SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) announced Assembly Bill 664 has picked up a large bipartisan group of key supporters including Senators Umberg, Hueso, Assemblymembers Aguilar-Curry, and McCarty who have joined as Principal Co-Authors. Additionally, Assemblymembers Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Burke, Cervantes, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Flora, Gloria, Kalra, Lackey, Low, Mathis, Medina, Melendez, Petrie-Norris, Ramos, Rodriguez, Voepel, Waldron, Wicks and Senators Galgiani, Lena Gonzalez and Stern all join as Co-Authors.

“The long list of Democrats and Republicans joining as authors demonstrates the overwhelming importance of this Legislation and its critical need to protect our first responders and healthcare workers,” said Assemblymember Jim Cooper.

AB 664 will ensure that first responders and healthcare workers that are at a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 while performing their job duties will be eligible for workplace protections if they fall ill to COVID-19 or any other communicable disease when a state or local government state of emergency is declared.

“Every day our first responders and healthcare workers are on the frontlines fighting to keep us safe and healthy. These individuals not only show up to protect us, but they are asked to go toward the risk while most of us are asked to stay away from it. They are heroes and should have the peace of mind that they will be taken care of if they fall ill while the serving the public,” added Cooper.

“This pandemic has put our first responders and frontline healthcare workers at the forefront of the country’s biggest modern crisis,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. “We need to strengthen workplace protections for these heroes if they become sick while protecting the rest of us from COVID-19.”

Under AB 664, workplace protections shall include all of the following: Full hospital, surgical, medical treatment, disability indemnity, and death benefits to all peace officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 or any communicable disease.

“Our frontline healthcare workers and first responders are putting their lives on the line every day during this pandemic,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta. “As their work puts them at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, these California heroes, who are selflessly working to protect and heal us, must also, be protected. They should never have to fight for the fair benefits they deserve should they contract the virus. This is the right thing to do for these brave and dedicated Californians.”

Additionally, those persons are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs for the purchase of personal protective equipment, medical and living expenses required while performing their essential duties during a state of emergency. An employee who is eligible for compensation should not be required to use accrued vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave, sick leave, or any other leave, other than applicable benefits made available in order to be reimbursed.

On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. Firefighters, peace officers, and health care workers are statutory required by the oaths they take to provide vital services during state of emergencies, placing them at heightened risk of exposure to and death from COVID-19. Because of the heightened risk to our most essential workers, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately as an urgency clause.

AB 664 is sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff’s, California Professional Firefighters, and the California Nurses Association.

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Assemblymember Cooper represents the Cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) announced that the City of Sacramento as well as the Sacramento Continuum of Care (COC) and the San Joaquin COC have been awarded emergency funding to protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness in Assembly District 9 during the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a March 26 letter, the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council stated that the City of Sacramento, Sacramento COC, and San Joaquin COC have been awarded $2,245,840.09, $997,067.17, and $512,733.78 respectively to help protect and stop the spread of COVID-19 within and among our already vulnerable homeless population.

“This emergency funding comes at a critical time when our most vulnerable communities are at the greatest risk of exposure to the virus,” said Assemblymember Jim Cooper. “I cannot thank Governor Newsom enough for his guidance during this unprecedented time. His commitment to safeguard the well-being of our public health demonstrates his unwavering leadership for all of California.”

According to a 2019 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report to Congress, the city and county of Sacramento rank number one among major cities in the U.S. with 1,132 homeless persons in families with children, of which more than 50 percent are unsheltered.

On March 17, Governor Newsom signed SB 89 which allocated $500 billion to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and help protect the public. Included in this emergency legislation that was unanimously approved by the California State Legislature was funding to help protect California’s vulnerable homeless population during COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this funding allocation is to protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness in our region and to reduce the spread of the COVID-19.

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Assemblymember Cooper represents the Cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi.

Elk Grove, CA – Today, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) pledged a $20K donation to Elk Grove Food Bank Services to help their critical efforts to distribute food to families and seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Elk Grove Food Bank has seen a 263 percent increase in demand in the last seven days, thousands of people are dependent now more than ever on the services the food bank provides,” said Assemblymember Jim Cooper. “That’s why today I will donate $20k to the Elk Grove Food Bank and urge my fellow community leaders to also donate or volunteer their time during this unprecedented moment.”

“During this very difficult time, its thoughtful actions like this that remind us that we are not alone in our efforts. I cannot express how grateful we are to Assemblymember Cooper. This donation will make a profound difference in our ability to increased demand and inspire hope for so many people in our community,” said Elk Grove Food Bank Executive Director, Marie Jachino.

Elk Grove Food Bank Services has aided residents in Elk Grove, Sacramento, and Galt since 1974. On an average week the food bank serves approximately 350 persons, including families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the homeless. Last week, the food bank assisted over 920 individuals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Assemblymember Cooper is working directly with Governor Newsom’s office and the Office of Emergency Services to assist Elk Grove Food Bank Services to ensure they have the resources going forward to continue providing their critical services to our community.

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Assemblymember Cooper represents the Cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill 150, authored by Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), was approved today by the California State Assembly. The bill seeks to improve high school graduation rates and post-secondary education success for foster youth and other highly-mobile youth.

Over the past decade the Legislature has passed numerous bills to improve graduations rates among foster youth. While rates have improved, currently only 58 percent of highly-mobile youth graduate from high school compared to 84 percent of all other students statewide.

“Foster youth experience too many hurdles in life and graduating high school shouldn’t be one of them,” said Assemblymember Jim Cooper. “AB 150 will streamline transfers of educational credits to ensure highly-mobile youth aren’t required to take courses they’ve already completed and can graduate without delay.”

On average, highly-mobile youth transfer school districts eight times while in care, losing up to six months of their education with each move. Currently, when foster youth transfer to a new school district, existing law does not specify whether partial credits earned in a given subject area in one district are required to be combined with partial credits for similar coursework completed in another district. This ambiguity in law creates additional unnecessary hurdles for our most vulnerable youth, often leading to students duplicating coursework and delaying their ability to graduate on time.

“The Alliance for Children’s Rights appreciates Assemblymember Cooper’s leadership and support to improve high school graduation rates and post-secondary educational and vocational success for all highly mobile youth, including foster youth,” said Kristin Power, Government Relations Director for the Alliance for Children’s Rights. “We’re thrilled the Assembly passed AB 150 to help prevent administrative barriers from impacting highly-mobile youth’s progress toward graduation.”

California high schools serve approximately 164,000 highly-mobile students, of which 17,000 are foster youth and 92,000 are homeless youth. AB 150 clarifies that all credits earned in a given subject area, including partial credits, shall be combined to maximize the credit for coursework completed in order to meet graduation requirements.

AB 150 will next be heard in the California State Senate.

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Assemblymember Cooper represents the Cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), released the following statement in response to the death of an unidentified homeless individual in the City of Elk Grove:

“Today is a sad day for the City of Elk Grove and the people of the 9^th Assembly District.

According to a tweet by Elk Grove Police, at approximately 2:30pm today, police responded to a call for service regarding a welfare check of a person who was lying under a pile of sleeping bags in the greenbelt area on Bond Road. Officers arrived and determined the homeless person was deceased.

This unfortunate death of one of our homeless citizens comes on the same day that a bill that would have declared that California children and families have a right to safe, decent and affordable housing died in committee.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 2019 report to Congress, the city and county of Sacramento ranks number one among major cities in the U.S. with 1,132 homeless persons in families with children, of which more than 50 percent are unsheltered.

Last year, the state allocated $1 billion to help address California’s homelessness challenge and again this year, Governor Newsom has proposed another $750 million. While I commend the state for providing funding, the state needs to address the root causes of homelessness. It is critical that funding be allocated towards mental health, substance abuse, and conservatorship for those who are greatly disabled. Since the Great Recession, the state has failed to increase funding for these vital programs that directly help families and children and the causes of homelessness.

We can do better. We must do better. Today’s passing of a homeless individual in Elk Grove is preventable and we as lawmakers should be looking closely at policy proposals, including right to housing bills. Partnering with counties and cities to pass meaningful legislation that protects families that suffer from homelessness is of the utmost importance.

My deepest sympathies, thoughts, and prayers are with the unidentified individual’s friends and family who lost his life today in Elk Grove. I pledge to continue fighting for those who suffer from homelessness in our region. As the Capitol of the great State of California, we must do better.”

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Assemblymember Cooper represents the Cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi.