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Senate Education Committee Passes Library Bond Measure
TO: CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS
FROM: Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist and Christina Dillon, CLA Lobbyist
RE: NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL
Several weeks ago the Senate Education Committee took testimony on SB 1516 by Senator Joe Simitian. The measure, which is sponsored by CLA, seeks to place a $4 billion library construction and renovation bond measure on the November 2010 ballot. Offering support of the measure in committee was CLA, highlighted by the testimony of CLA's Legislative Chair, Melinda Cervantes (Santa Clara County Library Director). Also joining in support of the bill was the California Special Districts Association, the California Federation of Teachers, the California School Library Association, and various cities and counties, including Burbank, Sonoma, Merced, and San Jose.
Chairman, Senator Jack Scott, indicated that he was "saddened" that the 2006 bond on the June ballot did not pass, and noted that he hoped there would be a more positive future outlook for library bonds. He acknowledged that SB 1516 would have to be sent to the Senate Education Committee "suspense file" due to its significant cost. You may recall that the fiscal committees in each house - the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, for many years, have implemented a so-called "suspense file." Bills costing more than $150,000 are traditionally sent to the "suspense file," which allows the leadership and the committee Chair and Vice Chair to prioritize which bills should go forward given the state's finances. In recent years, the Senate Education Committee, and the Revenue and Taxation Committees have also implemented their own version of the "suspense file."
Last Thursday, the Senate Education Committee took up all of the items on their "suspense file" and voted, on a strong bi-partisan vote of 8 "ayes" to 1 "no" to pass the bill out of committee. Voting in support of the measure were Democrat Senators: Jack Scott, Elaine Alquist, Alex Padilla, Gloria Romero, Joe Simitian, and Tom Torlakson. Republican Senators voting in support were: Jeff Denham and Abel Maldonado. Voting against the bond was Vice Chair, Senator Mark Wyland. Thanks to all of you who wrote letters to the committee, as well as visited with these legislators on CLA Legislative Day!
SB 1516 is now scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, April 28. Due to the substantial costs involved with any bond measure, it is assumed that SB 1516 will be sent to the Senate Appropriations "suspense file." The measure would then sit on the "suspense file" until late May, when leadership and the committee Chair and Vice Chair prioritize these measures and send them to the Senate Floor for a vote, or hold them in committee. Please take a moment to write the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee (you will have until mid-May to send your letters), and encourage their support of SB 1516-Simitian.
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Senator Tom Torlakson, Chair
Senator Dave Cox, Vice Chair
Senator Sam Aanestad
Senator Roy Ashburn
Senator Gil Cedillo
Senator Ellen Corbett
Senator Bob Dutton
Senator Dean Florez
Senator Sheila Kuehl
Senator Jenny Oropeza
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
Senator George Runner
Senator Joe Simitian (author)
Senator Darrell Steinberg
Senator Mark Wyland
Senator Leland Yee
Sample address:
The Honorable Tom Torlakson
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
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Posted on April 23, 2008 12:52 PM | Permalink