Bill Text: CA SCR158 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Promise Zones.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Assembly without further action. [SCR158 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SCR158-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 158	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 16, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Pan and De León
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Hall
  ) 
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Atkins   ) 

                        JUNE 30, 2016

   Relative to Promise Zones.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 158, as amended, Pan. Promise Zones.
   This measure would encourage the State Department of Education,
the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department
of Justice, and the Department of Food and Agriculture to give
federally designated Promise Zones priority consideration and
preferred access to, and competitive preferences for, state funding,
resources, and programs. The measure would urge California to explore
implementation of models developed by federal programs that give
preferences to Promise Zones.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, A child's ZIP Code should never determine his or her
destiny; and
   WHEREAS, Today, the community a child grows up in greatly impacts
his or her odds of graduating from high school, health outcomes, and
economic opportunities; and
   WHEREAS, In 2013, President Obama announced the establishment of
the Promise Zones Initiative to partner with high-poverty communities
across the nation to create jobs, increase economic security, expand
educational opportunities, increase access to affordable quality
housing, and improve public safety; and
   WHEREAS, On January 8, 2014, President Obama designated Los
Angeles, California, as one of the nation's first Promise Zones and
on April 28, 2015, designated Sacramento, California, as a Promise
Zone. This spring, President Obama will announce the third round of
Promise Zone designations; and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone designation must have a contiguous
geography, an overall poverty rate at or above 33 percent, a high
unemployment rate, and a low high school graduation rate; and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone  has  identified clear
outcomes to pursue in order to revitalize its community with a focus
on creating jobs, increasing economic activity, improving
educational opportunities, reducing violent crime, and becoming a
national model for other struggling communities; and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone will continuously track its progress
and share its data with community partners, including, but not
limited to, private sector, nonprofit, federal, state, and local
agencies, so that each partner can work towards improvement and
accountability within the Promise Zone; and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone will receive competitive preference and
priority consideration to access federal programs and resources
within the United States Department of Education, the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States
Department of Justice, and the United States Department of
Agriculture to supplement local efforts as it works toward its goals;
and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone will be provided five full-time
AmeriCorps VISTA members to support its strategic plan. These VISTA
members will recruit and manage volunteers and strengthen the
capacity of the Promise Zone to expand economic opportunities; and
   WHEREAS, Each Promise Zone designation will be for a term of 10
years and President Obama has proposed tax cuts on hiring and
investment in areas designated as Promise Zones to attract businesses
and create jobs; and
   WHEREAS, As outcomes are achieved and best practices are
developed, federal agencies will consider expanding improvements in
the delivery of federal funding and services to other communities
seeking similar opportunities and results; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the State
Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Community
Development, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Food
and Agriculture to give priority consideration and preferred access
to state programs and resources to federally designated Promise Zones
in California that support job creation and economic security,
expand educational opportunities, increase access to affordable
quality housing, and improve public safety; and be it further
   Resolved, That the State Department of Education, the Department
of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Justice, and
the Department of Food and Agriculture should consider giving Promise
Zones competitive preferences for state funding and programs; and be
it further
   Resolved, That California should explore implementation of the
same models that have been developed by the federal programs that
give preferences to Promise Zones; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.