PERK Advocacy Days in Sacramento

PERK Advocacy was hard at work at the Capitol today! Our Perk Founders and PERK Advocacy Lobbyist, alongside community leaders, engaged in discussions addressing crucial issues impacting our children, communities, and jobs.

Previous legislation aiming to strengthen vaccine policies in schools intended to enhance public safety but resulted in a notable decline in enrollment instead. Similarly, COVID vaccine mandates among first responders, veterans, and medical staff have triggered adverse effects such as negative experiences and staffing shortages. California's essential workers, including first responders, veterans, and medical professionals, shared tales of injustice and discrimination based on their valuable experiences during the pandemic.

During this summer, the PERK Advocacy team brought together educators, veterans, firefighters, and nurses to the Capitol to engage in meaningful dialogues with legislators and their staff regarding the detrimental effects of vaccines and mandates. Various meetings were arranged, yielding a spectrum of reactions to the alarming statistics presented, encompassing impacts on school enrollment, staffing challenges, mental health repercussions, and more.

Our objective was to inform and enlighten, enlightening some individuals with new information while prompting acknowledgment of the divisions caused by these mandates in others. Some attendees shared personal experiences, while others provided words of encouragement to continue sharing our message.

Overall, the Advocacy Day proved successful, marking progress in our efforts! We look forward to returning to Sacramento in August, following the legislators' summer recess, determined to persist in advocating for you and your loved ones because the future relies on it. 

Your donations help us create the resources and send key advocates to Sacramento to speak with the legislators and their staff. We appreciate all donations; they do make an impact.

PERK ADVOCACY IS WORKING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

What is the Children's Educational Opportunity Act?

The Children's Educational Opportunity Act is about providing opportunities and turning dreams into reality. Every child should have the same opportunity when it comes to accessing quality education and nurturing their potential.

Our children deserve nothing but the very best and parents have the right to decide the best education fit for their child, not the government. 

Education is the great equalizer that can break the chains of poverty and pave the path to social and economic mobility. It provides individuals with the tools they need to rise above their circumstances and create a better life for themselves and their families.

Here are more details:

• Empowering parents to make the best choices for their child's education and ensuringthatfinancial barriers do not hinder their growth.

• Amends the California Constitution to provide funding to accredited public schools, charter schools, private schools, parochial schools and home schools.

• Parents have the option to participate by notifying the state to establish a state-controlled Education Savings Account (ESA) for their child where the voter approved Proposition 98 funds are safeguarded within this account for use.

• ESA funds are dispersed to the accredited school selected by the parent, ensuring a seamless process that focuses solely on providing the best education possible. Parents need not worry about handling the ESA funds directly.

• Initial annual funding of $17,000 comes from voter approved Proposition 98 which provides money specific for educating the state’s students. This annual contribution amount will grow with the California economy.

• Eligibility and participation are open to every child in California, Kindergarten to 12th grade.

• Unused ESA funds are carried over annually and earn interest ensuring nothing goes to waste.

• Unused ESA funds after 12th grade can be applied to accredited trade technical school, community college, university and postgraduate school.

• Parents decide the best educational fit for their child, not a government bureaucrat or central planner.

• Children can break free from underperforming schools that provide subpar education, opening doors to a brighter future.

• Every child should have the same education opportunities as those from affluent families.

Liberty Justice Center Files lawsuit against AB 1955!

The Liberty Justice Center is challenging AB 1955, newly-enacted legislation that aims to ban parental notification policies across California.

The Liberty Justice Center put out a press release on July 16th, 2024 announcing their lawsuit.

On July 16, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit challenging California Assembly Bill 1955 (AB 1955), newly-enacted legislation that would prohibit schools from adopting parental notification policies.

On May 22, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus to propose AB 1955, legislation prohibiting parental notification policies across California. AB 1955 aims to prohibit schools from adopting parental notification policies that require school administrators to inform parents if their children ask to be referred to by a name or pronouns that differ from their gender at birth or to access sex-segregated school programs or bathrooms for the opposite gender. AB 1955 would also overturn existing parental notification policies and strengthen policies that require school employees to keep secrets from parents.

On July 15, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law. Unless the Court intervenes, AB 1955 will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

On July 16, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit to challenge the legislation and defend Californian parents’ rights. The Liberty Justice Center’s lawsuit—filed on behalf of the Chino Valley Unified School District and several Californian parents with children in the state’s public school system—asks the Court to bar California from implementing AB 1955 because the legislation violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments as well as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“PK-12 minor students, most of whom are too young to drive, vote, or provide medical consent for themselves, are also too young to make life-altering decisions about their expressed gender identity without their parents’ knowledge. But that is precisely what AB 1955 enables—with potentially devastating consequences for children too young to fully comprehend them,” said Emily Rae, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center.

“School officials do not have the right to keep secrets from parents, but parents do have a constitutional right to know what their minor children are doing at school. Parents are the legal guardians of their children, not Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, or Superintendent Thurmond. We will continue to defend parents’ rights and children’s well-being by challenging invasive laws like AB 1955 in court, at no cost to taxpayers,” continued Rae.

Chino Valley Unified School District v. Newsom was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on July 16, 2024.

Attorneys

Jacob Huebert

Jacob Huebert serves as the president of the Liberty Justice Center. He previously served as the Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation. In that role, he successfully litigated cases to protect economic liberty, free speech and other constitutional rights. Jacob and his work have appeared in numerous national media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Fox News Channel.

Emily Rae

Emily Rae is a Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, where she litigates cases to protect individual liberties, prevent government overreach, and preserve other constitutional rights.

Uncover California with Lori Mills Presents ....

Two must see movie premieres in August 1st in Ventura County.

Discover the Truth and Transform Your Perspective at Uncover California's Exclusive Film Premieres!
Join Us for a Powerful Cinematic Experience at the ROXY Theatre in Camarillo!
Are you ready to uncover the truth and break free from the lies that have held us captive for the past eight years? Two groundbreaking films that will open your eyes and inspire change.

Uncover California is hosting 2 exclusive, one-time-only events to premiere these impactful films on the big screen, with the directors and producers present to share their insights.

AUGUST 1

Letter to the American Church

ONE TIME ONLY MOVIE PREMIERE IN THEATRE !

https://square.link/u/5dzekApd

 AUGUST 22nd

The War On Truth

MOVIE PREMIERE

https://square.link/u/TP9L4XXw

AB 1955 Signed Into Law!

Click on image to view video on Instagram. You can also can view video on Twitter here.

Despite the cries of protest and thousands of opposition letters from parents across the state of California, Governor Newsom signed AB 1955 into law on July 15th, 2024. AB 1955 by Assemblymember Ward, was a "gut and amend" bill aimed at legally prohibiting any school employee, teacher or contractor from disclosing "any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil’s consent." This controversial bill has sparked backlash due to its implications on parental rights and children's well-being. It was championed by the Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, who lacked legal grounds within state law to pursue legal action against pro-family school boards advocating for parental rights policies concerning gender-confused children. This law will go into effect January 1st. 2025.

Good news is that Liberty Justice Center has already filed a lawsuit to turnover this new law set to take effect Jan, 2025.

Legislative Updates

SUPPORT

SB-976 (Skinner) Social Media Youth Addiction Law :

07/03/24 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Assembly Committee on APPR.

SB 1414 (Grove) Crimes: solicitation of a minor

07/03/24 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Assembly Committee on APPR.

AB 2652 (Muratsuchi) State Department of Education: artificial intelligence working group

In Assembly Appropriations committee: Held under submission.

AB 1824 (Valencia) California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018: opt-out right: mergers.
Sen 3rd Reading - Asm Bills 07-02-2024 #131 06/20/24 Ordered to third reading.

AB 1871 (Alanis) Adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12: social sciences: personal financial literacy.

06/17/24 In Senate. Held at Desk.

AB-1949 California Consumer Privacy Act of 2020: collection of personal information of a minor

Sen Appropriations Committee Hearing Date: 08/05/24

OPPOSE

AB 2442 (Zbur) Healing arts: expedited licensure process: gender-affirming health care and gender-affirming mental health care.

Sen 3rd Reading - Asm Bills 07-02-2024 # 113

AB-1825 California Freedom to Read Act.

Sen Appropriations Committee Hearing Date: 08/05/24

AB 1955 (Ward) Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act.

Signed into law 07/15/24 by Governor Newsom

SB-907 Orange County Board of Education: members.

06/26/24 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Rest assured, PERK is dedicated to providing you with ongoing updates on the status of these crucial bills, along with actionable steps you can take to bring about meaningful change. PERK Advocacy remains committed to careful monitoring, active lobbying, and consistent advocacy for California legislation. For more frequent updates and convenient access to the PERK Advocacy Action Center, be sure to visit www.perkadvocacy.com.