A bill introduced by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) that would allow campaign funds to be used for child care by those who choose to run for elected office in California was signed into law Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The bill, AB 220, is aimed to allow more women and parents to run for office beginning in 2020 which came after the Federal Election Commission took action to allow funds to be used for child care expenses for seekers of federal offices, but in California, a majority of candidates seek local or state offices which Bonta said the federal decision did not apply.
Back in January, when the bill was introduced, Bonta stated the following:
“AB 220 will help create greater gender parity among elected officials in California and more broadly help all parents with young children who seek or serve in public office by allowing the use of campaign funds for child care expenses,” said Bonta. “The California State Legislature is currently 30 percent female. That is a marked change from just a few months ago when the legislature was only 23 percent female. Yet, there is more work to be done to bring about true parity that reflects the people of California.”
“AB 220 is a simple yet powerful change in state election law which can make our office holders more reflective of the electorate,” said Bonta. “Parents of young children bring an important perspective to policy-making and should be encouraged to enter the political arena and serve. Our campaign laws should support candidates with young children and reflect our California values of inclusion, equity and opportunity.”
The Bill, AB 220, passed the Assembly floor in a 76-1 vote on Sept. 11 and passed the Senate in a 35-4 vote on Sept. 10.
AB 220 is joint-authored by Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez (D- San Diego), Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), and co-authored by Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), David Chiu (D-San Francisco), Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), Cottie Petrie Norris (D-Laguna Beach), Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), Senators Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara).
