SACRAMENTO, CA –Legislation authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) establishing the Children's Cabinet of California moved forward with yesterday's passage from the Assembly on a 48-24 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for further review.
"We owe our children quality public programs and we can achieve this goal by working in a collaborative and coordinated manner", said Dickinson. "Investing in our children should be a priority for the state, especially when we're making policy and funding decisions with limited resources."
AB 823 creates the Children's Cabinet of California, which is comprised of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency who will serve as co-chairs, and the heads of state agencies and departments responsible for providing children's services. The task of the cabinet is to increase collaboration and efficiency in the delivery of children's services by eliminating duplicative efforts, maximizing state and federal funds, and developing clearly established priorities and outcome measures for children. At least 20 other states have established children's cabinets, councils, or commissions.
California's fiscal crisis and realignment efforts demand even greater coordination of state services for children and their families. According to the Children's Defense Fund, who support this bill, "California needs legislative and administrative leaders to work on their behalf now more than ever given that 1 in 5 children in our state live in poverty, over 1 million children are uninsured, and 1 in every 4 students drop out before finishing high school."
"We need to break down existing silos," said Children Now President Ted Lempert. "A cabinet-level body can work to better coordinate health, education and social services for children. This is increasingly important in an era of belt-tightening--that common goals can be identified and duplicative efforts eliminated."
Further information about AB 823 is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Contact: Celia Mata (916) 319-2009
