April 17, 2017

TO:                  CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS

FROM:           Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

RE:                 News From the Capitol

LETTERS NEEDED FOR SCA 3-DODD

Next Policy Hearing Has Been Set For Measure Lowering Vote Threshold for Library Construction

Recently we reported that SCA 3 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) had a successful hearing in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee at the State Capitol, with the measure passing on a 5-2 party-line vote.  The legislation seeks to lower the local vote threshold from the current two-thirds to 55% for library construction and renovation bond measures.  This bill is sponsored by CLA.

SCA 3 has been “double-referred,” meaning that it will now head to its second policy committee for review and debate.  SCA 3 will be heard in the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee on Tuesday, May 2 at 1:30 p.m.  Letters of support from libraries, Friends and Trustees, cities, counties, special districts, and architectural and construction firms are needed.   In the previous policy committee, there was not a strong showing of letters from library supporters, and most recently, the bill has received strong opposition from taxpayer groups.  So, in order to send a message that SCA 3 is of significant importance to the library community, Senator Dodd and the committee will need a much better show of support in the form of letters.

A sample letter is attached to this memo and letters will need to be received by Senate Committee members by Wednesday, April 26. 

In your letters, please explain how much the public library in your community is being used and explain some of the more popular services.  If you have a specific example of plans to build or renovate a library in your area, and you would be going out to the public with a bond vote, or you recently held a vote in your community and the bond measure failed by a slim margin, please include that in your letters as well.

Please take a minute today to send a letter of support to the following individuals:

Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee: 

The Honorable Henry Stern, Chair
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4927

The Honorable Joel Anderson, Vice Chair
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
State Capitol, Room 5052
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4938

The Honorable Ben Allen, Member
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
State Capitol, Room 5072
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4926

The Honorable Bob Hertzberg, Member                                                  (SCA 3 co-author)
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
State Capitol, Room 4038
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4918

The Honorable Connie Leyva, Member
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
State Capitol, Room 4061
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4920

Please don’t forget to cc: a copy to Senator Bill Dodd (SCA 3 author)

The Honorable Bill Dodd
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4903

 Thank you for your help.