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Santa Ana, Calif. (July 21, 2022) The Orange County Board of Supervisors announced today that the County of Orange was awarded $10 million in state funding to continue delivering mental health services, support and resources for children in crisis and their family members. The Board has prioritized the transformation of Orange County’s approach to behavioral health through the “Be Well Orange County” initiative, a coalition between the County and behavioral health stakeholders in the private and public sectors.

Thanks to Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris for advocating local young people through investment in a new and improved play yard at the Boys & Girls Club in Laguna Beach. California’s Governor Gavin Newson has signed off on SB/AB 178 that includes: “$400,000 for the play yard for the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach to address physical, socio-emotional, and academic well-being with more PLAY and learning for local youth.

The State of California has approved $5 million in funding for the Cal-Bridge program which provides a pathway for underrepresented students in Community Colleges and the California State University system to pursue advanced Ph.D. degrees through the University of California   system and join the California science and technology workforce, including as public university faculty.

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris recently secured $2.8 million in funding for the City of Irvine to renovate the playground at Sweet Shade Neighborhood Park, updating the recreational space to a Universal Playground that will meet the need of all residents regardless of ability. Sweet Shade is home to Sweet Shade Ability Center, where the City's Disability Services program provides activities for individuals with sensory, physical, or cognitive disabilities, and their family members.

Irvine, Calif., July 5, 2022 — The state of California, through an agreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature, has allocated $1.8 million to expand the University of California, Irvine’s Leveraging Inspiring Futures Through Educational Degrees effort, the first in-prison B.A. program in the UC system. LIFTED enables incarcerated individuals at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCI.

SACRAMENTO—Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Chair of the Accountability & Administrative Review Committee, released the following statement after voting for the 2022-23 California State budget bills:

Huntington Beach- Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris has recognized Plants By Yours Truly and BYO as the Local Business Spotlight for June. These businesses operate in collaboration with one another to offer quality products that promote personal, mental and environmental wellbeing. Plants By Yours Truly owner, Melissa Murillo, provides a variety of services including plant care, interior plant design, and plant design for events while championing mental health awareness.

SACRAMENTO—The California Joint Legislative Audit Committee has voted 12-0 to approve a performance audit of the California Department of Technology’s (CDT) responsibilities regarding oversight of state information technology (IT) procurements, oversight, and security for the State of California. While the State Auditor has audited portions of IT systems under the CDT umbrella, and routinely checks up on particularly troubled projects like FI$CAL, the Legislature needs a more comprehensive view of the systems that undergird California’s departments.

On Saturday, June 18^th, a group of 78 volunteers joined Orange County Coastkeeper Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, and Senator Dave Min for a trash cleanup at the Santa Ana-Delhi channel in Costa Mesa. In just two hours, the group removed over 2,500 pounds of debris from the waterway, preventing it from impacting Upper Newport Bay. This astounding number is the most trash picked up at a single cleanup in OC Coastkeeper’s 23-year history. Volunteers snagged several large items, such as musical instruments, rugs, bike tires, blankets, and a stethoscope.