Sacramento – Assembly Member Anna Caballero won support in key Senate policy committees this week for legislation dealing with housing and land use, and expanded literacy programs to serve young adults at risk of becoming involved with gangs.

Both issues represent key priorities for Caballero, who chairs both the Assembly Local Government Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention.

Assembly Bill 1253, passed by the Senate Natural Resources Committee, would set up rules for allocating portions of the bond funds from the statewide housing and environmental bond measures that were passed by voters last November.  Cities and counties would apply for the funds to build parks, implement urban greening strategies and conduct planning.

“I’ve identified four priorities to guide the allocation of these funds, consistent with the purposes of the bond measures,” said Caballero.  “One priority is to help ‘good actor’ communities that have already fulfilled state planning requirements and built the affordable housing our communities need.”

Caballero added:  “Housing alone doesn’t generate the tax money needed to fully pay for parks, roads and other infrastructure, so these ‘good actor’ communities really need and deserve our help.”

Other priorities are to use the funds to incentivize cities and counties to fulfill their planning requirements; to support statewide goals relating to building sustainable communities, with shortened commutes and protected open space; and to establish bond allocation rules that are sensitive to the special needs of rural communities.

Caballero also won support from the Senate Education Committee for Assembly Bill 1030, a bill that would offer state support for literacy programs at local libraries targeting young people, ages 16-19 that are not enrolled in school.

“Poor reading skills are key reasons for young people to fall behind and ultimately leave school,” said Caballero.  “Research tells us there’s a strong link between illiteracy and juvenile crimes. 

“These programs are important because they teach literacy skills that are directly relevant to young people -- how to read want ads for jobs, how to fill out a job application, or how to read to children or younger siblings.”

AB 1253 will be considered next by the Senate Local Government Committee, while AB 1030 awaits a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.