BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 823
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 823 (Dickinson)
As Amended May 27, 2011
Majority vote
HUMAN SERVICES 4-2 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Beall, Ammiano, Hall, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Portantino | |Bradford, Charles |
| | | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| | | |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Jones, Grove |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes the Children's Cabinet of California until
Jan. 1, 2019. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services serve as
co-chairs of the cabinet.
2)Specifies the membership of the cabinet, which will include:
a) Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court or his or
her designee;
b) Secretary of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation;
c) Director of Social Services;
d) State Public Health Officer;
e) Director of Mental Health;
f) Director of Alcohol and Drug Programs;
g) Director of Developmental Services;
AB 823
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h) Director of Child Support Services; and,
i) Two members of the Assembly and the Senate respectively.
3)Requires the cabinet to make recommendations to the Governor
and Legislature on ways to improve the delivery of services to
children, youth and their families, including, but not limited
to a report to the governor and Legislature by October 31 of
each year.
4)Requires that staffing of the cabinet be a shared
responsibility between the co-chairs and that the Cabinet be
implemented only to the extent that non-state funds are
available.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
Costs of approximately $500,000 for workload
associated with staffing the Children's Cabinet and
producing the required annual report. This
legislation requires that private funding be used for
this purpose.
COMMENTS :
Need for this bill : According to the author, California's
budget crisis and proposed realignment creates an imperative for
better coordination and delivery of services, streamlining and
maximization of federal funding to ensure the well-being of
children.
Children's Cabinet Model : The Forum for Youth Investment (FYI)
describes children's cabinets, councils and commissions as
cross-agency coordinating bodies established through legislation
or executive order to change the fragmented and ineffective ways
states often do business for children and youth. According to
FYI, children's cabinets are "typically made up of heads of
government agencies with child and youth-serving programs, who
meet on a regular basis with the collective goal of coordinating
services, developing a common set of outcomes and
collaboratively deciding upon and implementing plans to foster
the well-being of young people."
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Currently, Children's Cabinets are found in approximately 20
states across the country. The National Governors Association
considers the establishment of a Children's Cabinet a best
practice, and sets forth several guiding principles for the
creation of a children's cabinet, based on the experience of
other states.
The Children's Cabinet concept was one of 10 priority
recommendations for lawmakers by the bill's sponsor, Children
Now, California Report Card 2011: Setting the Agenda for
Children. Children Now claims that states with Children's
Cabinets are more likely to win federal "Race to the Top"
education funding, which have helped to identify underperforming
government programs and redirect those funds to more efficient
programs, and have improved school readiness.
Analysis Prepared by : Michelle Doty Cabrera / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
FN: 0001052