Tag Archives: Senator Bob Huff

Powdered Alcohol Ban Passes Test

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Photo courtesy: Google Images

Courtesy of Senator Bob Huff’s Office

Legislation that would ban powdered alcohol, or “Palcohol,” in California easily passed its first fiscal test earlier this month, receiving unanimous support from the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 819 would make California the 30th state to ban or restrict the sale of this dangerous product. Given that this is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in California, this bill takes on even more importance.

Powdered alcohol is a freeze dried version of alcohol which comes in a small pouch and is the equivalent of a shot of alcohol. The crystallized formula becomes a cocktail once mixed with water. Although the product isn’t sold in stores yet, labeling was approved by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in 2014.

“The Appropriations Committee concluded that my legislation does not present any significant state cost to taxpayers and I’m happy with that determination,” said Senator Huff. “This product must not be allowed to reach store shelves. It presents an array of potential health problems as it can be snorted, added to energy drinks, added to fruit and slipped to unknowing recipients, or even added to beverages already containing alcohol in an attempt to create a dangerously potent concoction,” said Senator Huff.

According to a national advocacy group Alcohol Justice, California is the largest alcohol market in the U.S. and suffers the most alcohol-related harm. A 2013 study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that the societal costs for binge drinking are higher in California than in any other state: $32 billion for one year of excessive alcoholic consumption. Problems caused by binge drinking include lost work productivity, poor health, crime, automobile accidents, property damage and death.

SB 819 has earned the support of numerous organizations, including Alcohol Justice, California Alcohol Policy Alliance, California Council on Alcohol Problems, California District Attorneys Association, California Friday Night Live Partnership, California State Sheriffs’ Association, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Drug and Alcohol Policy Alliance.

The California College and University Police Chiefs Association (CCUPCA), which deals with many alcohol related problems on college campuses, recently weighed in with the following warning:

“Our organization is responsible for the protection of over three million students and employees at the campuses those students attend,” the CCUPCA stated in a letter to Huff’s office. “We are already on the front lines of criminal behavior rooted in overconsumption of alcohol and the injection of so-called Palcohol into the campus equation will only exacerbate existing problems.”

“I’m personally pleased that this issue has achieved such widespread bipartisan support, including the co-authorship of Senate President pro-Tem Kevin de León,” said Senator Huff. “I continue to work closely with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) on a companion measure that has been introduced in the Assembly, AB 1554. Assemblymember Irwin is also a principal coauthor of my bill,” added Huff.

Huff Introduces Legislation to Ban Powdered Alcohol in CA

Photo Courtesy: Twitter

Photo Courtesy: Twitter
Senator Bob Huff

By Bill Burd

SACRAMENTO: Senate Minority Leader Emeritus Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) started the first week of the 2016 legislative session by introducing a new bill, SB 819, which will place a ban on the sale of powdered alcohol in California. The product, also known as Palcohol, is a freeze- dried version of alcohol which comes in a small pouch and is the equivalent to a shot of alcohol. The crystallized formula becomes a cocktail once mixed with water. The product has already been banned in 27 other states.

“This substance is yet another drug that we should be concerned about and for good reason,” said Senator Huff. “Some are predicting Palcohol will become the ‘Kool-Aid of teenage binge drinking,’ and this is a concern I agree with.”

The ease of using this substance presents an array of potential health problems in California as it can be snorted, added to energy drinks, slipped to unaware recipients, or even added to beverages already containing alcohol in an attempt to create a dangerously potent concoction.

“Powdered alcohol is the most insidious, youth-attractive alcohol product to come along since alcohol energy drinks,” stated Richard Zaldivar, a spokesperson for California Alcohol Policy Alliance and Alcohol Justice. “The misuse danger, especially to young people, cannot be overstated.”

“Powdered alcohol is a product that is ripe for abuse, and can easily be marketed to children,” said Kat DeBurgh, MPH, Executive Director of the Health Officers Association of California. “From a public health point of view, powdered alcohol is unsafe for California’s communities. The time to act is now.”

Because this new drug can be easily sold and transferred, this is a prime product for abuse by children and teenagers. Alcohol-related harm to California youth can present itself in several ways including death, injuries, assaults, sexual violence, unsafe sex, suicide attempts, and academic problems.

“Alcohol is already abused by underage kids and drinking responsibly is a challenge for many adults,” said Senator Huff. “Adding powdered alcohol to this potent mix is akin to squirting gasoline on a wildfire. This is a problem that California does not need.”

SB 819 will now wait for its first policy hearing in coming months. Senator Huff is pleased the issue has achieved bipartisan support and is working closely with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) on a companion measure that has been introduced in the Assembly, AB 1554.

Senator Huff is the Senate Minority Leader Emeritus and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter at @bobhuff99.

Huff Introduces Legislation to Ban Powdered Alcohol in CA

Product Sends Wrong Message to Youth About Responsible Drinking

News Release

SACRAMENTO: Senate Minority Leader Emeritus Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) started the first week of the 2016 legislative session by introducing a new bill, SB 819, which will place a ban on the sale of powdered alcohol in California. The product, also known as Palcohol, is a freeze dried version of alcohol which comes in a small pouch and is the equivalent to a shot of alcohol. The crystallized formula becomes a cocktail once mixed with water. The product has already been banned in 27 other states.

“This substance is yet another drug that we should be concerned about and for good reason,” said Senator Huff. “Some are predicting Palcohol will become the ‘Kool-Aid of teenage binge drinking,’ and this is a concern I agree with.”

The ease of this substance presents an array of potential health problems in California as it can be snorted, added to energy drinks, slipped to unknowing recipients, or even added to beverages already containing alcohol in an attempt to create a dangerously potent concoction.

“Powdered alcohol is the most insidious, youth-attractive alcohol product to come along since alcohol energy drinks,” stated Richard Zaldivar, a spokesperson for California Alcohol Policy Alliance and Alcohol Justice. “The misuse danger, especially to young people, cannot be overstated.”

“Powdered alcohol is a product that is ripe for abuse, and can easily be marketed to children,” said Kat DeBurgh, MPH, Executive Director of the Health Officers Association of California. “From a public health point of view, powdered alcohol is unsafe for California’s communities. The time to act is now.”

Because this new drug can be easily sold and transferred, this is a prime product for abuse by children and teenagers. Alcohol-related harm to California youth can present itself in several ways including death, injuries, assaults, sexual violence, unsafe sex, suicide attempts, and academic problems.

“Alcohol is already abused by underage kids and drinking responsibly is a challenge for many adults,” said Senator Huff. “Adding powdered alcohol to this potent mix is akin to squirting gasoline on a wildfire. This is a problem that California does not need.”

SB 819 will now wait for its first policy hearing in coming months. Senator Huff is pleased the issue has achieved bipartisan support and is working closely with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) on a companion measure that has been introduced in the Assembly, AB 1554.

Senator Huff is the Senate Minority Leader Emeritus and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter at @bobhuff99.

Huff Supports National Bullying Prevention Month

Senator Alarmed by Reports That Many Students Face Daily Harassment, Especially Those with Life Threatening Food Allergies

 

Photo Courtesy: Twitter

Photo Courtesy: Twitter
Senator Bob Huff

Courtesy of Senator Bob Huff

San Dimas: Senator Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) announced his support earlier this month for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, aimed at reducing or even preventing bullying on school campuses, playgrounds and elsewhere. The effort, created by the organization STOMP Out Bullying, observes October as a time to raise awareness and education.

“I am greatly concerned by statistics that show one out of every four students in America deal with the threat of bullying every single day of their lives,” said Senator Huff. “Being the target of a bully is a scary fact of life for far too many children and teenagers. The good news is we can take action to prevent harm done to our children. One of those steps is to raise awareness to the issue and then confront it.”

According to statistics:

  • 1 out of 4 kids are bullied
  • 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school
  • Depending on their ages, up to 43% of kids and teens report being cyberbullied
  • 8% of kids stay home from school each day due to the fear of being bullied
  • 1/3 of children with life threatening food allergies are bullied

One particular form of bullying concerning Huff is that which is aimed at children who suffer from life threatening food allergies. A recent study from the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics discovered the following: “31.5 percent of the children and 24.7 percent of the parents reported bullying specifically due to food allergies, including threats with foods, primarily by classmates.”

“Children who suffer from food allergies face serious consequences, which could include grave outcomes, if they are bullied with the very food that can kill them,” said Senator Huff. “This is a serious threat that has recently come to my attention through my previous legislative work on this issue.  School should be safe for all students and hearing stories from children who have been spit at in an attempt to get them sick is heartbreaking.  I am looking at possible legislation to address this particular form of bullying before it gets worse.”

Senator Huff represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties.

University of California Is For Bears, Bruins And Banana Slugs, Not Cash Cows

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia
California’s 29th District Senate Republican Leader, Bob Huff

By Senator Bob Huff (R-San Dimas)
The University of California should be a beacon of opportunity for California students; but in recent years, there’s been a clear trend at UC campuses to turn away too many of our own California students in favor of higher paying, out-of-state students and foreign elites. This crowding out of our own high school graduates from UC schools is a trend that can’t be allowed to continue.

The numbers tell the story: UC officials claim state budget cuts have forced them to admit more and more out-of-state students. This makes some fiscal sense, because those out-of-state students pay nearly triple the tuition charged to California residents.  But this year, fully one out of three freshman students admitted to UC campuses are from out-of-state.  And, despite past assurances I’ve gotten from UC officials, some of those out-of-state students are receiving financial aid that’s been paid for with California taxpayer dollars. Not only is that not fair to California families, if this trend continues we could soon see the day when the majority of students entering the University of California aren’t from California.

And while UC officials claim that state budget cuts are forcing them to turn more and more to out-of-state students and the dollars they bring, that’s not the whole story.  After all, there’s more to fiscal management than simply grabbing more dollars. There’s also controlling costs, and that’s where UC officials don’t have a very good story to tell. In the past 20 years, UC has tripled its hiring of non-faculty administrators.  That’s a big increase in spending for some very expensive bean counters and pencil pushers.  And it’s a tough increase to justify.  For comparison’s sake, over the same period UC was busy tripling its administrative staff, the California State University actually cut its administrative staff by a third.
We can do better. Our students deserve better. That’s why I signed on this year as co-author of SCA 4, a proposed Senate Constitutional Amendment which places a ten percent cap on UC out-of-state admissions.   SCA 4 also freezes UC tuition for the next five years, and bars out-of-state students from receiving financial assistance from California families.  SCA 4 protects our students while imposing a little fiscal discipline on UC’s educational bureaucracy.

SCA 4 likely won’t make it through the Legislature this year, and that’s a shame, because now the people will be denied a chance to vote for its important student protections.
Education is the great equalizer, because education is what turns opportunity into real world success. If we truly want to battle income inequality and increase opportunity for Californians, it’s time to protect UC’s educational opportunities for California students.

Senator Bob Huff serves as the Senate Minority Leader and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter @bobhuff99.

Huff’s Attempts To Veto Bill In Vain

Senator calls Mandatory Vaccination SB 277 an “Unwarranted Insertion of Government” – Brown makes it a law

 

Staff Reports

Sacramento – Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) called on Governor Jerry Brown to veto mandatory childhood vaccination legislation headed for the Governor’s desk after passing off the Senate Floor on Mon., June 29.  In a veto request letter sent to the Governor, Senator Huff called SB 277 an “unwarranted insertion of government into an area that has rightly been the domain of parents.”

“The sweeping nature of SB 277 is all the more problematic when one considers the actual magnitude of the recent measles outbreak that spawned the bill,” wrote Senator Huff in his veto request to the Governor. “In a state of nearly 39 million people, only 131 measles cases are likely linked to this outbreak. This can hardly be considered a breakdown of ‘herd immunity.’”

Senator Huff also argued that the need for SB 277 was premature; noting that previous legislation introduced by the author (AB 2109 in 2012) actually led to a decrease to the use of personal belief exemption (PBE) requests. The prudent course, Senator Huff stated, is to monitor the effectiveness of AB 2109 over several years to see if PBE usage continues to decline.

“If this downward trend does not continue, then and only then, should an extreme measure like SB 277 be considered,” Senator Huff wrote in his veto request letter to the Governor. “A strong case can be made that our current policy works. Now is not the time for this measure (SB 277).”

Despite the efforts of Senator Huff and others, Gov. Brown signed this legislation into law on Tues., June 30. This bill eliminates vaccination exemptions based on religious or personal beliefs and will require all children entering kindergarten to be vaccinated unless a doctor certifies that a child has a medical condition preventing it.  The legislation is reportedly prompted (in part) by an outbreak of measles traced to the Disneyland Resort late last year, and ultimately spread to more than 130 people in California, as well as other states.