Children's Advocacy Institute

Executive Director

Robert C. Fellmeth

Council For Children

Thomas A. Papageorge

Council Chair

Martin D. Fern

Birt Harvey, M.D.

Louise Horvitz, M.S.W.,

Psy.D.

Hon. Leon S. Kaplan

Paul A. Peterson

Gary F. Redenbacher

Gary Richwald, M.D.,

M.P.H.

Blair L. Sadler

Gloria Perez Samson

Alan Shumacher, M.D.

Owen Smith

University of San Diego

School of Law

5998 Alcalá Park

San Diego, CA 92110

(619) 260-4806

(619) 260-4753 (Fax)

926 J Street

Suite 709

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 444-3875

(916) 444-6611 (Fax)

Reply to:

□ San Diego

□ Sacramento

www.sandiego.edu/childrensissues

2/19/99

Children's Honor Roll Announced at Breakfast of Champions

Legislators who were "there for children" in the 1997-98 legislative session will be recognized on a Children's Honor Roll, to be unveiled at the first annual Breakfast of Champions on Wednesday, February 24, 8:00 - 10:30 a.m., in the State Capitol. The event, sponsored by the Children's Advocacy Institute (CAI), honors legislators who scored 90% or higher on the Children's Legislative Report Card (Report Card). CAI publishes two Report Cards for each legislative session, an Interim Report after the first year and a Final Report after the second year.

"Through their votes on important bills, legislators can make a real difference in the lives of California's children," said Robert C. Fellmeth, CAI Executive Director. "All too often in the political arena, legislators "take a walk," rather than stand up for children -- and children suffer as a result. The Report Cards provide a record of children's policy progress in the legislative session, and the votes that made it happen."

Seventeen out of the 120 state legislators received perfect final grades of 100%. Thirty-nine more received final grades in the ninetieth percentile. All 56 will be named on the Children's Honor Roll and will be recognized at the Breakfast of Champions. (The list of Honor Roll members is attached.)

The Children's Legislative Report Card, Final Report includes the average score of each legislator on 1997 bills important to children's well-being (the 25 bills were described in the Interim Report released last May); an average score on key 1998 bills (31 additional bills described in the Final Report); and a final percentage grade (an average of the two scores) reflective of each legislator's total "votes for children."

CAI is an academic center at University of San Diego, School of Law, with offices there and in Sacramento. CAI advocates for the well-being of children through the courts, legislature and regulatory agencies.

Contacts:

Robert C. Fellmeth, Executive Director, Children's Advocacy Institute

619-260-4806 (in Sacramento on 2/24: 916-444-3875)

Margaret A. Dalton, Project Director, Information Clearinghouse on Children, San Diego office

619-260-4279

Kathryn Dresslar, Senior Policy Advocate, Children's Advocacy Institute, Sacramento office

916-444-3875

The Children's Advocacy Institute is pleased to announce the members of its

1997-98

Children's Honor Roll

and would like to thank the following Legislators who were there for children when it counted:

Senator Dede Alpert

Senator Ruben Ayala

Senator John Burton

Senator Leroy Greene

Senator Tom Hayden

Senator Teresa Hughes

Senator Patrick Johnston

Senator Betty Karnette

Senator Bill Lockyer

Senator Jack O'Connell

Senator Richard Polanco

Senator Herschel Rosenthal

Senator Adam Schiff

Senator Byron Sher

Senator Hilda Solis

Senator Mike Thompson

Senator Diane Watson

Assemblymember Elaine Alquist

Assemblymember Dion Aroner

Assemblymember Joe Baca

Assemblymember Debra Bowen

Assemblymember Valerie Brown

Assemblymember Cruz Bustamante

Assemblymember Tony Cardenas

Assemblymember Dennis Cardoza

Assemblymember Gil Cedillo

Assemblymember Susan Davis

Assemblymember Denise Moreno Ducheny

Assemblymember Martha Escutia

Assemblymember Liz Figueroa

Assemblymember Martin Gallegos

Assemblymember Sally Havice

Assemblymember Robert Hertzberg

Assemblymember Mike Honda

Assemblymember Fred Keeley

Assemblymember Wally Knox

Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl

Assemblymember Ted Lempert

Assemblymember Diane Martinez

Assemblymember Kerry Mazzoni

Assemblymember Carole Migden

Assemblymember Kevin Murray

Assemblymember Grace Napolitano

Assemblymember Deborah Ortiz

Assemblymember Don Perata

Assemblymember Jack Scott

Assemblymember Kevin Shelley

Assemblymember Virginia Strom-Martin

Assemblymember Mike Sweeney

Assemblymember Helen Thomson

Assemblymember Tom Torlakson

Assemblymember Antonio Villaraigosa

Assemblymember Edward Vincent

Assemblymember Carl Washington

Assemblymember Howard Wayne

Assemblymember Scott Wildman