Bill Text: CA ACR13 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Decennial census.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-30 - In committee: Hearing cancelled at the request of author. [ACR13 Detail]
Download: California-2009-ACR13-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 13 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fuentes
JANUARY 22, 2009
Relative to decennial census.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 13, as introduced, Fuentes. Decennial census.
This measure would recognize April 10, 2010 as the United States
Census Day and strongly urge the Governor to act immediately to
commence planning for outreach efforts for the 2010 decennial census
so as to achieve a complete count of all Californians.
Fiscal committee: yes.
WHEREAS, The United States Constitution requires an enumeration of
the population every 10 years, which is known as the United States
decennial census; and
WHEREAS, The United States decennial census is important because
it determines congressional representation, state redistricting,
federal formula grant allocations, state funding to local
governments, and local programs and planning activities for the next
10 years; and
WHEREAS, California, with the eighth largest economy in the world,
a population of more than thirty-seven million (37,000,000), a
territory of 163,696 square miles, and significant geographic,
racial, and ethnic diversity, has experienced a historical undercount
in prior censuses; and
WHEREAS, A complete and accurate count of all residents in the
2010 decennial census is vital to ensure fair political
representation and distribution of funding in California; and
WHEREAS, Now, more than ever, in the face of a record state budget
deficit, a complete count of all Californians in the decennial
census is critical; and
WHEREAS, The next decennial census of the population will be
conducted on April 1, 2010, and the United States Census Bureau and
the Demographics Unit of the California Department of Finance already
have begun planning to ensure its success; and
WHEREAS, The California Complete Count Committee, created in 1999,
directed an extensive outreach campaign with a budget of $24.7
million to encourage full participation in the 2000 decennial census
by all Californians, especially historically undercounted
populations; and
WHEREAS, Despite limited time for outreach, the campaign still was
successful in reaching various segments of the population and
contributed to a mail-back response rate of 70 percent for
California, which exceeded the national response rate of 67 percent;
and
WHEREAS, Despite these outreach efforts in connection with the
2000 census, 522,796 Californians were not counted, which resulted in
a loss of $1.5 billion in federal funding for the state; and
WHEREAS, Residents are more likely to respond to the census
questionnaire if they are informed about the census and better
understand the census process; and
WHEREAS, Future outreach efforts depend on strong partnerships
with state, local, and tribal governments, community-based
organizations, faith-based groups, schools, businesses, the media,
and others; and
WHEREAS, A sufficient amount of time is necessary to develop and
implement education and outreach strategies to complement the United
States Census Bureau's regional efforts; and
WHEREAS, The Select Committee on the Census held its first hearing
on April 4, 2008, and through testimony, determined that California
must now begin to develop a work plan and determine if resources need
to be budgeted in 2009 and 2010 to promote the census; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring,That the Legislature recognizes April 1, 2010 as
the United States Census Day; and be it further
Resolved,That the Legislature strongly urges the Governor to act
immediately to commence planning for outreach efforts for the 2010
decennial census so as to achieve a complete count of all
Californians; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
