January 7, 2003
| TO: | Cla Members/ Systems/ Network Contacts |
| FROM: | Mike Dillon, Lobbyist Christina Dillon, Lobbyist |
| RE: | News From The Capitol |
I. Senator alpert and assembly members maldonado and wolk introduce library bond bill
The members of the Senate and Assembly returned yesterday from their holiday break to officially convene the 2003 legislative session, with many legislators attending various parties and ceremonies for the swearing in of constitutional officers. We are pleased to announce that yesterday Senator Dede Alpert introduced SB 40, a $2 billion library construction bond measure. She will be joined in this effort by her Assembly colleagues, Republican Abel Maldonado, and freshman Democrat Lois Wolk. As most of you know, Senator Alpert is a member of the current library construction bond board, was a lead author on SB 3-Rainey/Burton/Alpert, the implementing bill for the 2000 library bond, and authored several library bond measures while a member of the Assembly. In her role as bond board member, the Senator has been concerned about the lack of available bond funds, compared to the overwhelming number of applicants for grants. In essence, approximately 75 percent of all applicants will be denied funding, as the $350 million in available bond dollars simply won't meet the need. The Senator publicly announced at two different bond hearings that she would be carrying legislation this year to try to meet that need.
During the Fall, CLA established a Task Force to assist Senator Alpert in the drafting of the new legislation. One of the significant components in SB 40 is the ability for applicants denied funding under Cycle Three of the current bond, to get "first call" on any new funding in the new bond, without having to reapply. The remaining funds would be used for all new bond applicants - those who did not participate in the first bond act.
During the Fall, we met with Mike Gotch, the Governor's Secretary for Legislation regarding the possible introduction of a major library bond bill. While we won't know the Governor's position on the library bond for some time, we are fortunate that Mr. Gotch has been quite engaged in monitoring the process of the current bond measure, and understands the challenges facing the library community and the bond board members.
SB 40 must be in print for 30 days before it can be assigned to committee for hearing. We will inform you when that occurs.
II. Senate designates committee chairs
The Senate has proposed its Chairs for the 2003 session, which will be put to the Rules Committee for vote and approval tomorrow. Of interest to CLA members, is the anticipated appointment of several "friends" of the library community to key legislative positions. Senator Tom Torlakson will be returning as the Chair of Senate Local Government. Senator Torlakson is a strong advocate for the libraries, and authored an important measure two years ago, with Senator Jackie Speier, to return property tax dollars back to so-called "ERAF Orphan libraries," independent libraries, and county general fund libraries. Senator Dede Alpert will continue to Chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. In this role, she remains the highest ranking female legislator in the Senate. Senator Wes Chesbro will be named the new Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, (replacing termed-out Senator, Steve Peace) and will also Chair the important Budget Conference Committee. You may recall that Senator Chesbro was a member of the Conference Committee last year. When the Conferees voted to zero-out the Public Library Foundation funding in the Budget, it was Senator Chesbro who made the official motion to reinstate $31.5 million of the PLF funding. Lastly, Senator Jack Scott will Chair the Budget Subcommittee Number One on Education Finance, which has jurisdiction over the PLF. He replaces Senator Jack O'Connell, who was sworn into office on Sunday as the new Superintendent of Public Instruction. Senator Scott, a former community college president, is well positioned to take the reigns from Senator O'Connell, as he chaired the Assembly Subcommittee on Education Finance for several years in the Assembly, and regularly supported increases to the PLF.
III. Governor's state of the state and release of the budget
Tomorrow night Governor Davis will present his annual "State of the State Address" before the members of the legislature, in the Assembly Chambers. His corresponding Budget is scheduled to be released on Friday, usually around 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., coinciding with his press conference. Details are never available prior to the Governor's press conference. Many of you may be participating in CLA's "Day In The District" on Friday and have asked us for details from the Governor's Budget to use in your discussions with legislators. While we will try to get information out to you as soon as possible on Friday, some of you may have meetings scheduled with your legislators before the Governor holds his press conference and releases the Budget document. If this is the case, please do not hesitate to use the existing information that we provided to you in our recent memos regarding his proposed $15.8 million cut to the PLF. In addition, your legislator might find the chart we developed, showing the depth of the cuts - 73% total reduction over two years - helpful during your discussion regarding library funding.
You might also take this opportunity to encourage your legislators to sign on to SB 40 as a co-author. You should also be aware that Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett's staff has contacted us to let us know that the Assemblywoman, a member of the library bond board, will be introducing a bond bill on the Assembly side. The provisions of Ms. Corbett's bond bill are still under discussion.