previously reported, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) introduced Assembly Bill 2218 in February at the urging of the TransLatin@ Coalition.Santiago told the B.A.R.
at that time that AB 2218 would establish the fund and appropriate to it $15 million of a $100 million allocation that activists were seeking.But then the novel coronavirus pandemic strained the state's budget, which is projected to run a $54.3 billion deficit.The bill passed the Assembly 59-13 on June 10, with the $15 million stripped from it, and was referred to the state Senate, where it was sent to the health committee.The office of state Senator Dr.