A Monthly Message from Senator Limón

Happy November - For many of us, this is the time of the year when we are reminded how fast time flies. November is as a month of gratitude and recognition. For starters, November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to remember and bring awareness of Native American history.

In addition, we observe Veterans Day, a time to honor the service members who sacrificed so much for our country. We thank them for their service, bravery, and selflessness. We are forever grateful to them and their families for keeping us safe. 

Lastly, the month of November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Since beginning my service in the California legislature, I have authored legislation relating to Alzheimer’s disease awareness and resources for patients and their caretakers. I have experienced firsthand the loss of a loved one due to this disease and understand the need for early diagnosis and access to essential resources. I invite you to listen to the episode of Love Conquers Alz podcast, where I detail my legislative actions on this critical issue. 

There are 39 days left until the New Year, and I am very thankful for many triumphs the community of Senate District 19 has achieved. I am grateful for our essential workers, first responders, small businesses and nonprofits, teachers, counselors, agricultural workers, and many more of those who uplift our communities and keep us safe during challenging times. 

My office continues to be of assistance when needed. To reach us, please call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 965-0862 or our Oxnard office at (805) 988-1940 or email Senator.Limon@senate.ca.gov. 

I am wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with joy and surrounded by your loved ones. I am honored and thankful to continue representing you and our communities as your State Senator.

In 2019, I authored AB 2252, which makes California grants accessible and transparent by creating the California Grants Portal. Since the launch in July 2020:

• Over 1.1 million people visited the portal.
• 52 entities posted funding opportunities.
• 457,000 applications were submitted for funding on the Grants Portal.
• $79,209,543 average amount of estimated funds available per opportunity.

Learn more about the CA Grants Portal at https://www.grants.ca.gov/annual-report/

Sierra Club California:

I am proud to have received a 100% score from Sierra Club California. The Sierra Club defends and advances environmental policies that fight climate-disrupting pollution, protect air and water quality, advance clean energy, support parks, and preserve natural resources, wildlife, and wildlife habitat. I will continue working on protecting our environment and ensuring a better future for generations to come.

Santa Maria High School Agriculture Program:

Congratulations to the Santa Maria High School Agriculture program for winning a statewide award from the CA Agriculture Teachers' Association. They were named the number one agriculture program in California. Making #SD19 proud!

Just Communities Central Coast:

AT&T presented Just Communities Central Coast with an Investing in California Award. Just Communities focuses on uplifting youth, families, and educators to be strong, vocal & active community members. Thank you for all you do for SD 19, we are very fortunate to have you supporting our community.

Ventura County Justice Center:

I joined Assemblymember Irwin in presenting a $1 million check from the state to expand the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) into Oxnard. This expansion will assist many who access the resources they need when dealing with assault. For more information on the Ventura County Family Justice Center services, visit https://vcfjc.org/

PATH Santa Barbara:

I visited PATH Santa Barbara and toured their interim housing facility earlier this fall. PATH is dedicated to helping homeless individuals access services to improve their health, increase their income, and transition to stable housing. Their commitment to helping individuals in need is admirable, we are fortunate to have PATH helping our communities.

Ventura Easterseals Child Development Center:

Team Limón attended the Ventura Easterseals Child Development Center ribbon cutting this month. The nonprofit works with children ages 6-weeks-old to 36 months under the Early Head Start program and preschool for ages 3 to 5.  The site now has newly updated spaces indoors and outdoors and an added computer room for parents. Congratulations.

Camarillo Health Care District:

I partnered with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to secure state funding to continue the work of the Camarillo Health Care District. The Camarillo Health Care District serves as a significant resource for seniors in the area during the pandemic. Their work includes providing essential services such as home-delivered meals, caregiver resources, and virtual programs to help families stay connected.

FoodBank Santa Barbara Empty Bowls:

I volunteered at the Foodbank SB Empty Bowls event in Santa Maria. Empty Bowls is a community event to end hunger alongside neighbors and friends. Local restaurants donate fresh gourmet soup and artisan bread. Thank you to all the local restaurants in SD 19 who donated delicious meals:

• Allan Hancock College Culinary
• Jack's in Old Orcutt
• Jaffa Cafe
• The Moxie Cafe
• Santa Maria Country Club
• Santa Maria Inn
• Splash Café San Luis Obispo
• Testa Catering & Event Rentals
• VTC Enterprises
• Zoe's Hawaiian BBQ
• Olive Garden

Foothills Forever Campaign:

I joined Assemblymember Bennett in presenting a $3 million check from the State of CA to the Foothills Forever Campaign to preserve open space at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve. Preserving, protecting, and providing access to the public land for future generations is essential. The community has been working together to keep this open space; I am glad that we can support these efforts as state representatives.

California Arrearage Payment Program(CAPP):

The newly established California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) will offer financial assistance for California energy utility customers to help reduce past due energy bill balances accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utility customers do not need to apply to receive assistance under the CAPP program. If a customer account is eligible, a credit will be automatically applied to the customer bill. For more information, visit https://csd.ca.gov/pages/capp.aspx

Renter/Landlord Assistance:

If you are a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs – or if you are a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation – help may still be available. State and local programs are providing rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic. Visit California Housing is Key to find out what is available for you and what you can do.

Your Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs Need Not Be a Mystery by California Health Line

“On this episode of "Owning a Piece of America," host Faith Bautista and State Sen. Monique Limón discuss various consumer protection programs available to Californians.”

SB 368 (Limón), requires most state-regulated private-sector health plans to send enrollees updates, for every month in which they received care, showing how much they have paid toward their annual deductible — the amount a person must shell out before insurance begins to cover most of their care — and how close they are to reaching out-of-pocket limits, the amount after which the insurer pays for 100% of care. READ MORE.

Large Buffer Zone Around Drilling Rigs Proposed by Santa Barbara Independent

“In 2019, I authored AB 1057 to ensure CalGEM (California Geologic Energy Management Division) could consider public health impacts when making rules related to oil and gas production,” Limón told the Independent. That buffer zone would protect homes, schools, and hospitals, she said. Her bill also added a responsibility for CalGEM to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from hydrocarbon development and to increase oil industry bonds for decommissioning wells and oil and gas facilities. READ MORE.
 

All late-stage cancer patients need access to biomarker testing, Cal Matters Opinion Piece

Senate Bill 535, introduced by state Sen. Monique Limón, a Democrat from Santa Barbara,  would prohibit health care insurers that already cover biomarker testing from requiring prior authorization for biomarker testing for plan members with advanced or metastatic Stage III or Stage IV cancer. I shudder to think how many required “prior authorizations” have cost people their lives by creating critical delays in gaining access to biomarker testing. READ MORE.
 

First in the Nation Code Enforcement Protection Legislation by KXAN Austin, TX

The only state that has passed a law protecting these employees is California. It requires local jurisdictions within the state to implement safety standards for code officers. The state would then reimburse any costs to those entities. California State Senator Monique Limón sponsored the bill. It was signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month and will go into effect in January. READ MORE.