February, 27 2009, 12:41pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Vaishalee Raja, Communications Director
(916) 284-9187 vaishalee@eqca.org
Assemblymember John A. Perez Introduces Legislation to Expand Domestic Violence Services
Equality California-sponsored bill would provide additional resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender survivors of violence
SACRAMENTO
In hopes of expanding domestic violence services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community members, Assembly Member John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles), today introduced AB 1003. Sponsored by Equality California, the bill would expand access for LGBT service providers to a state fund within the California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA), which supports LGBT-specific domestic violence programs across the state and is subsidized by a $23 fee on new domestic partner registrations. The fund was originally established through EQCA-sponsored legislation, AB 2051 (Cohn) in 2006.
"This bill would help support innovative program models that are proven most effective in serving LGBT survivors of violence, such as those being pioneered by LGBT centers and organizations across the state," said Assembly Member John A. Perez.
The bill would expand the number of providers who can apply for grants through CALEMA and eliminate the requirement to provide shelter services in order to qualify for funding. Studies have shown that most LGBT domestic violence survivors do not typically access services through shelters.
"We must take whatever steps we can to ensure that LGBT survivors of domestic violence have access to culturally competent care and resources," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California.
Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, the "former daytime television fixture" who U.S. President-elect Donald Trump picked to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reported "up to $56 million in investments in three companies" with direct CMS interests, the watchdog Accountable.US highlighted Friday.
The celebrity heart surgeon is already under fire for his record of peddling "baseless or wrong" health advice and pushing Medicare Advantage (MA)—an alternative to the government-run program administered by private health insurance companies—on The Dr. Oz Show, as well as his stake in UnitedHealth and CVS Health.
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Nick Clemens, Oz's spokesperson on the Trump transition team, told USA TODAY—which first reported on the Accountable.US findings—that Oz sold his stake in Sharecare but did not address further questions.
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The lawmakers sent Oz a list of questions, requesting responses by December 23. They inquired about his views on traditional Medicare and revelations that "private companies overcharge taxpayers and unlawfully deny care." They also asked whether, as administrator, he would commit to "fully divesting of any and all financial holdings related to the insurance industry" and "recusing from any decisions that may impact insurers" in which he has a stake.
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In a first of its kind report, our Gaza based partner Community Training Centre for Crisis Management asked injured, separated and disabled children and their caregivers about the toll of the ongoing war on their lives. Their answers are devastating but sadly not a surprise. 1/5
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— War Child UK ( @warchilduk.bsky.social) December 12, 2024 at 3:31 AM
Israel's 434-day assault on Gaza—which is the subject of an International Court of Justice genocide case—has left tens of thousands of children dead, maimed, missing, or orphaned and hundreds of thousands more forcibly displaced, starved, or sickened. Doctors and others including volunteers from the United States have documented many cases in which they've concluded Israeli snipers and other troops have deliberately shot children in the head and chest.
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