WHAT IS PROPOSITION 10? [top]
In November 1998, voters passed a statewide ballot initiative to add a 50 cent tax per pack of cigarettes. The monies collected are to be used to fund education, health and child care programs that promote early childhood development, from prenatal to age five. Programs will be funded at the county level to best meet local needs of each community. The intent is for all California children to be healthy, to live in a healthy and supportive family environment and to enter school ready to learn.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF PROP 10? [top]
Prop. 10 funds are intended to promote, support and improve early childhood development through coordinating resources and programs that emphasize family support, parent education, child care and development, and health care.
Prop. 10 is unique because it represents an historic effort to gather input from the public. Prop. 10 directs each county to create a strategic plan based on extensive input from communities, including families, service providers and advocacy groups. Those who most work with children will make spending decisions. The plan outlines how counties will use these new funds to develop comprehensive, integrated systems of support and services for all children, zero to five years of age. Stanislaus County has such a plan in place.
WHY THE EMPHASIS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD? [top]
Current research indicates that the emotional, physical and intellectual environment that a child is exposed to has a profound impact on how his or her brain develops. The experience that an infant and toddler have with parents and caregivers will influence how a child functions when he or she reaches school and later in life. Currently, most money spent on children's programs in California is directed at children older than five years of age.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED AND HOW IS IT BEING DISTRIBUTED? [top]
The state expects approximately $700 million to be collected every year from the tobacco tax. Eighty percent of the revenues will go to County Commissions to fund local programs. The State Commission will use twenty percent for statewide education and outreach. Stanislaus County will be allocated about six million dollars every year.
HOW ARE THE ALLOCATIONS FOR EACH COUNTY DETERMINED? [top]
Funds are allocated to County Commissions based upon county birth rate data, according to the county where the birth mother resides. Stanislaus County has an estimated 7,000 births a year.
IF SMOKING RATES GO DOWN AND THEREFORE LESS TAX IS COLLECTED, HOW WILL THE AMOUNT OF MONEY A COUNTY MAY BE EXPECTING BE IMPACTED? [top]
There is no provision for funding to come from other sources. The State Commission anticipates approximately $700 million from tobacco taxes. If fewer taxes are collected, then the amount of funds to each county will be reduced proportionately.
The hope is that smoking rates decrease as a result of the tax. It is the goal of Prop. 10 to improve early childhood education and decrease smoking rates, especially among pregnant women and the parents of young children. The intent of Prop. 10 is to create sustainable programs for children that can continue even as Prop. 10 funding decreases.
WILL THE PROP. 10 MONEY BE USED TO REPLACE CURRENTLY PLANNED/FUNDED SERVICES? [top]
No Prop. 10 money can be used to replace existing funding for services or programs. The money can be used only to augment existing programs or to create new ones. All programs funded by Prop. 10 must also focus on preparing children to enter school healthy and ready to learn.
WHO ADMINISTERS PROP 10? [top]
A seven-member commission comprised of volunteers appointed by the Governor, Assembly Speaker and Senate President Pro Term. The commission has hired an executive director, Jane Henderson, Ph.D., who previously directed the State's Healthy Start program, providing integrated health, mental health, social, educational and other support services at school sites.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE STATE COMMISSION? [top]
The State Commission provides oversight and technical assistance to the 58 County Commissions and state education on the importance of child development. Specific functions include developing program guidelines, reviewing county plans and conducting an annual program review and evaluation.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION? [top]
Each county board of supervisors enacted an ordinance to establish the appointment, selection and removal of commissioners, and to establish a trust fund to receive and make disbursements. The county board of supervisors appoints members to the County Commissions. In Stanislaus County, nine people make up the local commission.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION? [top]
County Commissions must develop strategic plans consistent with the State Commission on guidelines on funding local, priority child development programs and services. They are also mandated to hold public hearings, and submit county plans and audits to the State Commission. However, each County Commission makes the final decision on the allocation of Prop. 10 funds. The Stanislaus County Commission is committed to blending Prop. 10 monies, wherever possible, with other funds to form partnerships to maximize services and minimize program duplication and administrative costs.
IS THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF CHILDREN A FACTOR IN THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FUNDED WITH REVENUES FROM THE CALIFORNIA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST FUND? [top]
All California children, from the prenatal stage to age five, are eligible for services and programs funded, in whole or in part, by the California Children and Families Trust Fund shall not be denied due to an eligible child's immigration status. Each County Commissions should ensure that services and programs are not restricted or denied based on the immigration status of eligible children.
WILL THE PUBLIC GET INVOLVED? [top]
Absolutely. Many counties have already held meetings, conducted surveys and established creative ways to involve parents, providers of children's services, and others. In Stanislaus County, many organizations, groups, and parents provided valuable input. |
