BILL NUMBER: ACR 39	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MAY 14, 2009
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 25, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Caballero
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula,
Bass, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block,
Blumenfield, Brownley, Buchanan, Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro,
Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De Leon, DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans,
Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick,
Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman,
Jeffries, Jones, Krekorian, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma,
Mendoza, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande, John A. Perez, V. Manuel
Perez, Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Skinner,
Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres,
Torrico, Tran, and Yamada)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   Relative to children.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 39, Caballero. Dia de los Ninos.
   This measure would designate April 30, 2009, as El Dia de los
Ninos: Children's Day.



   WHEREAS, Children's Day was first celebrated worldwide in October
1953, under the sponsorship of the International Union for Child
Welfare in Geneva, Switzerland. The idea of a universal Children's
Day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954 and
takes place on November 20 annually; and
   WHEREAS, Children's Day was established to encourage all countries
to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and
understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to
benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children; and
   WHEREAS, The anniversary of the day when the United Nations
General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child
in 1959 is November 20. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was
then signed on the same day in 1989, which has since been ratified
by 191 states; and
   WHEREAS, Children's Day observations in the United States predate
both Mother's Day and Father's Day. In 1856, Reverend Charles H.
Leonard, D.D., then pastor of the First Universalist Church of
Chelsea, Massachusetts, set apart a Sunday for the dedication of
children to the Christian life, and for the rededication of parents
and guardians to bringing up their children in the Christian life.
This service was first observed the second Sunday in June; and
   WHEREAS, In 2007, Children's Day was proclaimed by President
George W. Bush as June 3; and
   WHEREAS, In Japan, "Kodomo no Hi," Children's Day, is a national
holiday that takes place on May 5 as a day set aside to respect
children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. Families
raise carp-shaped koinobori flags to represent the legend where carp
that swim upstream become dragons, because the flags blowing in the
wind look like carp swimming. Originally celebrated as "Tango no
Sekku," Boy's Day, on May 5 and "Hinamatusuri," Girl's Day, on March
3, the holidays were merged in 1948; and
   WHEREAS, In Thailand, Children's Day is celebrated on the second
Saturday in January and organizations from both the government and
the private sector have celebration activities for children,
including entering the zoo or using the bus for free. Thailand's
Prime Minister gives Children's Day a unique motto every year. On
Children's Day, the government house is open for children to sit in
the seat of the Prime Minister and the conference room of parliament;
and
   WHEREAS, In New Zealand, Children's Day is celebrated on the first
Sunday in March. It is a national, noncommercial day to celebrate
how special and important their children are; and
   WHEREAS, In Mexico, Children's Day or "El Dia del Nino," is
celebrated on April 30 in recognition of their children who are the
future of their country; and
   WHEREAS, Children represent the hopes and dreams of the citizens
of California and should be nurtured and invested in, in order to
preserve and enhance democracy, the American spirit, and economic
prosperity; and
   WHEREAS, Latinos in California are the youngest and fastest
growing ethnic community in the state; 48 percent of all Californian
children are Hispanic or Latino. This community continues the
tradition of honoring their children on this day, and wishes to share
this tradition with the rest of the state; and
   WHEREAS, The celebration of children in the Golden State will
provide an opportunity for children to express their dreams and
aspirations and find comfort and security in the support of their
family members and communities; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates April 30, 2009,
as "El Dia de los Ninos: Children's Day" and requests that the State
of California observes the day with appropriate ceremonies and
includes activities that focus on persuading children to express
their aspirations and dreams in life, including all members of the
family to promote greater communications, and helping children
develop confidence to become great leaders and members of society.