Assembly Bill 1520, the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force, creates an expert task force made up of leaders and stakeholders from inside and outside government that will develop a comprehensive, data-driven plan that lays the groundwork to end child poverty in California.

AB 1520, authored by Assemblywoman Autumn Burke and sponsored by the anti-poverty non-profit GRACE passed the legislature with bipartisan support and not one dissenting vote. The legislation is informed by the latest poverty research from the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality.

AB 1520 is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature.

BACKGROUND

California has the highest rate of child poverty in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure that accounts for the high cost of living in our state. That translates to one in five children or 1.9 million California children affected. Almost one-third of African American children and one-third of Latino children in California live in poverty.

Efforts to invest in measures to reduce child poverty have been hampered by a lack of sustained focus and a defined, comprehensive plan for addressing the problem. AB 1520 takes the first step in addressing child poverty through the creation of a task force that will develop a comprehensive plan with proven, data-driven solutions to significantly reduce California’s child poverty rate.

ASSEMBLY BILL 1520

AB 1520 addresses deep poverty and moves toward reducing the overall child poverty rate in California by creating the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force, which will provide a comprehensive plan to the Legislature and various state agencies.

The task force will consist of stakeholders that focus on family and child well-being, from birth to adulthood, in furtherance of the goals of reducing child poverty and alleviating family crises.

Expert analysis finds that over time, a comprehensive and data-driven approach will save taxpayers money in healthcare and social services, reduce overcrowded jails and prisons, decrease child abuse, and significantly reduce the number of children living in poverty, with an estimated 2:1 return on investment for taxpayers.

See the full text of the bill here.

SUPPORT

• GRACE (sponsor)
• Alameda County Board of Supervisors
• Bonnie M. Dumanis San Diego County District Attorney
• California Alternative Payment Program Association
• California Catholic Conference
• California Coverage and Health Initiatives
• California Legislative Black Caucus
• California State Parent Teacher Association
• California Health+ Advocates
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
• Children Now
• Children’s Defense Fund
• First 5 California
• First AME Church of Los Angeles
• First Focus Campaign for Children
• Golden State Opportunity
• Health Access California
• Jewish Public Affairs Committee
• Junior Leagues of CA
• LA PROMISE
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Promise Neighborhood
• Los Angeles Urban League
• Moneta Gardens Community Center
• Mothers In Action, Inc.
• National Association of Social Workers, CA Chapter
• National Foster Youth Institute
• One For All (OFA)
• Public Counsel
• San Diego County District Attorney
• SHIELDS for families
• Social Justice Learning Institute
• South Bay Community Services
• South Bay Universal Child Development Center
• St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
• St. Joseph Center Planting Hope & Growing Lives
• University of Southern California
• Western Center on Law and Poverty
• Youth Policy Institute