BILL NUMBER: ACR 44	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fuentes

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   Relative to the federal decennial census.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 44, as introduced, Fuentes. Federal decennial census.
   This measure would strongly urge the Governor to act immediately
to declare April 1, 2009, to be California Census Awareness Day and
to conduct outreach and promotional events on this date and
throughout the next year leading up to the federal decennial census
in order to advance the goal of a complete and accurate count of all
Californians.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, The United States Constitution requires an enumeration of
the population every 10 years known as the United States decennial
census; and
   WHEREAS, The next federal decennial census will occur on April 1,
2010; and
   WHEREAS, A complete and accurate count of Californians is critical
to our state because census figures affect federal congressional
representation, state redistricting, federal formula grant
allocations, and state funding to local governments and local
programs for the next 10 years; and
   WHEREAS, A high undercount in the upcoming census could cost the
state a seat in the House of Representatives for the first time in
history; and
   WHEREAS, California benefits substantially from federal programs
tied to census figures, and an undercount of the state's population
would severely impact funding for health, human services, education,
and other programs; and
   WHEREAS, Despite outreach efforts in connection with the 2000
census, 522,796 Californians were not counted, resulting in a loss of
$1.5 billion in federal funding for the state; and
   WHEREAS, Future outreach efforts depend on strong partnerships
with state, local, and tribal governments, community-based
organizations, faith-based groups, schools, businesses, the media,
and others; and
   WHEREAS, Sufficient time is necessary to raise awareness, promote
education, and extend outreach strategies to complement the United
States Census Bureau's regional efforts; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature strongly urges the Governor
to act immediately to declare April 1, 2009, to be California Census
Awareness Day and to conduct outreach and promotional events on this
date and throughout the next year leading up to the federal decennial
census in order to advance the goal of a complete and accurate count
of all Californians; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.