Legislature Heads for Recess: Advocates Get to Work!

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Legislature Heads for Recess: Advocates Get to Work!
07/14/2011

Legislature leaves on Summer Recess today. This break offers us all an opportunity to (no, not rest) get ready for the last leg in winning long-standing legislative goals. Western Center offers an update of Human Services Legislation and ideas for advocacy during the break.

Today, the Legislature leaves on Summer Recess (for the first time in several years). This break offers us all an opportunity to (no, not rest) get ready for the last leg in winning long-standing legislative goals. I’ve attached an updated Human Services Legislative Report to help you see where things stand. Below are a list of small steps to big changes you can make over the recess:

SB 43 (Liu) Help Unemployed Keep CalFresh Benefits and Increase Employability: This bill brings more uniformity to the minimum work requirements for participation in the CalFresh program and offers additional ways to meet those work requirements. SB 43 will help unemployed Californians get the food assistance they need during economic crisis and help them meet the work requirements of CalFresh, all at no cost to the state. Write a letter of support for this bill to be passed by Assembly Appropriations Committee (sample attached below).

AB 6 (Fuentes) The CalFresh Act of 2011: This bill will reduce barriers to access to the CalWORKs and CalFresh programs by eliminating the fingerprint imaging requirement and moving to semi-annual reporting for both programs and implementing a “Heat and Eat” initiative for the CalFresh Program. Write a letter of support for this bill to be passed by Senate Appropriations Committee (sample attached below).

AB 828 (Swanson) End the Lifetime Ban on CalFresh for Former Non-Violent Drug Offenders: A combination of social and legal barriers prevents many former non-violent drug offenders from successfully re-entering their communities. Additionally, these former offenders are prohibited from ever receiving CalFresh benefits, which are critical for a successful transition to self-sufficiency. Without benefits that provide access to basic food, nutrition, and a safety net for families, poverty and further crime are far more likely.

Write a letter of support for this bill to be moved off of Senate Appropriations Suspense File (sample attached).
Become an official “friend” to AB 828 on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-AB-828/227210493968835?sk=wall
Sign and circulate the e-petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/support-ab-828

AB 1182 (Hernández) Removal of the CalWORKs Auto Resource Rule: This bill will remove the CalWORKs auto-resource limit. . Write a letter of support for this bill to be passed by Assembly Appropriations Committee (sample attached below).

AB 1424 (Perea): This bill would allow the Franchise Tax Board to ensure individuals on the Franchise Tax Board’s Top 250 Debtors List and State Board of Equalization’s Top 500 Debtors List pay their fair share. Write a letter of support for this bill to be passed by Senate Appropriations Committee (sample attached below).

AB 1388 (Wieckowski) would prevent income from being garnished as a result of medical debt under certain circumstances. It was passed off the floor of the Assembly and the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now heading to the Senate Floor. Call your Senator today to support AB 1388. http://senate.ca.gov/senators

Human Services Legislatiive Update July 15,2011

SB 43 Sample Letter of Support

AB 6 Sample Letter of Support

AB 828 Sample Letter of Support

AB 1182 Sample Letter of Support

AB 1424 Sample Letter of Support