A Look at Our State Budget

Dear Neighbors,

California must recognize our second year of historically high budget surpluses as a critical opportunity to stabilize and strengthen our local communities rebuilding from the pandemic through greater investments in our children and families. Governor Newsom’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, that begins on July 1st, 2022, was released on January 10th. As a member of the Senate’s Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, I am tasked with reviewing our plans for California’s budget including our state’s surplus, which is projected to be $31 billon. The Governor’s budget proposal will be evaluated, revised, and approved by the California Legislature to form our final budget in June. As I’ve always said, budgets are a statement of our values, and it’s more important than ever to stay informed on the important budget decisions the state is making. Here are some of my priorities as we head into our first set of budget discussions. 

Many families are still enduring the health impacts of COVID-19, with our frontline workforce and health departments being stretched thin. I strongly support and applaud the Governor’s proposed early budget action of $2.7 billion to enhance our public health infrastructure and rapidly expand access to COVID-19 response, testing, and vaccinations in partnership with local health departments across the state as well as the proposed expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible Californian’s regardless of their immigration status. 

As Senate Labor Chair, I look forward to working with my colleagues and our Governor to implement paid sick leave policies to protect workers impacted by COVID-19 as outlined in today’s announcement, especially in light of the surge in cases we have seen from the Omicron variant. Paid sick leave is a critical foundation for our public health to keep schools safe, businesses open, and hospitals running. We must protect essential workers, their families and our communities.

Our students, teachers, and staff have confronted dramatic changes in their classrooms and education system due to COVID-19, and I am encouraged to see innovative investments in learning recovery to ensure our children don’t fall behind. We know that early learning is key to a child’s successful learning outcomes and lifelong development - that is why I strongly back the proposed increased funding for early education, including universal transitional kindergarten, the State Preschool Program, and – given my authorship of SB 692, the Special Education Inclusion Act – the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program to support an inclusive education for students with disabilities.  

As a member of California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, the Senate Mental Health Caucus, and the Senate Select Committee on Mental Health and Addiction, I am dedicated to improving how we help those struggling with their mental health, especially our student community. I am encouraged by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s proposal to add 10,000 more mental health clinicians into our school system to serve students where they are, and I look forward to working with him and our Governor to prioritize school-based mental health centers and support systems this year.

Due to the worsening impacts of climate change, California experienced its second driest year on record in 2021. We are in the midst of our worst drought since the late 1800’s. I fully support boosted spending in drought response and wildfire prevention in the face of our climate emergency, including the Governor’s proposed $750 million of one-time dollars towards water conservation and replenishment efforts to aid communities that are most affected by our historic drought.

As the author of the California Building Decarbonization Package: SB 30, SB 31, and SB 32, I am proud to see greatly expanded investments for equitable building decarbonization efforts in our proposed state budget including $210 million over two years towards industrial sector decarbonization and $962.4 million over two years to support building decarbonization programs such as consumer rebates for building upgrades and retrofit programs that target low-income communities.

The state must support a transition to clean energy sources without leaving behind our workers. I strongly support addressing and advancing the needs of our workers and am encouraged to see multiple proposed investments to support displaced oil and gas workers, including education, training, and workforce transition programs. We must continue to prioritize tangible climate workforce pathways.

Climate change is already affecting our lives and it is so vital that we prepare our next generation of leaders to understand and confront this existential threat. I believe there is more our state can be doing to fully integrate climate change in our K-12 curriculum. Along with my commitment to introduce legislation on climate change education this legislative session, now is the opportune time to work with the legislature, the California Department of Education, and local school districts, to sufficiently fund, strengthen and improve our state’s climate change literacy efforts

Targeted resources are needed to move people from insecure conditions into safe and stable housing. I am pleased to see outlined in this proposal expanded investments to tackle homelessness and increase housing and especially affordable housing in our state, providing a total of $9 billion towards housing and $8 billion towards addressing homelessness. 

While we have a healthy budget outlook this year, we must also keep in mind that these conditions won’t be permanent and take action to shore up our reserve accounts in preparation of tighter budget years ahead.

It is our primary responsibility to stabilize families that have been devastated by COVID-19 without sacrificing the important services provided by the state.

And with our historic surplus, I am confident that we will enact another responsible state budget guided by the shared goals and values of Californians.

I am encouraged by the Governor’s proposal and look forward to working with my colleagues to reach an agreement on a responsible and transformative budget that will address the most fundamental needs of our communities across California while safeguarding our state’s economic strength and fiscal stability.

Learn more about the Governor’s proposed budget at this link.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests.  

✅ Limit of one order per residential address 
✅ One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests 
✅ Orders will ship free starting in late January 

Visit covidtests.gov

Lost your vax card? No worries. There are several options for you to get a replacement card. Learn more at www.sccgov.org/VaxCard

Take charge of your family’s health. Sign up to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for your child (ages 5 and older) by visiting myturn.ca.gov or calling the CA COVID-19 Hotline 7 days a week at 833-4CA-4ALL.

Watch my recent COVID-19 Vaccination for Children PSA at this link.

Stay protected! The booster shot is available at many locations in Santa Clara County. Learn more about boosters at these links: English & Spanish.

Find a drop-in clinic or schedule an appointment at www.sccFreeVax.org or by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov.

Following my successful push last year for California’s first state-funded universal basic income (UBI) proposal, the “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”, as well as the first-in-the-nation pilot to provide UBI to Santa Clara County youth aging out of the foster care system that began the year prior, I will be continuing my work to provide unconditional and direct cash assistance to underserved populations in 2022. This year, I am pursuing a program to provide UBI to our most vulnerable students in the California State University (CSU) system.

I am hopeful to work with my colleagues to further pursue this good idea that stemmed from a San Jose State University report, the Silicon Valley Pain Index, that measures wealth inequality and racial discrimination in our region.

You can read the full Los Angeles Times story at this link.

My bill, SB 213, will modernize outdated California laws by making it easier for registered nurses and other health care workers to access the workers’ compensation system, in line with protections male-dominated professions such as police officers and firefighters have already been granted in California.

Nurses often have to jump through hoops — while sick or hurt — to receive paid time off for work-related illnesses or injuries. And after all that effort, nurses can be denied coverage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, workplace hazards that required at least one day off work totaled 220 for firefighters and 200 for police officers. The total for registered nurses was 78,740.

SB 213 recognizes and addresses this glaring inequity. This gender gap is wrong and must be corrected.

SB 213 will ensure that nurses and other health care workers will receive streamlined eligibility for workers’ compensation if they experience issues such as Covid-19 or other infectious disease, respiratory disease, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and musculoskeletal injuries, just like the law currently protects other frontline workers.

Learn more about SB 213 through this educational video.

For those of you that missed it, check out a recording of our recent Tax Preparedness and Resources Town Hall at this link. During this informative presentation and discussion, we were joined by experts from the Franchise Tax Board, United Way Bay Area, and the Internal Revenue Service. The audience learned about free resources they can take advantage of, assistance they can access when they come upon tax issues, filing requirements and much more.

I hope this recording can serve as a resource to connect you with free tax assistance services and get you information regarding tax credits that can potentially put some money back into your pocket to help you put food on the table, pay your bills, or cover basic needs. As we know, these past few years have been unusually difficult for everyone, and more than ever, every dollar counts.

CalEITC is a refundable state tax credit for low-income families who may also quality for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). These tax credits put money back into the pockets of families; the amount they receive varies based on income and qualifying number of dependents. More detailed information on CalEITC/YCTC eligibility and other information, including links to a calculator to estimate your credits and the form and instructions needed to claim CalEITC, is here.

In the Video Gallery posted on my website you can find recordings of my recent Town Halls, interviews, news conferences, video compilations, bill hearings, and more. Missed a recent SD 15 event or want to learn more about my budget and legislative priorities? Check out my Video Gallery at this link!

Check out our SD 15 community bulletin for opportunities to learn and explore!

• Webinar about Owl “Superpowers”: Join a webinar hosted by Bay Area Older Adults on Thursday February 3 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM to learn more about owls from experts. Learn more and register at this link
   
• Women’s Economic Recovery Grants: The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls will award funds ranging from $25,000 up to $250,000 in five funding categories for eligible applicants, including specifically those designed to start new local commissions on women. Learn more at https://women.ca.gov/womens-recovery-response/
   
• Sustainable Careers for Veterans: Bloom Energy has teamed up with the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County to extend full-time employment career opportunities to our deserving veterans in the renewable energy sector in Silicon Valley! This initiative will help ensure veterans have access to green jobs with top employers in emerging and sustainable fields. Interested veterans should visit https://www.bloomenergy.com/careers/ or email community.relations@bloomenergy.com
   
• SASCC Talks: Tuesday, February 15 at 6:00 PM, I will be joining the Saratoga Area Senior Center for a Q&A conversation with about local housing bills, senior issues, and more. Register at www.tinyurl.com/sascctalkswithdavecortese

Our teachers and school staff deserve tremendous recognition, especially amid the enormous challenges of the past few years. As a member of our Senate Education Committee, I have been working hard to support students as well as our school employees that form the backbone of our education system.

SB 868

I have recently introduced SB 868, sponsored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA), to ensure equity and financial stability for California’s oldest retired educators. Our educators, those who gave their life to developing our next generation and equipping students with the skills they need to succeed, deserve respect and security in their retirement, and they deserve to be treated fairly. SB 868 will not only create equity among retirees, it will also draw new teachers to the workforce at a time when they are so desperately needed in our classrooms. Learn more at this link.

SB 874

I have also introduced SB 874, sponsored by the California School Employees Association (CSEA), to ensure parity around promotional probation procedures for classified employees in merit system districts.

While the statutes of the California Education Code governing non-merit K-12 and Community College districts make it clear that if an employee does not pass probation for a promotional position they return to their previous classification, the corresponding law for merit districts are silent on these promotional probation procedures, even though the permanent status of classified employees are consistent among the two sections. SB 874 would rectify this by providing clarity and equity between merit system and non-merit system procedures. Learn more at this link.

Emergency Staffing Flexibility

We have a severe staffing shortage across our education system in California that has only intensified during COVID-19. After much advocacy from my Office, I am pleased to see our Governor pass an Executive Order that addresses our serious substitute teacher shortage by lowering barriers, on an emergency basis, that are currently delaying the hiring of short-term/emergency substitute teachers across our state. To support safe classrooms, the Governor has signed Executive Order N-3-22 to provide staffing flexibilities to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in an effort to address staffing shortages.

The Executive Order: 

• Requires schools to establish and make written findings that flexibilities are needed to continue in-person services for students due to a COVID-19 surge.  
• Lowers barriers that delay the hire of qualified short-term substitute teachers by cutting down on administrative processes with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 
• Extends the 30-day emergency permit for substitute teachers to 120 days to allow for longer employment. 
• Eases the 180-day break in service requirement for retired classified and certificated personnel.
• The Executive Order expires March 31, 2022.

State resources and services available during the pandemic have been posted on my new website: sd15.sen.ca.gov. Get connected to some of the most frequently used state resources, including resources for businesses and employers, students, those in need of housing and financial assistance, and more.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at senator.cortese@sen.ca.gov.

Thank you,

Dave Cortese