P1 1WHEREAS, California enacted its first ever state Earned Income
2Tax Credit (EITC), based on the federal EITC, last summer as part
3of the 2015-16 budget package; and
4WHEREAS, The state EITC will allow California’s lowest
5income workers to better provide for their families by boosting
6their 2015 incomes by as much as $2,653; and
7WHEREAS, The state EITC provides a match of up to 85
8percent of the federal EITC for California’s lowest income workers,
9a match that far exceeds any other state in the nation; and
10WHEREAS, The state EITC, together with the federal EITC,
11could raise the incomes of families living in deep poverty, defined
12as below one-half of the federal poverty line, by as much as 83
13percent in 2015; and
14WHEREAS, The state EITC will build on the decades-long
15track record of success of the federal EITC; and
16WHEREAS, Research shows that the federal EITC reduces
17poverty, encourages employment, and boosts local economies;
18and
19WHEREAS, Research has linked the EITC to improved health
20for mothers and infants as well as better educational outcomes for
21children; and
22WHEREAS, The success of California’s EITC depends on
23policymakers, public agencies, and community leaders ensuring
P2 1that all households that are eligible for the new credit know about
2it, learn about it, and claim it; and
3WHEREAS, Over $1.8 billion of federal EITC dollars have
4gone unclaimed in California each year and promoting the new
5state EITC will boost awareness and claims of the federal EITC,
6thereby returning federal dollars to California families and local
7economies; now, therefore, be it
8Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That January
922, 2016, is California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
10Awareness Day; and be it further
11Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
12of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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