BILL NUMBER: SCR 25	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lowenthal

                        MARCH 17, 2009

   Relative to Automotive Career Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 25, as introduced, Lowenthal. Automotive Career Month.
   This measure would designate the month of April 2009 as Automotive
Career Month.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The automotive industry employs over 500,000 Californians
in automotive-dependent careers; and
   WHEREAS, California ranks third among all states in the number of
people employed by the automotive industry, is home to the national
headquarters for several automotive manufacturers, and is the
location of research and design facilities for many domestic and
international automobile manufacturers; and
   WHEREAS, Career opportunities are expanding in the over 1,400 new
car dealers located in California, where dynamic positions with high
income potential can be found in fields such as sales, auto repair
and service, finance, marketing, administration, design, technology
and computers, and communications; and
   WHEREAS, Over the next 10 years, new car dealers in California
will have to annually recruit 3,600 educated and well-trained
automotive technician professionals to keep up with increasing
demand; and
   WHEREAS, Well-paying job opportunities in the automotive industry
will be abundant in coming years, and automotive technicians alone
can earn forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to one hundred thousand
dollars ($100,000) annually; and
   WHEREAS, The Legislature has recognized the importance of Career
Technical Education (CTE) by approving the Strategic Growth Plan,
approved by voters in November 2006, which authorized a general
obligation bond to provide five hundred million dollars
($500,000,000) for CTE, and dedicating additional resources to CTE
whenever possible over the last several years; and
   WHEREAS, Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) and its
unique public-private partnership between auto manufacturers, new car
dealers, and the State Department of Education, is the premier high
school-to-work initiative preparing young people for entry level
career positions or advanced studies in automotive technology; and
   WHEREAS, AYES has over 15 California schools on its roster that
join more than 350 AYES school programs nationally; and
   WHEREAS, In addition to AYES-qualified high schools, nearly 500
other high schools, 55 regional occupational programs, and 70
community colleges offer automotive technology training programs in
California; and
   WHEREAS, A model public-private partnership in automotive
technology is the center on the Cerritos College campus that connects
education and industry to address the employment needs of southern
California auto dealers; and
   WHEREAS, With California as the largest market for hybrid vehicles
in the country, the Southland Center for Transportation Technologies
at Cerritos College will train the next generation of automotive
technicians in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and alternative fuels
technologies so that students are prepared to address alternatively
powered vehicles in the 21st century; and
   WHEREAS, During Automotive Career Month, the California New Car
Dealers Association and the state's new car dealers, automotive
manufacturers, and other industry partners will reach out to
students, teachers, and parents to educate them about the wide array
of career opportunities available in the automotive industry; and
   WHEREAS, Through this national initiative and many partnerships
with manufacturers and educational professionals, new car dealers are
leading the way in providing young people with well-paying and
rewarding career opportunities; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the month of April 2009, is hereby
officially designated Automotive Career Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.