Inventory of the Nicole Parra Papers
Processed by Rick Westberry
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2016
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the Nicole Parra Papers
Collection number: LP485
California State Archives
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Rick Westberry
- Date Completed:
- July 2016
- Encoded by:
- Veronica Lara
© 2016 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Nicole Parra Papers
Dates: 1998-2008
Collection number: LP485
Creator:
Nicole Parra, California Legislator
Collection Size:
7.75 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: Nicole Parra, a Democrat, served as a State Assembly Member from 2003 to 2008. The Nicole Parra papers consist of eleven record
series: Assembly Bill Files, 2003-2008, Subject Files, 2001-2008, Hearing Files, 2005-2007, Correspondence, 2003-2008, Weekly
Reports, 2006-2008, Resolutions, 2004-2006, Press Files, 2002-2006, Transportation Committee Working Papers, 2003-2004, Office
Administrative Files, 2005-2007, Photographs, 2001-2006, and Artifacts.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Administrative Information
Access
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Nicole Parra papers, LP485:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of
State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
California State Archives acquired the Nicole Parra papers, in a series of five transfers, beginning in 2007 (Accession Numbers:
2007-080, 2008-072, 2008-143, 2009-031, and 2016-128).
Biography
Nicole Parra, a Democrat, served as a State Assembly Member from 2003 to 2008. She represented the 30th District, which included
the cities of Alpaugh, Bakersfield, Coalinga, Corcoran, Delano, Hanford, Kingsburg, Lemoore, Shafter, and Wasco within Fresno,
Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Parra was born on February 3rd, 1970, in Bakersfield, California. She attended University of California, Berkeley and received
a bachelor's degree in economics in 1992. She then attended Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C.
and received her J.D. in 1998.
Prior to her service in the Assembly, Parra worked as a legislative assistant for Congressman Cal Dooley, and later became
his district director from 1998 until her run for a seat in the State Assembly in 2002.
Nicole Parra was elected to the State Assembly in 2002. She served until reaching her term limit in 2008. During her time
in the State Assembly she focused on stimulating the Central Valley’s agricultural economy. In 2009, Parra accepted an appointment
from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as Director of the Governor's Regional Development Initiatives under the Business, Transportation
and Housing Agency; she resigned from the appointment later that year. Since leaving the State Assembly, she has taught political
science at California State University, Bakersfield and served as Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Global Regenesis,
an environmentally conscience community development corporation.
Chronology
| 1970 |
Born in Bakersfield |
| 2002 |
Elected to California State Assembly |
| 2003 |
Began term in the State Assembly representing the 30th District |
| 2003-2004 |
Chair of Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs |
| 2003-2004 |
Chair of Select Committee on Megan’s Law and Sex Offender Registration |
| 2003-2004 |
Chair of Select Committee on National Defense, Technology, and Jobs |
| 2005-2006 |
Chair of Select Committee on Water, Infrastructure, and the Economy |
| 2005-2006 |
Chair of Joint Legislative Audit Committee |
| 2007-2008 |
Chair of Standing Committee on Agriculture |
| 2007-2008 |
Chair of Moderate Democratic Caucus |
| 2008 |
Ended service in the State Assembly |
Scope and Content
The Nicole Parra papers consist of eleven record series: Assembly Bill Files, 2003-2008, Subject Files, 2001-2008, Hearing
Files, 2005-2007, Correspondence, 2003-2008, Weekly Reports, 2006-2008, Resolutions, 2004-2006, Press Files, 2002-2006, Transportation
Committee Working Papers, 2003-2004, Office Administrative Files, 2005-2007, Photographs, 2001-2006, and Artifacts. The records
document her legislative activity during her term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by
Parra include a wide array of subjects, with a focus on agriculture, economic development, health care, national defense,
public safety, and veterans' affairs. Parra was particularly concerned with Megan’s Law, authoring multiple bills that expanded
the parameters of Megan’s Law to make information on sex offenders more accessible. Parra was also active in authoring bills
to support veterans and family members of veterans.
Two accessions included the working files of Nicole Parra’s office administration. Parra’s legislative director Tom Higgins’
papers have been interfiled into Parra’s bill files and hearing files; his correspondence have been filed under the Office
Administrative Files series. Her legislative aide John Vigna’s papers have also been interfiled into Parra’s bill files and
hearing files.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material at the California State Archives
Assembly Agriculture Committee records
Assembly Transportation records
Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee records
Dean Florez papers
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Parra, Nicole
Agriculture - California
Economic development
Public safety
Veterans - California
LP485:1-60
Series 1
Bill Files
2003-2008
Physical Description: 60 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Scope and Content Note
Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Bill files created by Nicole Parra may include bill analyses, amendments, resolutions, author statements, testimonies, press
releases, editorials and newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Of particular interest
are those bills relating to Megan’s Law (AB488 and AB1313, 2003-2004; AB4371, AB438, and AB439, 2005-2006; and AB148, 2007-2008),
home-to-school transportation (AB775 and AB2465, 2003-2004; AB1110, 2005-2006; AB699, 2007-2008), veterans (AB323, AB1179,
AB1736, AB2266, AB2739, and AJR5, 2003-2004; AB460, AB2085, AB2586, and ACR37, 2005-2006).
2003-2004: AB190-AB2739, ACR37, AJR5-AJR10 (13ff) LP485:1-13
2005-2006: AB31-AB2803, ACR37-ACR88 (32ff) LP485:14-45
2007-2008: AB8-AB2342, ACR129 (15ff) LP485:46-60
LP485:61-141
Series 2
Subject Files
2001-2008
Physical Description: 81 file folders, 24 videocassettes (VHS), 2 videocassettes (Betamax), 7 videodiscs (DVD), 9 compact discs (CD-R).
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Access Information
Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.
Scope and Content Note
The subject files created by Nicole Parra reflect various projects, interests, and appearances by Parra during her tenure
in the State Assembly. Subject files may contain reports, newspaper articles, program proposals, meeting notes, news stories,
advertisements, and video recordings of various programs and information. Parra’s subject files focus on various topics and
issues considered by the Assembly Committees she chaired, or of which she was a member. The subject files also reflect Parra’s
special interests such as agriculture, economic development, education, health, public safety, and veterans.
See Appendix A for a complete listing of folder titles.
Additional Series Information
LP485:142-150
Series 3
Hearing Files
2005-2007
Physical Description: 9 file folders, 3 videodiscs (DVD).
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date of hearing.
Access Information
Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.
Scope and Content Note
The hearing files contain eight file folders which contain recording logs and/or agendas. Hearing files also contain video
recordings of regular session hearings and floor sessions of the Assembly. The hearing files relate to Parra’s interest in
the Central Valley and environmental issues.
See Appendix B for a complete listing of hearing files.
Additional Series Information
LP485:151-159
Series 4
Correspondence
2003-2008
Physical Description: 9 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Content Note
The correspondence files include selected letters to and from Assembly Member Parra regarding a variety of her legislative
focuses, which include letters of support and opposition, requests for support, and general correspondence with assembly members
and constituents. The series has one file of “thank you” letters to Nicole Parra (LP485:151).
LP485:160-178
Series 5
Weekly Reports
2006-2008
Physical Description: 19 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by month.
Scope and Content Note
The weekly report files include detailed records of Parra’s office, which also contain hand written notes. These weekly reports
contain scheduling, meetings, events, projects, constituent casework, and other various activities of Assembly Member Parra.
LP485:179-187
Series 6
Resolutions
2004-2006
Physical Description: 9 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
The resolution files include member resolutions supported by Parra to recognize her constituents. These files contain resolution
request forms, background on reason for the resolutions, Parra’s responses to resolutions requests, official wording of the
resolutions, and copies of the final resolutions.
LP485:188-197
Series 7
Press Files
2002-2006
Physical Description: 10 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Content Note
The press files include news coverage relating to Parra’s 2002 State Assembly campaign (LP485:188), press kits, which have
background for members of the press (LP485:189), news releases for 2003 (LP485:190-191), 2004 (LP485:192-193), 2005 (LP485:194),
and 2006 (LP485:197). News releases also contain hand written notes. The press files also include “Parra notes” (LP485:195),
which are Parra’s personal news updates on her activities during the legislative session. The series also contains Parra’s
2005 summer press tour file (LP485:196), which include Parra’s talking points from interviews with the press and fact sheets
for bills.
LP485:198-202
Series 8
Transportation Committee Working Papers
2003-2004
Physical Description: 5 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Content Note
This series relates to Parra’s service on the Assembly Transportation Committee during the 2003-2004 legislative session.
The Transportation Committee working papers include hearing files containing agendas, memoranda with voting recommendations,
and the committee votes. The files also include information on bills being heard, and support and opposition letters. The
series also contains hand written notes throughout.
LP485:203-205
Series 9
Office Administrative Files
2005-2007
Physical Description: 3 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Content Note
The office administrative files include office correspondence and memoranda.
LP485:206-220
Series 10
Photographs
1998-2006
Physical Description: 13 file folders (97 color photographs), computer discs (CD-R)
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
The photographs document Parra’s campaign for the State Assembly in 2002 and her subsequent activities as an Assembly Member.
The photographs include Nicole Parra at various events.
See Appendix C for a complete listing of photographs files.
Additional Series Information
LP485:221-225
Series 11
Artifacts
Undated
Physical Description: 5 items
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
Firearm safety lock from Chicano Correctional Workers Association LP485:221
"I Love Kingsburg" button (LP485:222)
"Megan's Law" poster for AB488 (LP485:223)
"Megan's Law" sticker for AB488 (LP485:224)
Nicole Parra for Assembly sticker (LP485:225)
