SACRAMENTO (Press Release)- The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation on Monday passed AB 1178, a bill authored by Assemblymember Marty Block (78th Assembly District, San Diego) to support California’s college students by reducing by $120 million annually the sales tax on textbooks and school supplies found at college bookstores. AB 1178 would take the burden off the shoulders of students by bringing in state revenues currently lost to a corporate tax loophole that allows for the use of foreign tax havens.
“Our college kids are struggling to get by while corporate bad actors take a Cayman Islands Spring Break from paying their fair share in taxes,” Block said. “For some corporations to find a loophole whereby they don’t have to pay their fair share is not only unjust, it adds to the burden the rest of us must shoulder and it should be illegal. This bill would close an often-used loophole to level the playing field in terms of tax burdens and help our college students strengthen our state’s economy.”
According to California Franchise Tax Board estimates, AB 1178 will generate over $330 million in state revenues over the next three years by collecting taxes currently avoided by the use of foreign tax havens.
A long time advocate of closing corporate tax loopholes that leave an undue tax burden on California residents, Block wrote AB 1178 to ensure corporations would not be penalized for simply conducting economic activity in another country.
On Tuesday, Block’s office announced that another bill, AB 1244, has been approved by the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
The proposed measure would allow the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide paroled offenders a CDCR identification card immediately upon their release from state prison. This valid identification card can be used by parolees as identification to assist them in obtaining a California Driver’s License or Identification Card from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
“A major barrier to reducing recidivism is the lack of valid identification for parolees. Without it, they cannot obtain gainful employment, sign up for job training, or cash a check or money order. They are precluded from becoming productive members of our communities,” commented Assemblymember Block. “AB 1244 removes a barrier to achieving those goals.”
This bill is co-sponsored by San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and the United African American Ministerial Action Council of San Diego.
*
Preceding provided by Assemblyman Marty Block