The governor's proposed revision of the new state budget -- slated for release on 12th May -- would include $21.8 million to provide health insurance to about 24,000 especially for low-income children in the state.

The money is intended to expand insurance to the needed kids on the waiting list in 18 counties that have established Children's Health Initiatives.

The first phase of the money, or even $11 million, would go to counties that had waiting lists as of May 1, said Sabrina Lockhart from the governor's press office. The rest would go to those that could show a waiting list is coming.

The new money is intended to pick up children who actually do not qualify for government programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families because their family income is too high.

The 18 Children's Health Initiatives in the state have expanded coverage to an estimated 85,000 of these children, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kimberly Belshe said in a press call announcing the new allocation. The goal is mainly to reduce the number of kids in the state without health insurance, estimated at 770,000 late last year.