Press Releases

Measure Ending K-12 Pay to Learn Practice Heads to Senate Floor

August 25, 2011

AB 165 Will Help Identify, Eliminate and Prevent Illegal Student Fees

Assembly Member Lara’s Local Government Transparency and Oversight Measure Advances to Senate Floor

August 25, 2011

SACRAMENTO – Continuing his fight for transparency and oversight in local government, Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) successfully moved AB 187 out of the Senate Appropriations Committee today with 6 - 3 vote. The measure will allow the State Auditor to examine local governments during the course of her high-risk audit program to determine if there are any areas that are at risk of fraud, waste or mismanagement.

Senate Votes to Create Equity for Student Leaders

August 23, 2011

AB 844 (Lara) ensures all student leaders elected to represent their student body receive funds associated with their service

Lara Accepts Nomination to Serve on the College Board’s National Hispanic Advisory Committee

August 23, 2011

Lara joins nationwide and international efforts to improve Latino’s access to and readiness for higher education

Senate Passes Resolution to Address Physician Shortage

August 22, 2011

Resolution urges the President and Congress to increase the supply of physicians and graduate medical residency positions available in California

Hearing Highlights Strategies to Help Working Families Thrive During Tough Economic Times

August 18, 2011

Informational Hearing Culminates with Community Financial Fair

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) chaired the first hearing of the newly created Assembly Select Committee on Financial Empowerment today in the city of Bell Gardens. Financial experts provided community members with a comprehensive overview of barriers and opportunities for asset building and asset preservation.

Legislation Needed to Ensure Critical Next Steps at the CTC are Implemented

July 13, 2011

AB 229 (Lara) seeks to appoint an Enforcement Program Monitor to oversee the Division of Professional Practices at the CTC

Hearing Highlights Systemic Barriers to Health Care for LGBT Latinos

July 06, 2011

Improved data collection of the Latino LGBT community needed to reduce health disparities

Governor Signs Measure To Remove Barriers To Advanced Degrees

July 01, 2011

AB 176 ensures all students are treated equally when seeking admission to post-secondary standardized exams

SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 176 authored by Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) making higher education more accessible to all Californians. The measure requires test sponsors of post-secondary standardized exams like the GRE, MCAT, LSAT and GMAT to provide alternative methods for verifying a student's identity when he or she is unable to provide the required identification.

Bill To Remove Barriers To Advanced Degrees Heads To Governor’s Desk

June 21, 2011

AB 176 ensures all students are treated equally when seeking admission to post-secondary standardized exams

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Assembly voted to send Governor Jerry Brown Assembly Bill 176 authored by Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) to make higher education more accessible to all Californians. The Assembly passed AB 176 with a 50-20 vote.