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SB-893 California Children and Families Program: funding.(2007-2008)

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2007–2008 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 893

Introduced  by  Senator Cox

February 23, 2007

An act to amend Section 130105 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to child development.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 893, as introduced, Cox. California Children and Families Program: funding.
(1) The California Children and Families Act of 1998, an initiative measure, requires that the California Children and Families Program, established by the act, be funded by certain taxes imposed on the sale and distribution of cigarettes and tobacco products and deposited into the California Children and Families Trust Fund, and that the fund be used for the implementation of comprehensive early childhood development and smoking prevention programs. Existing law specifies that specified percentages of moneys allocated and appropriated from the trust shall be deposited in various accounts for expenditures by the California Children and Families Commission, also known as First 5 California, for various subjects relating to, and furthering the goals and purposes of, the act.
This bill would eliminate those percentages for allocations to various accounts and would instead provide that those funds be allocated and appropriated to the commission to provide health care services to children consistent with the purposes of the act.
(2) The California Constitution provides that the Legislature may amend an initiative statute by another statute that becomes effective only when approved by the voters unless the initiative statute permits amendment without voter approval. The act provides that it may be amended only by a vote of 2/3 of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and that all amendments to the act shall be to further the act and must be consistent with its purposes.
This bill, in conformance with those requirements, would declare that its provisions further the act and are consistent with its purposes.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 130105 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

130105.
 The California Children and Families Trust Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.
(a) The California Children and Families Trust Fund shall consist of moneys collected pursuant to the taxes imposed by Section 30131.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(b) All costs to implement this act shall be paid from moneys deposited in the California Children and Families Trust Fund.
(c) The State Board of Equalization shall determine within one year of the passage of this act the effect that additional taxes imposed on cigarettes and tobacco products by this act has on the consumption of cigarettes and tobacco products in this state. To the extent that a decrease in consumption is determined by the State Board of Equalization to be the direct result of additional taxes imposed by this act, the State Board of Equalization shall determine the fiscal effect the decrease in consumption has on the funding of any Proposition 99 (the Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act of 1988) state health-related education or research programs in effect as of November 1, 1998, and the Breast Cancer Fund programs that are funded by excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products. Funds shall be transferred from the California Children and Families Trust Fund to those affected programs as necessary to offset the revenue decrease directly resulting from the imposition of additional taxes by this act. These reimbursements shall occur, and at any times, as determined necessary to further the intent of this subdivision.
(d) Moneys shall be allocated and appropriated from the California Children and Families Trust Fund as follows: to the California Families and Children’s Commission to provide health care services to children consistent with the requirements of this division.

(1) Twenty percent shall be allocated and appropriated to separate accounts of the state commission for expenditure according to the following formula:

(A) Six percent shall be deposited in a Mass Media Communications Account for expenditures for communications to the general public utilizing television, radio, newspapers, and other mass media on subjects relating to and furthering the goals and purposes of this act, including, but not limited to, methods of nurturing and parenting that encourage proper childhood development, the informed selection of child care, information regarding health and social services, the prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use by pregnant women, the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke on early childhood development, and to ensure that children are ready to enter school.

(B) Five percent shall be deposited in an Education Account for expenditures to ensure that children are ready to enter school and for programs relating to education, including, but not limited to, the development of educational materials, professional and parental education and training, and technical support for county commissions in the areas described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 130125.

(C) Three percent shall be deposited in a Child Care Account for expenditures to ensure that children are ready to enter school and for programs relating to child care, including, but not limited to, the education and training of child care providers, the development of educational materials and guidelines for child care workers, and other areas described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 130125.

(D) Three percent shall be deposited in a Research and Development Account for expenditures to ensure that children are ready to enter school and for the research and development of best practices and standards for all programs and services relating to early childhood development established pursuant to this act, and for the assessment and quality evaluation of those programs and services.

(E) One percent shall be deposited in an Administration Account for expenditures for the administrative functions of the state commission. Any funds not needed for the administrative functions of the state commission may be transferred to the Unallocated Account described in subparagraph (F), upon approval by the state commission.

(F) Two percent shall be deposited in an Unallocated Account for expenditure by the state commission for any of the purposes of this act described in Section 130100 provided that none of these moneys shall be expended for the administrative functions of the state commission.

(G) In the event that, for whatever reason, the expenditure of any moneys allocated and appropriated for the purposes specified in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, is enjoined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, then those moneys shall be available for expenditure by the state commission for mass media communication emphasizing the need to eliminate smoking and other tobacco use by pregnant women, the need to eliminate smoking and other tobacco use by persons under 18 years of age, and the need to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

(H) Any moneys allocated and appropriated to any of the accounts described in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, that are not encumbered or expended within any applicable period prescribed by law shall (together with the accrued interest on the amount) revert to and remain in the same account for the next fiscal period.

(2) Eighty percent shall be allocated and appropriated to county commissions in accordance with Section 130140.

(A) The moneys allocated and appropriated to county commissions shall be deposited in each local Children and Families Trust Fund administered by each county commission, and shall be expended only for the purposes authorized by this act and in accordance with the county strategic plan approved by each county commission.

(B) Any moneys allocated and appropriated to any of the county commissions that are not encumbered or expended within any applicable period prescribed by law shall (together with the accrued interest on the amount) revert to and remain in the same local Children and Families Trust Fund for the next fiscal period under the same conditions as set forth in subparagraph (A).

(e) All grants, gifts, or bequests of money made to or for the benefit of the state commission from public or private sources to be used for early childhood development programs shall be deposited in the California Children and Families Trust Fund and expended for the specific purpose for which the grant, gift, or bequest was made. The amount of any such grant, gift, or bequest shall not be considered in computing the amount allocated and appropriated to the state commission pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).
(f) All grants, gifts, or bequests of money made to or for the benefit of any county commission from public or private sources to be used for early childhood development programs shall be deposited in the local Children and Families Trust Fund and expended for the specific purpose for which the grant, gift, or bequest was made. The amount of any such grant, gift, or bequest shall not be considered in computing the amount allocated and appropriated to the county commissions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).

SEC. 2.

 The Legislature finds and declares that this act furthers the California Children and Families Act of 1998, enacted by Proposition 10 at the November 3, 1998, statewide general election, and is consistent with its purposes.