• CAM IS MONITORING LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA MUSEUMS
• NATIONWIDE ASSOCIATIONS REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION TO HELP INCREASE BUDGETS FOR FEDERAL FUNDERS
• CALIFORNIA EGISLATORS MISS DEADLINE TO INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE BOND ON JUNE BALLOT
• CONTACT CAM

AB 655 (Leno) Admissions surcharge: California Arts Council. This bill would require that a surcharge of 1% of the price of admission be imposed upon each patron of an entertainment venue for the privilege of admission into an entertainment venue, as defined. The proceeds fund would be used to fund and support the California Arts Council and its duties. Click here to read the entire bill.

AB 839 (Torrico) Gambling Control Act: nonprofit organization fundraisers. This bill would revise the Gambling Control Act to permit a nonprofit organization to conduct fundraisers using controlled games as a funding mechanism to further the purposes and mission of the nonprofit organization. The bill would also require at least 90% of revenue from fundraisers to go directly to the nonprofit organization. Click here to read the entire bill.

AB 2533 (Leno) Sales and use taxes: exemption: public art. This bill would expand the exemption for original works of art to include those leased from one nonprofit organization to another nonprofit organization for 35 years or more. This bill would also expand the definition of work of art to include a costume, dress, clothing, or personal adornment. Click here to read the entire bill.

AB 2625 (Pavley) California Heritage Corridor Act. This bill would enact the California Heritage Corridor Act and establish the California Heritage Corridor Committee in the Department of Transportation to determine street and highway routes that qualify to be designated as heritage corridors, as defined, and locations that qualify to be identified within designated heritage corridors. Click here to read the entire bill.

AB 2640 (Torrico) Income taxes: credits: quality job creation tax credit. This bill would, for taxable years beginning January 1, 2006, authorize a credit to a qualified taxpayer, as defined, for creating specified jobs within counties, as provided. Click here to read the entire bill.

AB 2900 (Plescia) California Natural Landmarks Program. This bill would enact a similar program to the National Natural Landmarks Program, called the California Natural Landmarks Program. Click here to read the entire bill.

ACR 119 (Laird) Year of the California Museum. This measure would proclaim 2006 as the Year of the California Museum. This bill now has 57 coauthors! Click here to read the entire bill.

SB 638 (Torlakson) After School Education and Safety Program. Existing law, the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, enacted by initiative statute, establishes the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9, inclusive, at participating public elementary, middle, junior high, and charter schools. The act provides a formula for determining an amount to be continuously appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for purposes of the program. Click here to read the entire bill.

SCR 64 (Scott) Arts Education Month. This measure would proclaim March 2006 as Arts Education Month. Chaptered 2/21/06. Click here to read the entire bill.

SCR 69 (Morrow) California Surf Museum. This measure would recognize the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, California as the official museum of surfing history, art, culture, heritage, and memorabilia for the State of California. Click here to read the entire bill.

The American Association of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, and the Americans for the Arts have been sending out emails to their constituents this week asking supporters to contact their elected officials to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This is a timely matter and action is requested as soon as possible.

This week, two "Dear Colleague" letters have been circulating to encourage other members of Congress to sign on to these letters. The co-chairs of the Congressional Humanities Caucus, Representatives Jim Leach (R-IA) and David Price (D-NC), are in support of a $15 million increase for the NEH in FY 2007. Meanwhile, the Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Chris Shays (R-CT) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), are urging all members to support an increased funding level of $170 million for the NEA in FY 2007. The deadline for Representatives to sign on to the letter of support for NEH is Wednesday, March 29th while the deadline for the letter in support of NEA is Friday, March 31st.

Now is the time for advocates and museum professionals like you to call, email or fax your representatives and ask them to sign-on to the NEA, NEH or both letters today. The National Humanities Alliance has posted a customizable draft message for you to email or fax to your members of Congress at the Humanities Advocacy Network web site http://www.humanitiesadvocacy.org/action_ctr.html. You can also quickly and easily access the Americans for the Arts E-Advocacy Center to contact your Member of Congress and ask him or her to sign on to the NEA "Dear Colleague" letter. Or, you can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of your Representative or Senators and request to speak to the staffer responsible for the issue you are calling about. To sign on to the NEH letter, Congressional offices should contact Naomi Zeff with Representative Leach's office (R-IA) at 202-225-6576, or Susan Howard with Representative Price's office (D-NC), at 202-225-1784. To sign on to the NEA letter, Congressional offices should contact Sarah Moore with Representative Shays' (R-CT) office at 202-225-5541 or Michelle Adams with Representative Slaughter's (D-NY) office at 202-225-3615.

Let your representatives know that you are calling, faxing or e-mailing to ask them to sign onto one or both of the "Dear Colleague" letters now being circulated in support of the arts and humanities. Always thank your members and their staffs for considering the positions of constituents like yourself and for their support of this important work.

As reported in the last edition of CAM e-News, the California legislative leadership worked hard to come to an agreement on the state infrastructure bond last week. Despite these efforts, they were unable to make the deadline to place the bond on the June ballot. As the advocate for all California museums, CAM has been providing comment and advocating for state support of California museums since January and our lobbyist and other stakeholders have been working together to secure some funding. CAM will include updates on the infrastructure bond in future emails. For additional information on the infrastructure bond, see the links to relevant articles below:

Governor, legislators vow deal by November; Arnold remains optimistic about infrastructure plan despite bond measure setback
By Steve Geissinger and Harrison Sheppard, Oakland Tribune, March 17, 2006
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3612218

The bond bust
Editorial, Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-bond17mar17,1,3102358.story

GOP frustrates governor by rejecting bonds; He'll try to put public works issue on November ballot
By Mark Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, March 17, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/17/MNGJDHPSSQ1.DTL

Analysis: Governor sounds upbeat as fingers point his way
By Amy Chance and Andy Furillo, Sacramento Bee, March 17, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14231449p-15053926c.html