BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 737
Page 1
Date of Hearing: January 11, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cameron Smyth, Chair
AB 737 (Huber) - As Amended: January 4, 2012
SUBJECT : Model Cities program.
SUMMARY : Deletes obsolete code sections relating to the Model
Cities program.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Finds that it is the intent of the Legislature to implement
the federal Model Cities programs and block grant funding.
2)States that it is the policy of the state to cooperate with
and assist the Model Cities program in California, to
coordinate state services in Model Cities areas, and to use
the Model Cities program as an opportunity for developing
innovative programs, especially those programs which would
integrate or combine the specialized services of various
departments and agencies of state government.
3)Creates a Model Cities Coordinator to coordinate state agency
activities related to the Model Cities program and to serve as
the principal liaison officer between state government and
local communities for Model Cities programs.
4)States that the Model Cities program in California shall
continue until the federal Model Cities program expires or the
Governor declares that the program is no longer needed.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)In October 1965, President Johnson appointed a "Task Force on
Urban Problems," to find a solution to the issue of urban
violence and blight and a response to disillusionment with the
proliferation of bureaucracy associated with Great Society
programs. In December of the same year, the task force came
back with a report recommending that the government create a
five-year experimental program that would concentrate and
coordinate existing government activities on the most blighted
AB 737
Page 2
neighborhoods of urban areas. The Demonstration Cities and
Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 is largely based on
recommendations made in this report.
2)The Comprehensive City Demonstration Programs, authorized
under the provisions of Title I of Public Law 89-754 (42
U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and commonly known as the "Model Cities"
program, provided demonstration efforts in 150 cities
throughout the United States, 11 of which were in California.
The Model Cities program was a major federal effort to meet
the overall requirements for developing an urban
problem-solving capability. The purpose of this program was
to: a) provide flexible bloc grants to local governments and
waive restrictions
in existing categorical grant-in-aid programs to permit state
and local governments to respond to local conditions and
design creative and innovative programs; b) seek to develop in
local governments the skills, resources, and community support
needed for effective leadership in urban problem-solving
efforts; c) seek to coordinate and concentrate the resources
of all levels of government on locally defined urban problems;
and, d) provide opportunities for government to develop
programs which integrate the specialized services
of various professional agencies.
3)In 1974 the Model Cities program consolidated in to what is
now the Community Block Development Grant Program administered
by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
4)Due to the fact that this program is no longer in existence
the author would like to remove the section of the Health &
Safety Code related to Model Cities in order to ensure that
government is streamlined, efficient, and effective.
5)Support argument: Cleaning up unnecessary code sections
creates efficiencies in the code and helps eliminate possible
confusion regarding programs that are no longer in effect.
Opposition argument: None at this time.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 737
Page 3
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Katie Kolitsos / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958