Sharon Quirk-Silva is an American politician and educator serving as a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 65th Assembly District, which includes portions of northern Orange County.
ACR 53 (Sober Graduation Month)- Encourages participation in alcohol and drug free graduation ceremonies.
AB 584 (College Aid)- Establishes Orange County’s Student Opportunity and Access Program to help more students access high quality educational opportunities.
AB 490 (College Access Tax Credit)- Extends tax credits that reduce the cost of receiving a higher education.
AB 584 (Student Opportunity and Access) – Increases the accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities for at risk students/areas in Orange County.
AD 136 (Varsity Blues Admissions Scandal)- Prohibits taxpayers found guilty in the recent college admissions scandal from benefiting by claiming a charitable or business tax deduction.
AB 1560 (California Competes Tax Credit Program Increase) – Increased tax credits available to the California businesses which create the most jobs and wages.
AB 674 (Microenterprises) – Helps microenterprises gain more access to government resources by providing training, technical assistance and microloans to small business owners.
AB 2687 (Small Business Disaster Preparedness) – Requires the Small Business Advocate better address the needs of California small business preparing for future disasters.
AB 1453 (The Orange County Veterans Cemetery Act) – Initiated the first step to establish a Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Orange County.
AB 2664 (Military Family Relief Fund) – Provides financial aid grants to members of the California National Guard who have been called to active duty.
AB 1733 (Homeless Fee Waiver Records) – Allows homeless individuals to get a free identification card so they can qualify for assistance program.
AB 363 (Veteran’s Designation) – Requires a veteran’s designation on California Driver’s licenses be provided free of cost to homeless vets.
AB 701 (Vehicle License Fee Adjustment Account) – Provided Orange County with $53 million to settle a long-term dispute with the state, preventing severe budget cuts including reductions for public safety programs.
AB 1459 (Murder of a Peace Officer) – Mandates that the murder of a peace officer shall be considered first degree murder.
AB 466 (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Funds) – Brought approximately $47 million in federal funds to Orange County for projects to shorten commute times, lower air pollution and improve our transportation system.
AB 2654 (Orange County Infrastructure Improvement) – Allows the Orange County and the Orange County Flood Control District to deliver projects on a faster and more cost-effective timeline.
AD 1045 (Drug Recalls) – Protects patients by requiring they be notified within 12 hours if compounded prescription drugs are recalled.
ACR 203 (Donate Life) – Encourages Californians to join the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry at the DMV.
AB 974 (Veteran’s Mental Health Care) – Requires better tracking of spending on mental health services for veterans
AB 143 (Shelter Crises) Expands emergency housing to include homeless shelters and permanent supportive housing.
AB 1733 (ID Accessability) Requires DMV to issue IDs to homeless free of charge.
AB 139 (Emergency and Transitional Housing Act)- Updates strategies to long-term permanent housing for state’s homeless population.
AB 448 (Orange County Housing Finance Trust)- Creates a fund to allow Orange County to combat homelessness.
AB 139 (Emergency and Transitional Housing Act): Updates California Housing element to implement targeted strategies to create long-term permanent housing for the state’s homeless population.
AB 2265 (Mental Health/Substance Abuse)- Allows for additional funding to be used to provide treatment to persons suffering from both mental health and substance use disorders.
AB 363 (Homeless Shelters)- Creates framework to conduct annual inspections of homeless shelters.
Sharon not only supports our public education system, she is a part of it, teaching elementary school for three decades. She knows a quality education is not a privilege. It is a right. That is why she supports specific, concrete steps to help all our students:
Anyone who lives in Orange County knows traffic congestion is more than an inconvenience. It is a disease that damages our entire community in many ways: from hurting our economy with lost time, to polluting our environment with cars left idling, to our pocketbooks with higher vehicle repair costs. In 2013 Sharon wrote AB 466 which brought nearly $50 million in federal funding to the Orange County Transportation Authority for projects that shorten commute times, lower air pollution and improve Orange County's transportation system. As an Assemblymember Sharon would be a leader in finding new and creative solutions to ensure California makes the permanent commitment to investing in our infrastructure and restoring our roads and highways to their former glory.
Our economy continues to improve, but we still have a long way to go. Sharon believes government needs to be an aid, not a burden, to our state's small businesses. That's why she authored Legislation which added $25 million in tax credits for the California businesses which create the most jobs. The Fullerton Chamber of Commerce called the bill a "JOB CREATOR." Sharon is strongly committed to defending Proposition 13, including fighting against so-called "split roll" taxes that hurt small businesses. "We commend Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva's leadership on these important business issues," said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council.
Sharon was proud to vote to put Proposition 1, the California Water Bond, on the ballot in 2014. In fact she joined Governor Jerry Brown at the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to promote the measure. Meanwhile her opponent not only opposed the bond, but also opposed $1.8 billion in additional funds to protect and expand local water supplies, conserve water and respond to emergency conditions despite being in one of the worst droughts in California history. Orange County deserves better.