Budget Conference Committee

This week, the joint Budget Conference Committee closed out all remaining open items. For details regarding the Conference Committee’s actions, please refer to the June 10 edition of the CSAC Budget Action Bulletin.

Earned Income Tax Credit

The CSAC Health and Human Services (HHS) Policy Committee conducted a vote and unanimously approved a motion support the Governor’s proposal for a new Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as outlined in the 2015-16 May Revision. The request to support the Governor’s EITC originated from the CSAC Poverty Working Group. The CSAC Officers approved an expedited position process by allowing the HHS Policy Committee vote to serve as CSAC’s position on the EITC. The CSAC Women’s Leadership Forum had also recommended a Support position.

The Governor proposed in his May Revision Budget to implement a new $380 million state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to assist working Californians at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. The Governor estimates that this new tax credit will assist 2 million residents or 825,000 families and slide up or down based on the number of dependents in a household. Those with less than $6,580 in income with no dependents and up to $13,870 with three or more dependents will qualify and may receive a tax credit of between $460 to $2,653 annually.

The joint Budget Conference Committee approved the inclusion of the $380 million EITC in the state budget, and added language to indicate that it is the Legislature’s intent to increase the allocation amount in the future.

CSAC sent letters of SUPPORT to both the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee.

Tobacco Legislation

The HHS Policy Committee also conducted a vote and unanimously approved a motion to support SB 151 by Senator Ed Hernandez, which would raise the minimum age for access to tobacco products from age 18 to 21. CSAC will also support SB 140, by Senator Leno, which would add electronic cigarettes to the definition of the STAKE Act. Both SB 151 and SB 140 were passed by the Senate and are awaiting assignment in the Assembly.

Delivery System Reform Incentive Program

The California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and the Safety Net Institute recently released a publication on the Delivery System Reform Incentive Program (DSRIP). This report takes a statewide look at how DSRIP transformations have affected care in public health care systems throughout the program. Click here to see the full report.

Bills

SB 277 (Pan) – SUPPORT
As Amended on May 7, 2015

This week, SB 277 was heard by the Assembly Health Committee. SB 277 would eliminate the personal belief exemption for existing required immunizations in order to attend private (K-12) schools and daycare facilities.

During the hearing, there was robust discussion as members noted SB 277 would only be heard by Assembly Health before proceeding to the floor if passed. On the Senate side, SB 277 was triple-referred to the Health, Judicial and Education Committees.

The Assembly Health Committee passed SB 277 with 12 ‘Aye’ votes and 6 ‘No’ votes. Assembly Member Autumn Burke – who has a child with a delayed schedule for immunizations – abstained.

AB 879 (Burke) – SUPPORT
As Amended April 21, 2015

AB 879, by Assembly Member Autumn Burke – daughter of former Los Angeles County Supervisor, Assembly Member and U.S. Congresswoman, Yvonne Burke – is headed to the Senate Floor. This measure would allow county welfare agencies and courts to provide notice by e-mail to parties in dependency cases at the parties consent.

Co-authored by Los Angeles County and the County Welfare Directors Association of California, AB 879 was unanimously passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to the co-sponsors, CSAC, the Urban Counties Caucus, and the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors are all in SUPPO