FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 14, 2014CONTACT: Melissa Uribe(310) 316-2164School Districts and Thousands of Californians Join Assemblymember Muratsuchiin Urging the Governor to Save SoCal ROC(Sacramento, CA) – A letter and a petition signed by thousands of Californians urging the Governor to savethe Southern California Regional Occupational Center, also known as SoCal ROC, was delivered to GovernorBrown today by Assemblymember Muratsuchi (D-Torrance). In the letter, which was undersigned byrepresentatives of SoCal ROC and participating school districts, Muratsuchi also requests that the Governorvisit SoCal ROC, an institution regarded as the crown jewel of the South Bay that is at risk of shutting downnext year.Last year, under Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget, programs like SoCal ROC were at risk of losingtheir funding and having to shut down. In response, Muratsuchi and other legislators were able to craft atemporary budget fix that kept the programs open for at least two more years. However, with dedicated fundingfor high school regional occupation centers and programs (ROCP) set to expire by July 2015, career technicaleducation (CTE) programs like SoCal ROC are at risk of closing down indefinitely.“SoCal ROC has served as a model and leader in CTE in our state and as a former SoCal ROC board member, Iknow firsthand how important this institution has been for thousands of students every year,” saidAssemblymember Muratsuchi, Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. “Thisprogram serves over 9,000 students annually and has prepared young adults over the years for careers inCalifornia’s ever-changing economy. Losing programs like these will affect students and businesses statewideso I am doing everything I can to ensure they stay open for many more years.”Earlier this month, Muratsuchi asked Californians to sign onto a petition urging the Governor to protect CTEfunding and save SoCal ROC. To date, approximately 2,000 people signed the petition that was delivered to theGovernor today. He also led an effort to protect CTE in an Assembly Budget Subcommittee on EducationFinance public hearing. The subcommittee unanimously voted to 1) establish CTE as a state priority in highschools and 2) to ensure that local education agencies continue to provide regionally coordinated CTE throughROCP beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year.According to an EdSource article, H.D. Palmer, Department of Finance Deputy Director for External Affairs,said if school districts believe CTE is an important program, nothing would stop them from funding theprogram themselves. Therefore, in the event that Governor Brown decides school districts are responsible forfunding ROCP and does not set aside dedicated funding for CTE programs, Muratsuchi has also introducedAssembly Bill (AB) 2216. This bill would provide annual appropriations from the General Fund for ROCP toprovide high-quality CTE services.For now, Muratsuchi urges the public to sign onto the petition before the Governor enacts the final budget thisyear. To sign onto the petition, please visit the Assemblymember’s website.###Assemblymember Muratsuchi represents the 66th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, the Los Angeles communities of Harbor City and Harbor Gateway, Manhattan Beach,Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance and the unincorporated communities of El Camino Village and West Carson.Please visit the Assemblymember’s website, http://asmdc.org/members/a66/ for more information.