Legislative update on Proposition 49 from the Network Policy Committee

Budget negotiators appear to be planning to insert the Budget Conference Committee language that would put an initiative on the ballot to give the legislature the authority to cut Proposition 49 funds into Assembly Bill 1526.

As a result, it appears that this proposed initiative is likely to be considered as a stand-alone bill, rather than as part of a broader budget "trailer" bill. This is relatively good news because the Governor can veto a stand-alone bill and would not be put in a position where he'd have to agree to put Prop. 49 on the ballot in order to get other reforms/measures he is seeking.

AB 1526 is marked for urgency and not subject to the August 31, 2008 deadline for bill completion. If this moves forward as a stand-alone bill, it likely to be considered as one of several budget trailer bills that the legislature will consider in conjunction with the budget, whenever a budget deal is reached. The language that turns AB 1526 into an after-school bill is not yet in print.

We hope and expect the Governor to veto this bill if it makes it to his desk. We will keep you posted about any potential actions being taken by afterschool advocates as this issue develops.

The Network Policy Committee is following this issue very closely and will inform the field as new information arises.

Network Policy Committee Co-Chairs:

Publication Date: 
September 8, 2008