District Report - April 2021
Dear Neighbor,
I hope this monthly newsletter finds you and your family well. Spring’s arrival as well as the decline in coronavirus infections gives us much reason for optimism.
More than half of all adults have now received at least one of their Covid-19 vaccination shots, and we are reopening our state. In the Capitol, we have approved aid to communities and small businesses to expedite recovery. Our work on legislation and the budget will be the subject of my May 11 virtual town hall.
We are also gearing up for the possibility of another difficult wildfire season. We recently approved a $536 million investment to reduce combustible fuels and bolster firefighting capabilities.
As always, I am standing by to help. Please visit my website to find contact information for my office nearest you.
In this Issue:
- COVID-19 Update and Resources
- Donate Life - Organ Donations Save Lives!
- Earthquake Safety - Be Prepared
- Unclaimed Property - California May Owe You Money
- In the News
Sincerely,
Bill Dodd
Senator, 3rd District
COVID-19 Update and Resources
We have come a long way over the past year. The development and distribution of vaccines, coupled with your efforts to limit the spread of infections, is allowing us to reopen our state.
As of this writing, about 26 million people -- or more than half of the state population -- is fully vaccinated. Hundreds of thousands of more people are expected to be vaccinated each week. Gov. Newsom is calling on the state to open completely by June 15 with schools resuming in-person instruction this fall.
Many resources are available to you including an easy way to schedule your vaccination here. Other resources can be found on my website.
- California Coronavirus Response, a comprehensive and consumer-friendly clearinghouse for COVID-19 updates from the state of California
- California Employment Development Department disability/paid family leave benefits & unemployment insurance benefits for COVID-19
- U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recovery from declared disasters.
- Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development resources for employers and employees
- California Department of Education offers resources for parents and teachers on distance-learning and other educational approaches.
Donate Life - Organ Donations Save Lives!
I'd like to thank everyone who has registered as an organ donor. If you have not yet signed up as a donor, please consider doing so now, as we kick off national Donate Life Month.
One person's organ donations can save up to eight lives. Cornea donations can restore sight to two people. And tissue donations can heal many others.
The need is urgent:
- CA ranks first among all states with approximately 23,000 men, women and children on the organ transplant waiting list.
- Of those on the transplant list in CA, 85% are in need of a life-saving kidney.
- On average, 22 people die each day in the U.S. (about 7,600 each year) because the organ they needed did not come available for transplant in time.
You can help in the fight to give more people on the waiting list hope that they too will get their second chance at life. I hope you'll consider giving the gift of life by becoming an organ donor.
Learn more or add your name to the state's donor registry by visiting the Donate Life California website.
Earthquake Safety: April is Earthquake Preparedness Month
Earthquakes are common in California. Surprisingly, many Californians don't consider themselves at risk unless they live on or near the line of a well-known fault, such as the San Andreas or Hayward Fault. However, the Napa Earthquake just 20 months ago was a clear reminder that we need to take simple steps to protect ourselves.
I want to make sure you and your loved ones don't get caught unprepared for the next big quake. For tips on how to prepare for an earthquake, click here.
Unclaimed Property - California May Owe You Money
The State of California is trying to return $8 billion to its rightful owners. Is some of it yours?
California’s Unclaimed Property Law requires “holders” such as corporations, business associations, financial institutions, and insurance companies to annually report and deliver property to the State Controller’s Office after there has been no customer contact for three years.
Often the owner forgets that the account exists, moves and does not leave a forwarding address, or the forwarding order expires. In some cases, the owner dies and the heirs have no knowledge of the property.
To find potential money, visit the State Controller’s Office and search the Unclaimed Property Database for money that the state may owe you!
When filing a claim form, you will need the following documentation:
- A copy of current photo identification for each claimant
- A copy of a Social Security card or a tax identification number for each claimant
- Verification of reported address if different from current address
- Specific documentation relating to the type of property, such as original passbook, cashier’s check, stock certificate, etc.
In the News
Here are some of the latest news stories that may be of interest to you. As always, please contact my office if you have any questions about state policy or want to express your position or ideas for legislation.
- SB 99 forms affordable power grid to help during wildfires
- Dodd has hope for Highway 37 traffic nightmare
- Bill Dodd’s water affordability legislation moves through state Senate
- California to spend $536 million on forests before end of fire season
- North Coast senators Dodd, McGuire named leaders of California wine committee