BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 110|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 110
Author: Conway (R) and Beall (D), et al
Amended: 5/20/10 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 5/24/10
SUBJECT : Step Up California Month and Step Up California
Day
SOURCE : Catholic Charities of California United
Jericho
DIGEST : This resolution designates February 2010 and
February 2011 as Step Up California Month and February 3,
2010 and February 3, 2011 as Step Up California Day, and
encourages and supports activities related to reducing
poverty and increasing economic opportunity, and makes
legislative findings and declarations.
ANALYSIS : Resolution findings:
1. According to the decades-old federal poverty measure,
California's poverty rate was 12.8 percent and is
projected to reach 17 percent by 2014.
2. Due to higher costs of living in the state, California
families need an income that is two to three times
higher than the poverty line just to make ends meet.
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3. Families unable to save and that live paycheck to
paycheck, just one layoff or hospital bill away from
state support, make up the asset poor in California and
outnumber those officially considered to be in poverty.
4. One in four homeless Americans is a Californian and the
housing crisis has significantly impacted California.
As of August 2007, four out of the top 10 metropolitan
areas for foreclosures in the United States were in
California. Nearly 250 residential developments with a
combined total of 9,389 houses and condominiums, and an
estimated worth of $3.5 billion, are now on hold.
Rising foreclosures are putting families at risk and
decreasing home values are endangering elderly people
whose main asset is their home.
5. One in four families that lose their source of income
would only last three months or less on savings. While
a source of income maintains a family, savings and
assets make higher education, entrepreneurship, debt
reduction, and retirement possible.
6. The demand for basic safety net services from public and
nonprofit service providers is dramatically increasing
while historic cuts in state funding and a deteriorating
economy are reducing or eliminating both public and
private financial resources for these services.
7. Poverty particularly affects the elderly and the young.
More than 800,000 California seniors are unable to pay
for basic needs, including housing, food,
transportation, and medical care. Approximately 22
percent of California's children are poor, and the
impact of poverty on young children is significant and
enduring.
8. Families where adults lack a high school diploma have a
poverty rate of 41 percent and single-mother families
have a poverty rate of 37 percent, highlighting the
importance of education at a time when education becomes
more expensive and less available to families.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
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SUPPORT : (Verified 7/29/10)
Catholic Charities of California United (co-source)
Jericho (co-source)
California Federation of Teachers
County Welfare Directors Association
Insight Center
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the Catholic
Charities of California United and Jericho, poverty
represents a moral crisis that divides our communities and
threatens the common good. But, by taking concerted action
in five key areas-food, housing, healthcare, education, and
income development-poverty can be mitigated, reduced, and
even prevented. In September 2009, the sponsors formed
Step Up California, a coalition of non-profit
organizations, to encourage individuals and organizations
to step up to do their part to bring an end to poverty in
California.
CTW:nl 8/4/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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