DATE: February 8, 2005
TO: Board of
Supervisors
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO CALIFORNIA STATE
SENATE BILL 34: CHILDREN AND FAMILY HEALTH PROGRAMS (FLOREZ)
SUMMARY:
Overview
On December 14, 2004, Senator Dean Florez
introduced Senate Bill 34 to amend the Children and Families Act of
1998, also known as Proposition 10. SB 34 seeks to amend the Children
and Families Act to prohibit the chairperson of each commission from
being a county supervisor or county employee.
Recommendation(s)
CHAIRWOMAN SLATER-PRICE AND SUPERVISOR COX:
- Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to draft a letter for the Chairwoman’s signature to Senator Florez and all members of the San Diego delegation in opposition to Senate Bill 34.
- Direct the CAO to communicate this Board of Supervisors’ opposition to Senate Bill 34 to San Diego County’s Legislative Representative in Sacramento.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with these
recommendations
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
N/A
BACKGROUND:
After the passage of Proposition 10 on December 8, 1998 (71),
the Board adopted an urgency ordinance to establish a five-member San
Diego County Children and Families First Commission, also known as the
First 5 Commission, to receive and distribute funds from the passage
of Proposition 10. The First 5 Commission consists of the Chair of the
Board of Supervisors, Director of the Health and Human Services
Agency, Public Health Officer, and two outside commissioners.
Since its inception, San Diego County’s First 5 Commission has contributed over $160 million to local programs and initiatives. The First 5 Commission has also been able to assist community based organizations and educational institutions with capital improvements as the result of a prudent fiscal reserve.
San Diego County is unique in that our First 5 Commission does not use this funding to supplant, backfill or augment existing County programs and services. In San Diego County we firmly believe that local control of local programs designed to promote and protect the health and well being of our children is best managed by those who clearly know the needs of their community best; an elected representative who is accountable to the voters, the county Director of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Officer, as well as independent professionals from the community.
Changing the makeup of our local First 5 Commission would effectively silence the voice of the people that know most about the health and well being of our citizens. Please join us in opposing Senate Bill 34 by establishing this official position for the County of San Diego.
Respectfully submitted,
PAM SLATER-PRICE
Chairwoman
GREG COX
Supervisor, First District
