CSEA has been working with Legislators and the Governor to develop a solution to restore the mid-year transportation cut. Senate Bill 81 would restore $248 million to fund school transportation by allocating those reductions to revenue limits instead.
Background
Because state revenues came in lower than expected in December, current law imposes an automatic trigger to reduce the funding for school transportation, resulting in a mid-year cut of $248 million. This cut will have a devastating impact on our schools across this state, and will put the safety and lives of public school children at risk. Students may have to walk further to school or may be unable to get to school at all!
So far, many districts are having difficulty in implementing such a reduction because the special education and home-to-school transportation services provided cannot be reduced or eliminated without having an impact on student attendance. In some districts, the cut has prompted layoffs of bus drivers, maintenance workers, and others classified workers to avoid major reduction to student services.
Take Action!
SB 81 is scheduled to be heard in committee on January 31st. We need you to call the members of the Assembly Budget Committee to express your support of SB 81, and to ask for a “YES” vote on this bill. The committee members are listed as follows:
| Member | Capitol Office | District Office |
| Bob Blumenfield, Chair | (916) 319-2040 | (818) 904-3840 |
| Jim Nielsen, Vice Chair | (916) 319-2002 | (530) 223-6300 |
| Luis Alejo | (916) 319-2028 | (831) 759-8676 |
| Michael Allen | (916) 319-2007 | (707) 546-4500 |
| Bill Berryhill | (916) 319-2026 | (209) 473-6972 |
| Susan Bonilla | (916) 319-2011 | (925) 521-1511 |
| Julia Brownley | (916) 319-2041 | (818) 596-4141 |
| Joan Buchanan | (916) 319-2015 | (925) 325-1515 |
| Betsy Butler | (916) 319-2053 | (310) 615-3515 |
| Gilbert Cedillo | (916) 319-2045 | (323) 225-4545 |
| Wesley Chesbro | (916) 319-2001 | (707) 445-7014 |
| Roger Dickinson | (916) 319-2009 | (916) 324-4676 |
| Mike Feuer | (916) 319-2042 | (310) 285-5490 |
| Richard Gordon | (916) 319-2021 | (650) 691-2121 |
| Diane Harkey | (916) 319-2073 | (949) 347-7301 |
| Jared Huffman | (916) 319-2006 | (415) 479-4920 |
| Kevin Jeffries | (916) 319-2066 | (951) 894-1232 |
| Brian Jones | (916) 319-2077 | (619) 441-2322 |
| Dan Logue | (916) 319-2003 | (530) 895-4217 |
| Allan Mansoor | (916) 319-2068 | (714) 668-2100 |
| Holly Mitchell | (916) 319-2047 | (310) 342-1070 |
| William Monning | (916) 319-2027 | (831) 649-2832 |
| Mike Morrell | (916) 319-2063 | (909) 466-9096 |
| Brian Nestande | (916) 319-2064 | (760) 647-0164 |
| Sandre Swanson | (916) 319-2016 | (510) 286-1670 |
| David G. Valadao | (916) 319-2030 | (559) 585-7170 |
| Donald P. Wagner | (916) 319-2070 | (949) 863-7070 |
Please make the following points when you contact the Assembly Committee members. If the trigger cut is not restored it would:
- Put small school children in harm’s way, when they need to cross busy roads, or go through dangerous areas.
- Force some parents to make unthinkable choices between their job and safely getting their children to and from school.
- Dramatically reduce funding for some schools because of a drop in school attendance.
- Increasing traffic congestion on our roads and especially at our schools.
- Stressing our already fragile economy and high unemployment rate by putting thousands of school bus drivers out of work.
- Unfairly punishing low-income families and rural school districts, who depend the most on school buses to get students to class.
If you are a constituent, please let the person who answers the phone know that.
Thank you for making these important calls in support of SB 81.
