* Provides more than $600 million to protect children's programs in difficult economic times.
* Redirects existing tobacco tax money to protect health and human services for children, including services for at-risk families, services for children with disabilities, and services for foster children.
* Temporarily allows the redirection of existing money to fund health and human service programs for children 5 years old and under.
* Ensures counties retain funding for local priorities.
* Helps balance state budget.

Summary of Legislative Analyst's Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

* State General Fund savings of up to $608 million in 2009-10 and $268 million annually from 2010-11 through 2013-14, from temporarily redirecting a portion of funds from the California Children and Families Program in place of state General Fund support of health and human services programs for children up to age five.
* Corresponding reductions in funding for early childhood development programs provided by the California Children and Families Program.