Congratulations to Assemblymember Autumn Burke and the team at End Child Poverty in California on passage of AB 1520! The bill was recently signed by Governor Brown, and is now state law.
California has the highest rate of child poverty in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure. The average poverty rate in California from 2014 to 2016 was at 20.4%, the highest among U.S. states (second only to the District of Columbia). The national average over the same time period was 14.7% The 2016 poverty rate in LA County is at 16.3%.
Despite its position as a top economy in the world, the state has consistently ranked high in poverty.
Efforts to invest in measures to reduce child poverty have been hindered by a lack of sustained focus and a comprehensive plan to address the issue. AB 1520 addresses child and family poverty by establishing a permanent framework within the state’s annual budget that will ensure investment and accountability on programs that have shown a reduction of poverty. These programs include:
- Childcare and early childhood education
- Home visiting programs
- After-school and summer school programs
- Workforce development
- Affordable housing
Supporters of the Bill include Propel L.A. partner, First 5.
AB 1520 is in direct correlation to the work of Propel L.A. and Goal 1: Invest in Our People, from Prenatal through Post-Career, to Provide Greater Opportunity and Goal 7: Build More Livable Communities.
To learn more about AB 1520 visit End Child Poverty in California.
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