Meeting with Assemblymember Maienschien

On August 23, Meow Meow Foundation principals Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas discussed California day camp licensing legislation with Assemblymember Brian Maeinschein’s senior staff member Rob Knudson.

Maeinschein authored AB 1964 last year, a bill that proposed further defining California’s “organized camps” by adding licensing requirements for day camps. Resident or overnight camps are currently licensed. The bill failed to make it out of Appropriations and officially stalled in November 2018.

Knudson said that he would broach the idea of a second attempt with Maeinschein after the current legislative session ended the second week of September. He said he felt strongly that the Asm. would support the legislation, especially as a single father of two daughters.

Knudson said he was uncertain about why the legislation failed to pass but would engage the Asm. and his team in order to share further information with MMF.

While serving as a San Diego City Councilmember, Maienschein preserved over 10,000 acres from development in the San Pasqual Valley and spearheaded the completion of SR-56. He also led the rebuilding of two communities following the devastating Cedar and Witch Creek wildfires

While serving as the Commissioner on Homelessness, he directed United Way’s Project 25, which saves taxpayers millions of dollars every year, reduces homelessness and serves veterans. Since his election to the Assembly in 2012, Maienschein has introduced legislation that would protect children by conducting criminal background checks on youth league coaches. He has also supported mitigating the negative impacts of prisoner realignment.

In January of 2019, Maienschein said he had considerable issues as a Republican, voted across party lines on a number of occasions and decided to serve as a Democrat.