Relative to Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week
The resolution highlights that nearly 400,000 Californians benefited from approximately $200 million in refunds in the CalEITC's first year. It emphasizes the importance of this tax credit in providing financial support for basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, education, and transportation. By encouraging families to utilize this tax credit, the resolution aims to reduce the $2 billion in state and federal EITC that remains unclaimed in California, thereby helping families achieve greater economic security.
Senate Resolution No. 80, introduced by Senators Atkins, Bates, Fuller, Galgiani, Jackson, Leyva, Nguyen, and Skinner, recognizes the importance of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and designates the week of February 11 to February 17, 2018, as Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week. The resolution aims to promote awareness of the CalEITC as a vital resource for low-income working families. It acknowledges the significant impact the CalEITC has had on lifting families out of poverty since its inception in California in 2016.
The sentiment surrounding SR80 is overwhelmingly positive, as it aligns with efforts to support low-income families in California. Legislators supporting the resolution view the CalEITC as a crucial tool in improving the quality of life for the working poor and enhancing children's health and educational outcomes. The resolution aims to instill pride in the state's efforts to promote financial literacy and awareness about the CalEITC among its citizens.
While the resolution itself does not present significant points of contention, it does highlight systemic issues regarding poverty and income inequality in California. The effectiveness of the CalEITC relies heavily on awareness and access, suggesting underlying challenges in outreach and education to ensure that eligible families can benefit from the tax credit. Thus, the resolution implicitly calls for increased efforts to raise awareness and promote utilization of the CalEITC among affected populations.