For Immediate Release: March 24, 2008
Contact: Karen Clifton
Phone: (559) 445-5532

Sacramento, CA - Assembly Bill 1812, authored by Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) moved out of the Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee at the State Capitol today with unanimous bi-partisan support. The bill would help provide funding for smoke detector education programs, was supported by Sylvia Escalante, mother of Ruvi and Ana Nicole Escalante who both died in a Calwa house fire, and other members of the fire community during the hearing.

"I am very pleased my fellow colleagues realize the importance of funding smoke detector programs throughout the state," said Arambula. "AB 1812 is an opportunity to help save lives and protect families from devastating house fires."

AB 1812 will establish a tax check-off for California taxpayer to voluntarily give funds to local fire departments for fire alarm safety programs. The funds generated by the tax-check off will help firefighters provide functional smoke detectors to low-income families in their communities. The funds would be distributed through grants offered by the Office of Emergency Services.

"I whole-heartedly support AB 1812 and commend Assemblymember Arambula for taking the initiative to create legislation that will fund smoke detectors programs," said Escalante. "Through AB 1812 more families will be educated on the importance of smoke detectors and more lives will be saved."

"The heroic leadership of Sylvia Escalante and Fresno’s firefighting community should be continued and repeated in communities across California," said Arambula.

AB 1812 will now move directly to Assembly Governmental Organization before moving to the Assembly floor.

Note to Assignment Editor: You can access interviews and coverage of the hearing through Capitol Television News Service.