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Take Action TODAY to
Ensure California's Children are Not Put in Harm's Way!

Per AVFCA’s prior legislative update emails this session, AVFCA is supporting many great bills that will ensure health and environmental safety for Californians. Our Legislative Team highlighted those last Tuesday while lobbying at the Capital with some of the biggest voices for children’s health and the enviroment in California, as part of the California Alliance for Children’s Environmental Health (CACEH). This was an extremely successful day, in which Karen and April lead and connected constituents with their legislators, staffers and fellow advocates from a wide variety of organizations.

Last Tuesday, also brought AVFCA’s team to the Capitol to raise awareness on two critical bills that could have significant negative impacts on families and children in California. Your voice is needed on these bills – please see the Action Alert below for details:

AB84 – Charter School Bill ( [link removed] [[link removed]] ) is a 100+ page bill proposing broad changes to how charter schools operate in California. While the stated goal of AB84 is to introduce additional oversight and guardrails, the bill would have significant impacts on programs that offer flexible, personalized education for students who thrive outside traditional classroom settings. Although AB84 falls outside AVFCA’s core mission, we are deeply aware of its potential implications for families in our community, many who have been forced to homeschool their children over the past 10 years.

Amendments to AB84 are expected by the end of the week. Behind the scenes, AVFCA is in close communication with the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), A Plus, and A.P.P.L.E., all of whom are leading negotiations for key amendments. AVFCA wants to reassure our community that we are working alongside these organizations to ensure the most harmful provisions are addressed. Our goal is to protect educational diversity and preserve the freedom for families to choose the learning environment that works best for their children. Unfortunately, updates from these groups are not positive and while they have come to agreement on some issues, there are several issues that remain problematic and unresolved.

AB495 – Caregiver Affidavit Bill ( [link removed] [[link removed]] ) , also known as the Family Preparedness Act, seeks to expand who can submit a caregiver affidavit, allowing any trusted adult to enroll a child in school and make certain decisions, rather than limiting this authority to close relatives. While the intent is to provide stability for children during sudden parental absences, the current language lacks critical safeguards and could unintentionally put children at risk.

AVFCA’s legislative team has had productive conversations with the author’s staff and sponsors, sharing amendments that would strengthen protections for children — such as requiring schools to first contact a child’s listed emergency contacts and ensuring that a person seeking caregiver authority is not legally prohibited from access. We are hopeful these conversations will lead to improvements in the bill’s language that keep children both safe and cared for.

What’s Next? Both AB84 and AB495 will be voted on in the Senate Appropriations Committee, by August 29th. If they advance, both will likely be amended and then they will then go to the Senate floor for a vote by September 12.

Action Alert!

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR'S DISCTRICT AND CAPITOL OFFICES TODAY: Even if you already called them recently, keep the conversation going, sharing your perspective, your experience, and your concerns with your Senator and their staff. The voices of their constituents matter to them, especially when bills reach the floor for a vote. Ask them to vote NO on AB 84 and AB 495 unless they are significantly amended to address the opposition's concerns and ask them to vote yes on those bills such as AB 1264 which removes ultraprocessed foods from schools and protect children's health.
To find your Senator's contact information, put your address into this locator ( [link removed] [[link removed]] ).

AVFCA remains committed to working collaboratively, building relationships across the aisle, and pursuing productive pathways forward. With your support, we are able to shape legislation that protects families, children, and informed choice in California.

Thank you for standing with us. Your voice, your calls, and your commitment truly make a difference. Because of supporters like you, AVFCA can continue to show up at the Capitol, educate legislators, and defend the rights of families across the state.

Please forward this email to anyone in California, and ask them to do the same.



If you found this information helpful and appreciate the work A Voice for Choice Advocacy is doing, please support us by making a donation today.

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Together, we can create a freer, healthier future for our children.

And don't forget to join us for our 10 year Anniversary Gala on October 11th. But your ticket today! [link removed] [[link removed]]

C
Christina Hildebrand
President/Founder
A Voice for Choice Advocacy, Inc.
[email protected] [[email protected]]
www.AVoiceForChoiceAdvocacy.org [[link removed]]
www.avoiceforchoiceadvocacy.org [www.avoiceforchoiceadvocacy.org]
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A Voice for Choice Advocacy
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