CalNonprofits is launching a three-pronged initiative to help prepare nonprofits and their constituents to take full advantage of the health care exchange created by the Affordable Care Act.

Nonprofits have three main questions about healthcare reform:

• How will this affect our clients and constituents?
• How will healthcare reform affect our funding?
• How will this affect our nonprofit's ability to provide health insurance for our employees?

To answer these questions, CalNonprofits' three-part initiative will include education, direct enrollment and advocacy.

Check out our new online Legislation Tracker to see the bills we think are most interesting and relevant to nonprofits in California. With a quick glance you can see the bills, authors, a brief description, CalNonprofits' position, and the bill's status. You can also find links to other legislation trackers we recommend. Let us know what you think in the comments (below)!

AB 580, which would significantly increase funding to the California Arts Council for arts-related grantmaking to nonprofits, has passed its first policy committee and is now in Assembly Appropriations. CalNonprofits has signed on as co-sponsors of AB 580, along with Californians for the Arts, Latino Arts Network and California LGBT Arts Alliance. We’re working now to make sure the bill has its best chance to pass from Appropriations and get a full vote on the Assembly Floor. Like most bills with a price tag, there will be negotiation needed to get out of Appropriations. We’ll keep you posted!

SB 323, which would revoke the state tax exemption of youth organizations found to discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation and other factors, has passed from the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance and is off to Senate Appropriations. The Governance and Finance hearing featured spirited debate and long lines of individuals and organizations voicing support and opposition. CalNonprofits is not taking a position on the bill, but we are in communication with lead organizations supporting and opposing the bill. We welcome input from California’s nonprofit community on this issue, so feel free to email our policy director, Kris Lev-Twombly.

AB 149, which would require county jails, parole offices and probation offices to provide voter eligibility and voter registration information to inmates and supervisees, just sailed out of Assembly Public Safety committee with a 5-2 vote. CalNonprofits strongly supports this bill because it promotes voter accessibility and addresses the confusion people face about their voting rights when going through the criminal justice system. Restoring voting rights is an important part of getting back on track and contributing to society. CalNonprofits voiced our support in the hearing, and we encourage you to sign on in support of this bill. Find tools for contacting your legislators here.