Bill Text: CA SCR12 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Taxation.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-02 - Hearing canceled at the request of author. [SCR12 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SCR12-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 12	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Calderon

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   Relative to taxation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 12, as introduced, Calderon. Taxation.
   This measure would encourage state departments to identify and
utilize existing and potential public or private partnerships to
inform citizens and employees about the availability of the federal
Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
programs, as specified.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Insufficient income contributes to many of the social and
human service needs in our state; and
   WHEREAS, The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides tax
relief and income support to seniors and low-income working families
earning less than $51,000 a year; and
   WHEREAS, The EITC lifts millions of individuals out of poverty
each year in the United States by supporting work and
self-sufficiency while reducing the need for public assistance; and
   WHEREAS, Increasing EITC utilization represents a highly
cost-effective economic development strategy; and
   WHEREAS, Each year, the EITC helps approximately 284,376
households in California and brings more than $347 million into
California's economy; and
   WHEREAS, It is estimated that every year, out of every family that
qualifies for the EITC, 800,000 Californians fail to file for EITC,
accordingly, increasing Californian's utilization of the EITC would
help to bring additional funds into California's economy; and
   WHEREAS, Every resident earning less than $51,000 a year may
qualify for up to $5,891 in EITC which can be used to lower their
taxes or increase their tax refund; and
   WHEREAS, Every 1,000 residents who qualify and apply for EITC
represents a potential $5.8 million economic stimulant for our
communities; and
   WHEREAS, An increase of $1.2 billion each year in EITC benefits
would generate $1.2 billion in business sales, pay $311 million in
wages, and add nearly 7,500 jobs to the state economy each year; and
   WHEREAS, A volunteer EITC State Commission made up of executive
directors of the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax
Board, the Employment Development Department, and representatives
from the offices of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
Controller, the Treasurer, the Trustees of the California State
University System, the Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges, and two union representatives would coordinate Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) activities and provide callers with tax
credit information, including information on eligibility rules, and
direct workers to nearby VITA sites for needed tax forms and
assistance; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring,That the Legislature of the State of California
encourages departments of California state government to identify and
utilize existing and potential public or private partnerships to
inform citizens and employees about the availability of the EITC and
the formation of VITA programs; and be it further.
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California
encourages each state entity to work in partnership with private
outreach campaigns to identify and utilize existing communications
mechanisms to inform Californians about the availability of the EITC
and VITA programs, which may include state publications, Internet Web
sites, human resource materials and communications, correspondence
and forms from the state taxing agencies, the Treasurer, and the
Controller, targeted printed materials, caseworker and client
interactions, and application materials for state assistance and
state licenses; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California
encourages each state entity including the State Librarian, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and others to utilize existing
state infrastructure, if appropriate, to support EITC outreach and
statewide availability of the VITA program, which may include
utilizing the Department of Workforce Investment Service Centers and
other appropriate locations as VITA sites, staffed by trained VITA
volunteers, between January and April, encouraging local school
districts to integrate EITC outreach and VITA services into their
parent involvement and community school efforts, and utilizing
economic development tools and negotiations to encourage and support
EITC outreach and employment-based VITA sites if appropriate; and be
it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.