Campaign Update
Friday, March 30, 2007

Inside This Issue:

AB 420 was heard in the Assembly Health Committee on March 27, and passed on a 10-5 vote.

AB 420, authored by Assemblymember Lois Wolk, refines provisions enacted in SB 437 (Escutia, 2006) to improve the process for expediting health insurance enrollment for children who are served at local WIC nutritional agencies. The bill targets participation where it will be most effective: WIC sites that serve a larger number of participants and a high proportion of uninsured clients. We are proud to collaborate with the California WIC Association in this effort to reach and enroll eligible uninsured children.

Thank you to all who sent support letters and/or attended the hearing.The bill still needs your support!

AB 420's next stop along the legislative process is in Assembly Appropriations and it may be heard as soon as April 16th. Please support this important piece of legislation by sending a letter today!

Address your letter to:

The Honorable Lois Wolk
California State Assembly
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: 916-319-2108

* Click here for the AB 420 factsheet and sample support letter.

Californians for Healthy Kids attended the March 26th hearing of the Senate Budget Health & Human Services Subcommittee to advocate for swift and appropriate implementation of SB 437 (Escutia, 2006).

The Subcommittee voted to approve the subcommittee staff compromise, which funded most of the requested positions to implement SB 437.

As you'll remember, SB 437 makes important improvements to increase health insurance for the majority of uninsured children - those who already qualify for state programs. The bill makes it easier for families to enroll their children in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, and helps ensure that enrolled children stay insured. Visit this page to learn more about SB 437 and other children's health insurance accomplishments from 2006.

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee will take up funding for SB 437 implementation soon, but a date has not yet been set.

The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health insurance they need to grow up strong and healthy.
www.100percentcampaign.org

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.
www.picocalifornia.org