Exceptional Family Resource Center
e-NEWS
Dear Friends and Families,
The SB640 (Escutia) bill will provide the funding to continue child care provider training
as well as provide support and assistance to parents seeking child care services for
their children with disabilities. Funding for SB1703 (Escutia-2000) ran out in many
counties.
The SB640 (Escutia) bill passed off the Assembly floor. Now that the votes are counted
for those members who were not on the floor during the initial vote, our numbers
increased and the bill passed 60 - 19 with a bipartisan vote. Thirteen (13) Republicans
voted in support of the bill. Be sure that you thank all those supporting the bill; see
below an updated list of support votes:
The next step is that the bill must go back to the Senate for concurrence, which should
happen any day and then it is on to the Governor.
Now, I need to ask you to send a quick note or call your legislator and thank them for
their vote (see voting record below). This is especially important even if your legislator
always votes positive on child care legislation.
Then, if you haven't already done so, send letters to the Governor encouraging his
signature on the bill. This will be our last hurdle, but may be our most difficult. View
sample letter below. You may prefer to fax it to: 916 445-4633 (be aware that the fax is
frequently busy especially this time of year).
If you have any questions, call Donita Stromgren at 530 750-1127.
CCCR&R Network
Public Policy & Membership Services Manager
"Working to meet child care needs throughout California"
Assembly Floor Votes:
Ayes: 60
Arambula
Baca
Bass
Berg
Calderon
Chan
Chavez
Chu
Cohn
Garcia
Goldberg
Hancock
Haynes
Horton, J
Jones
Karnette
Klehs
Koretz
Liu
Matthews
McCarthy
Montanez
Mullin
Nakanishi
Nation
Nava
Oropeza
Ridley-Thomas
Runner
Ruskin
Saldana
Salinas
Torrico
Tran
Vargas
Walters
Coto
Laird
Evans
Leno
Frommer
Levine
added yes votes:
Aghazarian
De La Torre
Bermudez
Dymally
Canciamilla
Keene
Noes: 19
Benoit
Blakeslee
Cogdill
DeVore
Emmerson
Harman
Houston
added No votes:
Mountjoy
Bogh
Daucher
Parra
Pavley
Richman
Lieber
Horton, S
La Malfa
Huff
La Suer
Leslie
Wolk
Yee
Nunez
Spitzer
Negrete Mcleod
Umberg
Maze
Villines
Wyland
Strickland
Niello
Plescia
-----------------------------------------------------SAMPLE LETTER:
September 10, 2005
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for SB640 (Escutia)- Child Care for Children with Disabilities
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
The (Name of agency or individual) is pleased to lend our support to SB640 (Escutia). This bill
will provide the funding to continue the vital services necessary to build and maintain the
capacity of child care providers to serve children with disabilities or at high risk of disabilities
and to provide support and assistance to parents seeking child care services for their children
with disabilities. Preliminary funding for these services through SB1703 (Escutia-2000) ran out
in many counties in June 2004 and will end in the remaining counties at the end of this fiscal
year. As a result of the funding, thousands of child care providers statewide received training
and technical assistance that increased their comfort level, knowledge and skills to provide
services for children with disabilities. Many families who never realized that child care was an
option for them and their child with disabilities learned about resources available to them and
connected with child care providers who could meet their unique needs.
The provision of these services will increase children’s readiness for school and decrease the
need for more intensive remediation services once a child enters the public school system. In a
timely study conducted by Yale University, they found that more young children are asked to
leave preschool programs as a result of behavioral problems showing a need for early
intervention services. It was noted that researchers said the expulsion rates are highest in
classrooms where teachers lack support from counselors or other specialists to contend with
disruptive children. As noted in an LA Times article dated May 17, 2005 “Programs (such as
those funded by SB640) are key to reducing the expulsion rates, said Marilou Hyson, a senior
advisor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which represents
preschool providers, teachers, parents and administrators. More needs to be done to stop the
problem before it starts, not by kicking children out of preschool but by supporting teachers and
parents and providing special consultation to help meet needs." These are precisely the services
funded through passage of SB640.
When it comes SB640 comes before you, we urge you to sign it in support of families of children
with disabilities. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
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September 9, 2005