Governor approves health-related laws, including water bills

REBECCA PLEVIN / Vida En El Valle

(Published Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 10:36AM)

FRESNO -- María Herrera was thrilled to learn last Friday morning that Governor Jerry Brown had signed a package of bills intended to ensure communities across the state have access to clean, affordable drinking water.

"Honestly, this is a great day for the many communities here in the Valley who don't currently have access to safe drinking water," said Herrera, community outreach coordinator for the Community Water Center in Visalia.

The bills -- part of the Human Right to Water package -- will make a real impact for the hundreds of thousands of Valley residents whose tap water does not meet federal health standards, she said. Five of the six bills in the original package made it to the governor's desk and were signed.

"Really, these different bills are a way to implement the human right to water and eliminate some of the current barriers that exist for our community," she said.

The package includes Assembly Bill 983, sponsored by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea, D-Fresno, which is intended to provide disadvantaged communities with the opportunity to apply for state grants that fund the entire cost of water infrastructure projects. Currently, state grants to disadvantaged communities cover up to 80 percent of a project's cost.

Herrera praised Perea -- as well as the governor and other legislators -- for prioritizing the issue. She also commended community members and allies, who advocated for the bills.

"I think Assemblymember Perea has clearly indicated to his constituents that this is a priority for him, and he is willing to take the lead to bring solutions to the community that he represents," she said.

Beyond the bills ensuring the human right to clean drinking water, Brown signed a handful of other bills that are expected to make a great impact on the health and well-being of all state residents, and Valley residents in particular.

AB 6, sponsored by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes, D-Los Angeles, will reduce the bureaucratic barriers some families face when trying to access nutrition assistance, said Alexis Fernández of California Food Policy Advocates.

The bill requires those receiving assistance through CalFresh (formerly the Food Stamp Program) and CalWORKS to submit ongoing reports on a semi-annual basis, instead of quarterly, which simplifies the application process both for recipients and program administrators.

The bill also eliminates the requirement that adults applying for CalFresh undergo fingerprint imaging as part of the application process. The state instituted fingerprint imaging to prevent people fraud, but it has served as an expensive and sometimes intimidating barrier to receiving benefits, Fernández said.

Misunderstanding of the fingerprinting process, "can lead to steering clear of applying when you really do need benefits." she said. "In the immigrant population in particular, it has been a barrier."

Daniel Zingale, senior vice president of The California Endowment, praised the bill.

"This important legislation will help thousands of California families feed their children in these most challenging economic times," he said in a statement. "It eliminates bureaucratic red tape and eases the delivery of vital nutrition assistance to our state's most vulnerable kids."

Senate Bill 502, sponsored by Senator Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, will require all California hospitals where babies are born to have an infant feeding policy, which should help increase the exclusive breastfeeding rates in state hospitals, said Karen Farley, program manager for the California WIC Association.

Hospital practices have a dramatic impact on whether mothers leaving the hospital exclusively breastfeed their newborn, according to the California WIC Association. Exclusive breastfeeding offers multiple health benefits to mothers and infants.

Valley counties have some of the lowest exclusive-breastfeeding rates in the state. There are also disparities in exclusive breastfeeding rates in many hospitals serving lower-income women of color.

"Improving breastfeeding support reduces health disparities," Farley said. "Having that support in the hospital will definitely reduce health disparities, and give moms and babies a chance for better health outcomes."

"This is really important for all moms, but definitely important for the Central Valley."

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