Current Issues 

• Click here (PDF) for the most recent policy news of interest to California nonprofits (January 2009).
• Click here (PDF) to view a selected list of bills of interest to nonprofits taken up by the California Legislature in its most recently completed two-year session.
• New Charity Bingo Laws
  The California Gambling Control Commission has posted updated FAQs on implementation of the changes in charity bingo laws that took effect on January 1. The update clarifies that mitigation payments to nonprofits that are no longer allowed to operate eletronic bingo are NOT a loan and do NOT need to be repaid. Click here (PDF) to view the document.
• Volunteerism and Educational Act
  Two lawmakers  - including one from California - have introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to expand the country’s national-service programs and set up funds to help nonprofit groups expand innovative programs and recruit volunteers. The bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, is similar to legislation that has been introduced in the Senate, the Serve America Act (S.277). The House bill was introduced by Reps. George Miller of California, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Carolyn McCarthy of New York. It would triple the number of participants in AmeriCorps to 250,000 and increase the education grants for participants; create new service programs for young people and older people; and create a Clean Energy Corps, Education Corps, Healthy Futures Corps, and Veterans Service Corps. It would also create a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11 to commemorate the 2001 terrorist attacks. It would create a Community Solutions Fund to award competitive grants for innovative projects to tackle social problems and a Volunteer Generation Fund to provide grants to help organizations that work with volunteers improve their programs. More information about the legislation is available on the House Education and Labor Committee’s Web site.

California State Assembly: www.assembly.ca.gov
California State Senate: www.senate.ca.gov
For full bill text and legislative staff analysis: http://leginfo.ca.gov
For live and archive broadcast of hearings and floor sessions: www.calchannel.com
For summaries and links for state political news: www.rtumble.com