SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 26

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR TONELLO

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 26:  SENIOR LEGISLATURE:  FUNDING.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE IS FUNDED, UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2005, THROUGH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS ON STATE INCOME TAX FORMS THAT TRANSFER MONEYS TO THE CALIFORNIA FUND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, THE PROVISIONS PROVIDING THIS FUNDING WOULD ALSO BE REPEALED ON THE JANUARY 1 FOLLOWING A CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THESE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DETERMINED TO FALL BELOW A SPECIFIED MINIMUM AMOUNT.

THIS BILL WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE THROUGH GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS, AND TO REMOVE THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUND FROM THE STATE INCOME TAX FORM WHEN THE NEW FUNDING MECHANISM TAKES EFFECT, AND UNTIL THAT TIME REMOVE THE REPEAL DATE AND MINIMUM FUNDING REQUIREMENT FOR THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION.

VOTE:  MAJORITY.

SP 26:  RELATING TO FUNDING FOR THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE

WHEREAS, IN 1979 ASSEMBLY MEMBER HENRY MELLO INTRODUCED LEGISLATION CREATING THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE, A NONPARTISAN GRASSROOTS BODY OF VOLUNTEERS OVER THE AGE OF 60 YEARS TO BE ELECTED BY THEIR PEERS; AND

WHEREAS, DURING THE PAST 21 YEARS THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE ENACTED LAWS RELATING TO OVER 70 PERCENT OF THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE AND SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND

WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA HAS 4.5 MILLION SENIOR CITIZENS, A GREATER NUMBER THAN ANY OTHER STATE; AND

WHEREAS, THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE ADDRESSES ISSUES DIRECTLY RELATING TO THESE SENIOR CITIZENS EVERY YEAR; AND

WHEREAS, IN TIMES OF DIMINISHING PUBLIC RESOURCES, THE STATE IS INCREASINGLY LIMITED IN ITS ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY; AND

WHEREAS, IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO SET PRIORITIES REGARDING WHICH AGING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE MOST VITAL TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN; AND

WHEREAS, OLDER PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE STATE'S ECONOMIC CONDITION AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THEIR OWN SITUATION, AND DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A UNIFIED VOICE TO THE LEGISLATURE IN SETTING PRIORITIES; AND

WHEREAS, THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE CURRENTLY RECEIVES FUNDS THROUGH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA FUND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH A CHECK OFF ON THE STATE INCOME TAX FORM; AND

WHEREAS, FUNDING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA FUND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WILL CEASE ON JANUARY 1, 2005, OR ON THE JANUARY 1 FOLLOWING A CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE STATE INCOME TAX CHECK OFF ARE DETERMINED TO FALL BELOW A SPECIFIED MINIMUM AMOUNT; AND

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2002 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT STATE LAW BE REVISED TO PROVIDE FOR PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE THROUGH GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS, AND TO REMOVE THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE CALIFORNIA FUND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FROM THE STATE INCOME TAX FORM WHEN THE NEW FUNDING MECHANISM TAKES EFFECT; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT UNTIL PERMANENT FUNDING IS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, THE REPEAL DATE AND MINIMUM FUNDING REQUIREMENT FOR THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE CALIFORNIA FUND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE STATE INCOME TAX FORM BE REMOVED FROM STATE LAW; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

PU RN0214617

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