BILL ANALYSIS
AB 394
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 30, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING
Paul Fong, Chair
AB 394 (Fuentes) - As Amended: April 13, 2009
SUBJECT : Census.
SUMMARY : Requires the Governor to appoint a task force to make
recommendations on how to maximize the number of Californians
counted in the 2010 census and to implement a census outreach
program, taking into account the successes and problems with the
2000 California Complete Count Campaign.
EXISTING LAW , pursuant to the United States Constitution,
requires a census of the United States population be taken once
every 10 years.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of the Bill : According to the author:
The 2010 Census represents a once-a-decade chance for
California to conduct a complete count of its citizens.
Census results dictate federal representation, federal and
state funding formulas, and state redistricting changes. We
need to ensure that California does everything it can to
enact an accurate count, building on our previous successes
and acknowledging the challenges that are still present.
2)2000 California Complete Count Committee : On November 4,
1999, Governor Davis issued executive order D-11-99,
establishing the California Complete Count Committee
(Committee). In the order, the Governor directed the
Committee to "develop, recommend and assist in the
administration of an outreach strategy to encourage full
participation in the 2000 federal decennial census of
population." The order required the outreach strategy to
include "[s]tate agency initiatives to encourage participation
in the 2000 Census, the establishment and support of county
complete count committees as well as school-based outreach
programs, the creation and operation of non-profit
Questionnaire Assistance Centers, and a media campaign
AB 394
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designed to ensure an accurate and complete count of
California's population." The Legislature appropriated
approximately $25 million for these activities, making
California the only state in the nation to approve a census
outreach program of this magnitude.
Like the U.S. Census Bureau's paid advertisements, the
campaign's main focus was to encourage people to send in their
form by mail. However, the campaign targeted undercounted
groups in specific local areas in California. For people who
needed help filling out the form, the campaign funded
questionnaire assistance centers and publicized their
locations. These state-funded centers were resources
available to people in addition to the questionnaire
assistance centers operated by the U.S. Census Bureau. During
the period of non-response follow-up, the campaign message was
to encourage people to cooperate and "open your door" to U.S.
Census Bureau enumerators.
In California, the mail response rate rose from 65 percent in
the 1990 Census to 70 percent in Census 2000. California's 70
percent response was also significantly higher than the rates
obtained in other large states: Texas's Census 2000 response
rate was 64 percent; Florida and New York's rates were both 63
percent.
3)Budgeting for the 2010 Census : The 2008-09 Budget Act
contained a $1 million appropriation to the Governor's Office
of Planning and Research (OPR) for the Count Every Californian
Effort, aimed at ensuring California is fully and accurately
represented in the 2010 census and receives all of the federal
funds and Congressional representatives to which it is
entitled. OPR has since formed a state agency working group
to identify outreach efforts using existing state agency
resources. According to OPR, although the Governor has not
yet appointed a California Complete Count Committee to work
with the United States Census Bureau for the 2010 Census, such
a committee is in the process of being formed.
4)Task Force Details : While this bill proposes the creation of
a task force to maximize the number of Californians counted in
the 2010 census, it does not specify the number or type of
members that should serve on the task force, when the
appointments are to be made, to whom recommendations are to be
made and by what date, or the date for the task force to
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complete its work. The author may wish to consider providing
additional guidance to the Governor regarding these details.
5)Previous Legislation : This bill is identical to AB 2314
(Fuentes) of 2008. AB 2314 was referred to the Assembly
Governmental Organization Committee but was never heard in
committee.
ACR 13 (Fuentes), which is scheduled to be heard today in the
Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, recognizes April
1, 2010 as the United States Census Day and urges the Governor
to act immediately to commence planning for outreach efforts
for the 2010 decennial census so as to achieve a complete
count of all Californians.
ACR 123 (Fuentes) of 2008 would have strongly urged the Governor
to act immediately to commence planning for outreach efforts
for the 2010 decennial census so as to achieve a complete
count of all Californians. ACR 123 was approved by the
Assembly on a 75-2 vote, but died in the Senate Appropriations
Committee without having a hearing.
SB 711 (Burton), Chapter 86, Statutes of 1999, requested the
Governor to appoint a task force to make recommendations on
how to maximize the number of California's counted in the 2000
census and to implement a census outreach program, among other
provisions.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support Opposition
None on file. None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094