BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 352
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          Date of Hearing:   May 8, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 352 (Hall) - As Amended:  April 23, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                             Governmental  
          Organization Vote:                            12 - 0 
                        Human Services                          5 - 2 

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

          SUMMARY  

          This bill prohibits smoking in all residential foster care  
          facilities, including garages and bathrooms, and in all motor  
          vehicles used to transport foster children. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Costs associated with this legislation should be minor and  
            absorbable within existing resources. 

          2)Any local government costs resulting from the mandate in this  
            measure would not be state-reimbursable because the mandate  
            only involves the definition of a crime or penalty for  
            conviction of a crime.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . The author argues that the state has a legal obligation  
          to protect the well-being of foster children.  This bill is  
          intended to ensure that foster children, already one of the most  
          vulnerable populations in our state, enjoy a safe and healthy  
          environment to live and thrive. The negative effects of  
          secondhand smoke have been well documented, children placed in  
          the state's care should not be forced to live in an environment  
          that damages their health. 

          This measure is consistent with similar requirements in eighteen  
          other states, and three California counties. According to the  
          author, none of these states or counties have reported problems  
          in recruitment or a reduction in the number of foster homes  








                                                                  AB 352
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          attributable to the smoke free policies in those states.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081