capitol. To learn more about the significance and history of the ADA, please read my address to the ADA event in Sacramento on June 26.

Christina Mills and Assemblymember Beall at the SVLIC's West Coast Disability Pride Parade and Festival

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) recently addressed a rally on the steps of the State Capitol to mark May 2010 as Foster Care Month and honor country music star Jimmy Wayne. Wayne, who grew up in foster care and group homes, embarked on a 1,700-mile trek on Jan. 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. His final destination is Phoenix, Arizona. The singer's journey halfway across the nation aims to publicize the challenges the homeless face, especially for at-risk kids and young adults as they leave foster care. Assemblymember Beall is carrying legislation, Assembly Bill 12, that ensures California obtains essential federal funding to provide transitional support to qualifying foster youth until age 21. Here's more from Assemblymember Beall in this Assembly Access video.

Listen to foster care advocates outline some of the best practices used to help families stay together and ensure the well-being of foster youth and families.