BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 31|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SJR 31
Author: Pavley (D), et al
Amended: 6/17/10
Vote: 21
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE : 9-0, 5/5/10
AYES: Alquist, Strickland, Aanestad, Cedillo, Cox, Leno,
Negrete McLeod, Pavley, Romero
SENATE FLOOR : 29-0, 5/13/10
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Ashburn, Cogdill, Correa, Denham,
DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Dutton, Florez, Hancock, Harman,
Hollingsworth, Huff, Kehoe, Leno, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete
McLeod, Padilla, Pavley, Price, Romero, Runner,
Steinberg, Strickland, Walters, Wolk, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett, Cox,
Oropeza, Simitian, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 6/21/10 - See last page for vote
(Consent)
SUBJECT : Individuals with disabilities: tax exempt
accounts
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution urges the President and the
Congress of the United States to immediately enact the
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009.
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SJR 31
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Assembly Amendments clarified the definition of
"disabilities."
ANALYSIS : This resolution states the following:
1.Many families are searching for a way to plan for the
future of a child with developmental disabilities, which
are costly to society and to families.
2.H.R. 1205 and S. 493, The Achieving a Better Life
Experience Act of 2009 (ABLE Act), currently debated by
Congress, creates disability savings accounts for
individuals with developmental or other disabilities and
their families, as a way to save for future needs that
could accrue interest tax free.
3.The ABLE Act gives individuals with developmental or
other disabilities and their families an option for
saving for their future financial needs in a way that
supports their unique situation and makes it more
feasible to live full and productive lives in their
communities.
4.While many families are currently able to save for the
educational needs of children through "529" college
tuition plans, these plans do not fit the needs of
children with developmental or other disabilities.
5.Many families recognize that loved ones with
developmental or other disabilities may live for many
decades beyond the ability of the parents or other family
members to provide financial assistance and support.
6.Many families also want to ensure the financial security
of family members who have the level of disability
required for Medicaid eligibility, but for now, are
managing to function without the use of those benefits
and state resources.
7.The ABLE Act creates a savings fund for those with
developmental or other disabilities that could be drawn
upon for a variety of essential expenses, including
medical and dental care, education and employment
training and support, assistive technology, housing and
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SJR 31
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transportation, personal support services, and other
expenses for life necessities.
8.Savings accounts opened under the ABLE Act provides
substantial flexibility to meet the specific needs of the
individual, with a broad array of allowable expenses and
no age limitations so that these funds can be used
whenever they are needed.
9.The flexibility in expenses would also allow families to
save with confidence even though they cannot always
predict how independent their child will become.
The California State Legislature urges the President and
the Congress of the United States to immediately enact the
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Bass, Beall,
Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield,
Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles
Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De
La Torre, De Leon, DeVore, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher,
Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani,
Garrick, Gatto, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Knight, Lieu,
Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Miller, Monning,
Nava, Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, Norby, V. Manuel Perez,
Portantino, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Smyth, Solorio, Audra
Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran,
Villines, Yamada, John A. Perez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Blakeslee, Jones, Silva, Skinner
CTW:nl 6/22/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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