Anti-First 5 Legislation Pulled From Committee Hearing

Senate Health Committee staff confirmed that Sen. Bob Dutton (R- Inland Empire) withdrew SB 486 from a scheduled hearing on Wednesday. The bill, which required voter approval, aimed to dissolve all First 5 commissions, which would effectively eliminate all the local programs funded by First 5 commissions throughout California. These include programs that provide child care, early education, support for at-risk families, child abuse prevention, home visitation, early intervention for children with special needs, parenting education, family literacy and nutrition and anti-obesity efforts.

According to Dutton's office, the legislation will be reshaped as a two-year bill. This means the bill will still be considered "live," but ineligible for hearing and movement through the Legislature again until January 2012 - the last year of the current two-year legislative session.

In recent weeks, parents and early childhood advocates have spoken out against the bill, citing the harm it would cause to young children and pregnant women in low-income communities.

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