BILL ANALYSIS
AB 422
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 29, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 422 (Torres) - As Amended: April 21, 2009
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:4 - 1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
develop a State Youth and Family Master Plan. Specifically, this
bill:
1)Requires, among other things, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services to develop a State Youth and Family Master Plan
that includes:
a) General guiding principles that California should follow
when developing policies.
b) Identification of all state agencies involved in
providing services for youth and families.
c) Identifying opportunities through which cooperation
between governmental agencies is likely to provide more
efficient services.
d) Providing mechanisms through which state policies
affecting the state's youth and families can be assessed to
determine which ones are effective.
e) Identifying ways in which the state hinders local
governments' efforts to serve youth and families.
2)Requires the secretary to seek input from specified
departments and groups, including:
3)Requires the secretary to schedule public meetings, with
sufficient public notice, to seek input in the plan.
4)Requires the secretary to report annually to the Legislature
and the governor on the progress of the plan.
AB 422
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT
Costs likely in excess of $500,000 GF for workload associated
with the requirements of this bill.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The intent of this bill is to develop a general
policy to guide the state in the implementation of policies
that will better serve youth and families. According to the
author, "particularly in a time of shrinking resources, the
state efforts should seek ways to complement each other and
avoid duplicity or disjoined approaches..." The author states
that her goal is not to create bureaucracy, but rather to
eliminate silos and increase communication.
The National League of Cities points to examples of cities
across the country that have produced a master plan related to
youth. Examples in California include plans created by the
cities of San Jose, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre and Thousand
Oaks.
2)Committee Concerns . Given that one of the goals of the plan is
to identify ways in which the state hinders local government
in their efforts and seeks to eliminate any duplicity of
efforts, the author may want to consider including various
representatives from local welfare departments, local
education agencies, and other interested local parties in the
development of the plan.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081