BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1662
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 9, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

               AB 1662 (Calderon) - As Introduced:  February 12, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Arts Vote:6-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill continuously appropriates an unspecified amount  
          annually from the General Fund to the California Arts Council  
          (CAC) to be used to award grants under the council's existing  
          statutory authority.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Unspecified ongoing General Fund costs, likely at least several  
          million dollars annually.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose.  According to the author, "California's cultural  
            enterprises provide more than 1.4 million jobs for  
            Californians or 7.8% of total employment; in addition  
            California's non-profit arts specifically contribute more than  
            $13 billion to the state's economy.  Additionally, the arts  
            are a key partner to the creative industries, encourage  
            creativity, help prepare students and workers to compete in  
            the 21st Century global economy, attract creative workers and  
            industries of all kinds, stimulate the economy, engage  
            residents, provide a sense of community, celebrating diversity  
            and building bridges understanding, and draw tourists and  
            visitors."

           2)Continuous appropriations  , particularly from the General Fund,  
            are contrary to the policy of this committee, as they diminish  
            the Legislature's authority to make annual budget decisions  
            based on legislative priorities.

           3)Related Legislation  . SB 1432 (Lieu), substantially similar to  








                                                                  AB 1662
                                                                  Page  2

            AB 1662, but with a $25 million continuous appropriation, is  
            currently pending in the Senate Governmental Organization  
            Committee.

           4)Prior Legislation  . Last year, AB 580 (Nazarian), which  
            contained a $75 million appropriation for CAC, was held on  
            this committee's Suspense File.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081