Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
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by AMAC Action
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3 Comments
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This legislation expands the use of the Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit that permits non-parents to make critical medical and educational decisions that are reserved for parents or legal guardians without any requirement for notarization or parental consent.
September 16, 2025
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Newsom,
On behalf of AMAC Action, the advocacy affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), with over 2 million members nationwide, including over 156,300 residing in California, I write to urge you not to sign AB 495 into law. As an organization deeply committed to the welfare of children and grandchildren, we ask for your leadership in minimizing their risk for exploitation.
While AB 495 has been amended to exclude some controversial measures, the bill is still fundamentally flawed. This legislation still includes the expanded use of the Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit that permits non-parents to make critical medical and educational decisions that are reserved for parents or legal guardians.
Additionally, kinship may still be claimed without any requirement for notarization or parental consent, putting California’s children and grandchildren at tremendous risk for a stranger falsely claiming to be a relative and therefore making essential healthcare or schooling decisions. School and medical facilities are also relieved of any obligation to verify that the signer of the affidavit is the person they may say they are in accordance with this legislation.
Please veto this bad legislation, Governor Newsom. The health, safety, and well-being of California’s children and grandchildren as well as the parental rights of millions of your constituents, depend upon it.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Mangione Jr.
Senior Vice President
AMAC Action
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