Legislature

About Our Efforts       A Bit of History       How the legislative budget process works (a simplified outsiders view)
Legislative Education and Advocacy for Children
About Our EffortsTop of Page
 Time For Kids is involved in supporting programs that serve children at-risk in California’s elementary schools. Our efforts include providing grants to locally funded programs, visiting programs, talking with educators and program staff that serve children, seeking information about effective program models and educating legislators about current programs, fiscal needs and the needs of children.

Thanks to the work of many dedicated people writing letters, making phone calls, sending emails and visiting legislators, funding for the Early Mental Health Initiative (EMHI) has been restored to its original $15 million level. We cannot, however, let up in our efforts to educate legislators and the governor about the importance of early intervention programs.  We need to keep educating legislators about EMHI and other research-based early intervention programs. Letters, emails, and visits to legislators are always needed. Sample letters, addresses and phone/fax numbers of legislators on the key subcommittees may found in this section of our web site. While all input matters, it is especially important to write if you are a constituent of one of the legislators on the key subcommittees. If we, as an organization, have learned anything in the past four years, it is that YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!! 

For further information about legislative proceedings, visit www.senate.ca.gov or www.assembly.ca.gov. On these websites, the Daily File includes schedules and information about the committee hearings. Visit links to the subcommittees of the Budget Committee to find hearing agendas. You can even listen to many of the hearings online. The websites also provide assistance with finding your legislator, links to home pages of each legislator and links to legislative bills.
A Bit of HistoryTop of Page
A bit of history about funding for the Early Mental Health Initiative:
Prior to the statewide budget cuts of 2003, EMHI was funded at $15 million, which was divided approximately equally between grants in first, second and third years of funding. As the funding cycle is three years, new grants were allocated each year from funds made available as third year grants cycled off their grants. Funding for EMHI was reduced to $10 million in 2003-2004, but restored to $15 million in 2006-2007 thanks to the dedicated efforts of many people across the state. We are hoping that funding will be increased and extended to fifth and sixth graders at some future time.
How the legislative budget process works (a simplified outsiders view)Top of Page
Each January, the governor announces his budget proposal for the following fiscal year. Following his proposal, both houses of the legislature begin hearings to respond to the governor’s budget and create their own budget proposals. The hearings begin in subcommittees which, in turn, make their recommendations to the full Budget Committees. Each house approves a final budget proposal. Members of the two houses meet to negotiate a final legislative budget which is approved by both houses and sent to the governor. The governor has the option to approve or disapprove of various items in the budget. At the end of the process, the governor and leaders of the legislature meet for final negotiations. It is up to the legislative budget subcommittees to consider approval of funding for EMHI. Since EMHI is administered by the DMH, but is funded by Proposition 98, the budget item are heard in both the Education and Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittees. Hearings continue through the spring, with final recommendations developed by the subcommittees after the governor announces the “May Revise”—adjustments to the budget proposal based on the latest revenue and spending information. If the Senate and Assembly both support funding for EMHI, it will be up to the governor to accept or reject that funding level. Vocal support for the effort is always needed from citizens throughout the process.
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