BILL ANALYSIS
SB 516
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 516 (DeSaulnier)
As Amended June 30, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-14
HUMAN SERVICES 4-2 REVENUE & TAXATION 7-1
(vote not relevant)
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|Ayes:|Beall, Hall, Portantino, | | |
| |Swanson | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Tom Berryhill, Logue | | |
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, | | |
| |Charles Calderon, Coto, | | |
| |Davis, De Leon, Gatto, | | |
| |Hall, Skinner, Solorio, | | |
| |Torlakson, Torrico | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, | | |
| |Nielsen, Norby | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes the California Youth Legislature (CYL),
composed of students, as specified, to provide model legislation
and advocate for the needs of youth. Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides that CYL would be funded by monies from the
California Youth Leadership Fund, if this bill and AB 2017
(Hall) of 2009-10 should become law.
2)Specifies the composition of the CYL, whose members are to be
ages 14 to 18, inclusive, and currently enrolled in school.
3)Provides that CYL members are to be appointed by the CYL
SB 516
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Advisory Committee, which shall take into consideration that
the CYL membership is to represent the racial, ethnic,
socioeconomic, cultural, physical, and educational diversity
of California.
4)Provides that the CYL shall do the following:
a) Examine and discuss policy and fiscal issues affecting
the interests, needs, and conditions of the youth of
California;
b) Formally advise and make recommendations to the
Legislature and the Governor on specific issues affecting
youth; and,
c) Consult with existing local level youth advisory
commissions and community-based, grassroots youth-led
organizations for input and potential solutions on issues
related to youth.
5)Requires the CYL to enter into an interagency agreement with
the Joint Committee on Rules (JCR) to carry out administrative
duties related to its program, which shall provide for
reimbursement to the JCR for its administrative costs from
funds available to the CYL.
6)Provides that the JCR shall determine when sufficient funds
are available to support the CYL, and if the JCR determines
that there are insufficient funds, the CYL's activities shall
cease.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, no direct cost or revenues to the state, as this bill
merely establishes the California Youth Legislature and
authorizes funding from voluntary contributions to the
California Youth Leadership Fund.
COMMENTS : This bill is modeled after the California Senior
Legislature. The purpose is to advise the Governor and the
Legislature on the key issues affecting; the interests, needs
and conditions of the youth in California. Some of the issues
affecting youth may include; education, employment, foster care,
poverty and substance abuse. It is a program to allow the youth
of California to prepare to meet the leadership and governmental
SB 516
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policy challenges of the future and to make recommendations to
the policy makers of today. The CYL is designed to provide
policy makers with direct feedback from young people on issues
affecting youth. Members of the CYL will not only be learning
about the legislative process, but will have an opportunity to
influence the legislative process and make sure the voices of
young people are heard.
This bill requires that the members of the CYL represent the
racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, physical, and
educational diversity of California and that there be a
particular emphasis placed on reaching out to at-risk or
disadvantaged youth to serve as members. The author notes that
their participation will provide keen insight to many of the
issues that youth face in their day-to-day lives and recognize
the significant number of California's youth who live
disadvantaged lives. The author further points out that youth
who are homeless, in the juvenile justice system, or in foster
care have limited opportunities to participate in the policies
process that ultimately impacts their well-being.
YMCA opposition removed : In a prior version of this bill, CYL
was to be funded by voluntary contributions from taxpayers via a
tax "check-off" box on state income tax returns. AB 2017 (Hall)
also contained the same funding mechanism for its California
YMCA Youth and Government Program. Although the two programs
are distinct, the potential confusion to taxpayers of having two
tax check-offs for what would appear on paper as similar
programs, the authors worked out a compromise. The compromise
is that the voluntary contributions will be shared, as
specified, between CYL and the California YMCA Youth and
Government Program resulting in the removal of the YMCA
opposition and its current support position of this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Frances Chacon / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
FN: 0005676