Candidate for
State Senator; District 8

Elected to the California State Assembly in November 2002, Leland Yee represents the 12th Assembly District, which includes San Francisco and San Mateo counties. In his first year in the Legislature, he was appointed to the Speaker's leadership team as the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. In 2004, Assemblymember Yee became the first Asian Pacific American to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore, the number two position in the California State Assembly. This same year, Speaker pro Tem Yee was also elected President of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.

During his tenure in the Assembly, Dr. Yee has fought for children, mental health services, working families, the environment, and civil rights. He has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the California School Nutrition Association, California Psychiatric Association, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, and Mental Health Directors Association. Most recently, he was name "Person of the Year" by GamePolitics.com, a leading video game news site.

In 2005, Speaker pro Tem Yee successfully passed 22 pieces of legislation, 12 of which were chaptered into law. Most notably, AB 1179 protects children from the harmful effects of ultra-violent video games. AB 451 returns millions of dollars to airport communities across the state. AB 637 allows properly trained foster parents to administer life-saving shots for their foster children. AB 800 guarantees a patient's spoken language is included in his/her medical records. AJR 14 officially declares California's opposition to any weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium.

In 2004, Yee successfully passed 19 pieces of legislation, 15 of which were chaptered into law. Most notably, AB 3042 helps protect children from being exploited through prostitution. AB 2412 helps part-time community college faculty to access earned unemployment benefits. AB 1793 gives parents a tool in choosing appropriate video games for their children by requiring retailers to post signs about the rating system. ACR 195 brings greater awareness of the need for literacy instruction for visually impaired students through the use of Braille. ACR 158 officially declares each January as Mental Wellness Month in California.

In 2003, Yee's first year in the Legislature, he successfully passed 11 bills, of which all 11 were signed into law. Most notably, AB 504 increased fines for littering in parks and open space districts. AB 938 offers incentives to mental health practitioners working in medically under-served communities. AB 1102 requires evaluation of current mental health sensitivity training for law enforcement officers. AB 1371 strengthens informed consent requirements for mentally ill patients involved in medical research.

Other notable legislation authored by Speaker pro Tem Yee includes: AB 443 and AB 444 to improve school nutritional standards; AB 452 to create a double fine zone on the ever-dangerous 19th Avenue in San Francisco; AB 1321 to protect patients from receiving unfair bills for medical services covered by their insurance; AB 866 to add sexual orientation to list of protects in the Code of Fair Political Practices; AB 1113 to help strengthen the profession of acupuncture by allowing diagnosis within an acupuncturist's scope of practice; AB 1263 to protect nail salon consumers from infections; AB 1818 to protect the health and safety of snowmobile consumers.

Prior to serving in the Assembly, Dr. Yee spent eight years on the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education where he fought to streamline bureaucracy, direct funds towards higher standards in core curriculum, update educational materials, reduce class sizes, and increase public access to school services.

In 1996, Dr. Yee was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. As Chair of the Finance Committee, he championed fiscal responsibility and accountability and established the largest "Rainy Day" budget reserve in San Francisco's history. Yee introduced and passed the General Obligation Bond Accountability Act and helped to pass the Sunshine Ordinance to allow the public real access to what goes on at City Hall. He also became the first Supervisor to hold budget hearings in San Francisco neighborhoods, making it easier for communities to participate in the local budget process.

Leland Yee emigrated at the age of three to San Francisco from China. He was educated in San Francisco's public schools, and received his bachelor's degree from University of California at Berkeley, and his master's degree from San Francisco State University. After earning his doctorate in Child Psychology at the University of Hawaii, Dr. Yee worked in various mental health and school settings.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT: http://www.lelandyee.com/about.html