Sacramento –This past week the California State Assembly voted (74-0) to approve Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr.’s (D- South Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 258 which establishes a grant program that would fund health, mental health and other supportive services for California students.
“The need for supportive services at schools has long been recognized,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer Sr. “It is our responsibility to immediately invest in the health and well-being of our youth and I am proud that the Assembly voted with bipartisan support to move AB 258 to the Senate. AB 258 provides an immediate and permanent funding source for necessary health and support services that will improve the academic performance and social development of California’s students.”
Support staff to student ratios are very low in California, with approximately one counselor for every 681students, one nurse for every 2,500 students, and one social worker for every 10,000 students. Districts statewide have sought additional state and local funds to address this shortage, while some advocates have proposed a ballot measure that would reform Proposition 13 in order to increase school funding. Should the measure pass, those funds would be available sometime after 2020. However the funds this bill seeks to appropriate are available now.
“Our students are facing stress and trauma at unprecedented levels,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. “School-based services allow for the treatment of immediate student needs throughout the school day and can play a critical role in connecting students and their families with other community health services. We owe it to our youth to put them in the best position to succeed.”
AB 258 now heads to the California State Senate.
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Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. represents South Los Angeles, Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, and a portion of Huntington Park. For more information about Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr., please visit
