SACRAMENTO
Little Hoover Commission Biennial Report (2023-24)
The Little Hoover Commission released 13 reports in the 2023-24 biennium, according to a new report summarizing the work of the independent, nonpartisan watchdog agency. The new report, Advocating for Change, 2023-24, also notes that 15 bills supported by the Commission to implement its recommendations were passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
The studies released by the Commission during the past two years touch upon a wide array of policy areas, including how the state cares for those with developmental disabilities, efforts to divert organic materials out of landfills, the impact of the aging of the state’s population, the California Environmental Quality Act, the state’s response to retail theft, the homeowners insurance market, and the use of artificial intelligence in state government.
The state also released several reports examining how well its past recommendations had been implemented, including with regard to intimate partner violence, human trafficking for purposes of labor exploitation, and the state’s Medi-Cal Dental Program.
Each report follows an extensive hearing and study process by the Commission and its staff, including testimony from a variety of affected groups, a review of existing research, and in some cases original data-gathering by staff.
“Our Commission searches for ways to make state government work better for Californians,” said Commission Chairman Pedro Nava. “By focusing on the facts and digging deep, we offer practical solutions to the problems facing our state.”
After making recommendations for policy change, the Commission supports actions, including legislation, that implement its recommendations. The new report outlines Commission-supported bills signed into law this biennium on topics including the developmental disabilities system, labor trafficking, intimate partner violence, open-meetings laws, organic waste disposal, and customer-centric government.
The Commission includes nine public members and four sitting members of the Legislature, who are appointed by a combination of the Governor and legislative leadership. By law, no one political party may control more than five of the nine public seats. The Commission is charged in statute with making reform recommendations that foster “economy, efficiency and improved service.”
The report is available at https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023-24-Biennial-Report.pdf
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Lake County sees tobacco program community education successes
Since 2020, the Communities Addressing Nicotine (CAN) Project has made significant progress in Lake County to educate and inform residents, healthcare agencies, decision makers, community stakeholders, and educational representatives about the dangers of breathing Second-Hand Smoke (SHS) and toxic aerosol from vaping.
This project educates and seeks input from the public about general tobacco regulations and supports and provides technical assistance to other tobacco and health education programs.
The Health and Social Policy Institute (HASPI), which sponsors the CAN project has been working in rural California communities for the past 20 years and has sponsored projects in Tehama, Humboldt, Amador, and Plumas Counties.
During the past five years, CAN has worked to engage the public in Lake County, most recently under the direction of Gina Lyle-Griffin, Advocacy Consultant and Public Health Educator. Gina has been with the program since 2022, is a longtime resident, and brings decades of local experience in early childhood education, public health practice, and tobacco policy knowledge to this work.
Lake County was selected as one of the CAN project’s focus counties beginning in 2020. The Health and Social Policy Institute and its CAN project in Lake County is dedicated to promoting public health and clean indoor and outdoor air. This is accomplished through community activities such as working towards encouraging jurisdictional policies for protecting local families from cancer-causing secondhand and thirdhand smoke and aerosol residue in multi-family housing. HASPI aims to create positive change and promote awareness of health and social policy issues in our rural California communities.
Smoke-free Multi-Unit Housing, apartments, and condominiums sharing common walls have become one of the centerpieces of the project in Lake County. Secondhand smoke & aerosol poses serious health threats to children, seniors, adults, and pets.
For residents of multi-family housing, secondhand smoke, including secondhand tobacco smoke and secondhand vape aerosol can be a major concern. Polluted indoor air can flow from unit to unit and travel through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, and ventilation systems. This secondhand smoke and vape aerosol can cause or increase cases of asthma in children and COPD in adults.
Everyone deserves healthy indoor air at home that promotes their well-being and that will also make it easier to try to quit tobacco use if they wish. Over the past five years, Lake County has provided educational programs and forums with opportunities for citizen interaction with policymakers and local public officials regarding tobacco and clean air issues.
Lake County residents needing additional information about the health benefits of smoke & aerosol-free air can contact Gina at haspiglg@gmail.com or learn more at secondhanddangers.org
—Submitted
