Press Releases

Asm. Chris Holden's Statement on Prison Realignment – Mentally Disordered Offenders (AB 1065)

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Created on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 09:20

Sacramento - "I was extremely disappointed today that my effort to improve care for seriously mentally ill offenders was defeated in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

I think it's important to understand that under prison realignment the continuity and quality of mental health treatment for Mentally Disordered Offenders is jeopardized when these individuals are forced to transfer from State care to County care which often lacks the resources to treat these patients," said Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena).

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Holden's Bill to Allow Consumers to Have a Choice in Where They Get Medication

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Created on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 14:11

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Chris Holden's bill to ensure consumers have a choice in their pharmacy health plans has been overwhelmingly approved (7 to 2) in the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protections Committee.

AB 299 follows reports earlier this year that health insurer Anthem Blue Cross was going to require thousands of its California patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV/AIDS to buy prescription drugs from a mail order pharmacy. Anthem has since backed off while they reevaluate the requirement. But Assemblymember Holden felt it was important to go ahead with the legislation to ensure consumers have a choice.

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Assemblymember Holden’s Bill to Boost California Agriculture Passes Second Committee on Unanimous Vote

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Created on Wednesday, 17 April 2013 15:24

Sacramento – The Assembly Agriculture Committee today heard testimony on Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation to ensure that California fruit, nuts, livestock and vegetables are given priority when it comes to state purchasing.

Under Holden’s AB 199 Choose California Act, state agencies would be required to give California agriculture producers priority when purchasing food products if the price is within 5% of the lowest out-of-state competitor. School districts would have to purchase California grown products as long as they aren’t more expensive than out-of-state products.

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Holden’s Legislation to Expand Opportunities for Start-up Technology

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Created on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 10:32

AB 250 iHub Accelerator Fund

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) hopes to expand on the state’s iHub innovation network with a new plan to create economic opportunities for pioneering start-up companies. It’s part of his legislation (AB 250) that was overwhelmingly approved with bi-partisan support today in the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee. 

AB 250 would allow emerging technology companies an opportunity to partner with the state to demonstrate new innovative technologies on underutilized state properties.

“We want to put the state in a position to cultivate and incubate young companies that are developing new technologies,” explained Assemblymember Holden. “Our goal is to foster greater collaboration between innovators and investment opportunities within the state.”

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Holden's Bill to Aid California Farmers Passes Key Committee

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Created on Wednesday, 03 April 2013 12:40

AB 199 “Choose California Act”

Sacramento - Assemblymember Chris Holden's (D-Pasadena) bill to help California farmers and boost the state's agricultural economy has been approved in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee – and just in time. A recent news article reported that California's dairy farmers are being wooed by other states.

"It just makes sense to put California-grown crops, livestock and dairy first," said Assemblymember Holden. "When I read that dairy farmers were being lured by other states with friendlier business climates, I knew we were on the right track with this legislation.

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Assemblymember Holden's First Bill Passes Assembly

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Created on Thursday, 21 March 2013 09:40

AB 139 – Domestic Violence Fees - A Technicality that Makes a Difference

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden’s AB 139 that strengthens penalties that abusers are required to pay to ensure that more funding is available to domestic violence shelters was overwhelmingly approved today in the Assembly – the first piece of legislation heard on the floor this session.

AB 139 clears up a technicality in order to provide more funds for local domestic violence shelters. The bill stipulates that those convicted of domestic violence must pay a minimum $500 fee – not a fine – before they are granted probation. This clarification is important because it would ensure the Legislature’s intent to use portions of the $500 fee to generate funding for local domestic violence programs.

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Assemblymember Holden Names “Women Of The Year” For The 41st Assembly District

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Created on Friday, 15 March 2013 14:54

Pasadena –Assemblymember Chris Holden has named two women who represent opposite ends of the district but share a common dedication to their communities to be “Women of the Year” for the 41st Assembly District.

“Our state boasts a rich history of women who have made lasting contributions to their communities and state through their public spirit and activism,” said Assemblymember Holden. “It is my great pleasure to recognize Rachel Worby and Zephyr Tate-Mann as “Women of the Year.”

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Assemblymember Holden's Bill to Fight Human Trafficing Passes First Committee Test

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Created on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 15:38

Human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise with victims as young as 13 being forced into prostitution. *

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bill to aid state law enforcement in stopping the trade of young men and women for prostitution was unanimously approved today by the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 156 would allow law enforcement to get a court order for a wiretap when they suspect human trafficking across state and national borders.

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Assemblymember Holden Honors JPL Mars Scientists on Floor of California Assembly

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Created on Monday, 11 March 2013 12:40

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) presented five members of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Science Team – the folks who brought the Curiosity Rover to Mars last summer -- on the floor of the California Assembly today.

"From humble beginnings in an empty lot near La Canada Flintridge, JPL has grown to become the leading space exploration research facility in the world," said Holden. "Now more than 60 years later, these extraordinary scientists helped make a heart-stopping and technically pitch-perfect landing on Mars -- the beginning of the Curiosity rover's exploration of the Red Planet."

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Assemblymember Holden To Welcome Mars Rover “Curiosity” To The State Capitol

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Created on Thursday, 07 March 2013 11:46

Sacramento – Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) will welcome the Mars Rover “Curiosity” to the State Capitol on Monday while honoring the members of the team that brought the Rover to the Red Planet.

As part of Aerospace Week at the State Capitol, Assemblymember Holden will recognize the five team members on the Assembly floor Monday at noon for their role in the flawless entry and landing of Curiosity on the red planet.

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