California Assembly Approves Bills To Make Diapers More Affordable

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Assembly is advancing two measures intended to make diapers more affordable, particularly for the poor.

Lawmakers unanimously approved AB717 on Thursday to exempt children's diapers from sales tax.

Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego says Viagra, yoga classes and some yachts are exempt from sales tax, so it's reasonable that diapers are as well.

Gonzalez was also the author of AB492, which passed on a 60-5 vote Thursday.

It gives a $50 monthly credit to welfare-to-work recipients with children two years old or younger that can only be used to buy diapers.

She says some parents can't afford to take their kids to state-subsidized child care while they work because they have to provide eight to 10 diapers per day.

Both bills now head to the Senate.