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Child Welfare Legislation Up Date Wednesday, June 13, 2001
There has been no action, just working groups since last Thursday. They appear to be fighting over how much revenue they have and how much goes into a reserve. The Assembly's estimate of available money is higher; $12 million more for child welfare. The Governor's budget proposes $2 billion reserve; the Republicans want a $3 billion reserve. Looks like the Senate is proposing a $1.6 billion reserve. Not a lot of unity. The Speaker has been meeting with the Governor alone. They are already behind schedule and will probably not be able to meet the contitutional deadline. A lot of this will be a leadership call (Speaker and Pro Tem.) Pro Tem Burton fancies himself a populist. Calls into his office (Diane Cummins is his budget person) (916)445-1412 would be helpful. The message is support the Assembly version of the budget for child protective services. CPS is a public safety issue for the most vulnerable in our society; CPS stops abuse and works with families to prevent it. It is much more cost effective than the criminal justice system after the fact. The next target is the Governor. A letter is being drafted for submission to the Governor and the Department of Finance. Tomorrow we will ask the members of the Children's Round Table to sign on (130 organizations statewide). We will probably kick in a mailgram, e-mail, fax, phone campaign to the Governor shortly. Be ready. AB 364 passed the Assembly with a surprising strong margin. A veto proof 56 yes; 17 no. We got 7 Repbulicans on the bill which we had to have and we netrualized at least two more who abstained (Zettel). Now the bill has to pass out of Senate Health and Human Services by July 13th. No hearing date has been set. We will need to orchstrate testimony once it is set. The next Assembly Human Service Committee hearing on the social work shortage is July 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Capitol. Program and speakers are being developed. This is a solutions oriented hearing. An appointment with Senator Don Perata is scheduled for Friday the 15th. Keep up the lobby visits and send me the report forms. Now is the time. |
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