California

Existing Programs:

None.

Legislature Status:

In session.

Pending Legislation:

Assembly Bill 943
“Amendment to the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law.”
Gives a tax credit to individuals and corporations who donate to an organization that gives private-school scholarships to children with disabilities, children in foster care, and children from low-income families. It was introduced on Feb. 22, 2013 by Rep. Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, and has not yet left committee.

Senate Bill 693
“Amendment to the Personal Income Tax Law.”
Gives a tax credit to low-income and middle-income parents of children attending public, private or charter schools. It was introduced on Feb. 22, 2013 by Sen. Lou Carrea, D-Santa Ana, and has not yet left committee.

Breakdown:

The likelihood that the two tax credit scholarship proposals pending in the legislature will gain traction is slim. Governor Jerry Brown’s administration has not held a favorable view of school vouchers. Moreover, a referendum from 2000 that would have created a statewide voucher system was shot down by 71 percent of California voters, dissuading legislators from pushing the issue.

Nevertheless, school-choice spending in California has been considerable. In March’s Board of Education elections for Los Angeles, proponents of school choice -- including Michelle Rhee, Rupert Murdoch, and Michael Bloomberg -- poured in $4 million in support for pro-school choice candidates, with varying degrees of success.

Get more information on the ALEC education bill that was introduced in California in 2013, The Open Enrollment Act (AB 1279).

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