Friday, February 27, 2015 10:45 am

SACRAMENTO (From the San Diego Union-Tribune) -- A new state bill would eliminate California's tax on diapers, placing the product in an exempt category like some food and medicine.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, introduced the bipartisan bill this week with the goal of easing costs for new parents. Sen. Joel Anderson, R-El Cajon, co-authored the legislation.

"There's no question that diapers are an absolute health necessity for young children and it's time that California's tax code treat it that way," said Gonzalez, who proposed the bill in January. "Besides keeping babies healthy, diapers need to be available to new parents to access child care for work. If we're serious about getting parents back to work and providing them every opportunity to support their families, we have to ease their ability to purchase diapers."

Anderson, a fiscal conservative who's policy views are often at odds with Democrats, voiced his support for the diaper bill, AB 717.

"I'm pleased to join Assemblywoman Gonzalez's thoughtful approach to meeting the needs of babies," Senator Anderson said in a statement. "All Californians deserve a bipartisan tax break, even if it's only one baby step at a time."

Gonzalez estimated the bill, if passed, could save families up to $100 per child annually, about the equivalent of an infant's diaper costs every month.

Six states already exempt diapers from their respective sales taxes, according to Gonzalez. Those are: Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. There are an estimated 1.27 million children in California under the age of 2 and a half whose families are expected to benefit from the elimination of the diaper tax, she said.

Last year, Gonzalez' proposed Californians pay an $80 per month diaper subsidy for needy families. That effort stalled in the Legislature.

Gonzalez has said diaper costs can be a barrier to employment for poor families. Daycare centers, even those subsidized by the state, require parents to furnish diapers for their children. If parents can't afford diapers, they might stay at home with their children and not look for work, the assemblywoman has said.

Her previous bill drew national media attention, strong praise from advocates from the poor and equally powerful criticism from those who believe California's welfare system is already too large.