BILL NUMBER: SB 944	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 10, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 16, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Runner and Strickland
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Audra Strickland)
   (Coauthors: Senators Ashburn, Cogdill, Cox, Denham, Dutton,
Harman, Hollingsworth, and Wyland)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Anderson,  Bill Berryhill, 
Conway, Fuller,  Gaines,  Gilmore,  Jeffries, 
Logue, Miller, Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, Silva, Smyth, and Tran)

                        FEBRUARY 3, 2010

   An act to amend Section 37222 of the Education Code, and to add
Section 6723 to the Government Code, relating to Ronald Reagan Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 944, as amended, Runner. Ronald Reagan Day.
   Existing law designates specified days as having special
significance, and specifies how the days of special significance
should be observed in public elementary and secondary schools and
educational institutions.
   This bill would express findings and declarations of the
Legislature relating to Ronald Reagan.
   This bill would designate February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan
Day, and would encourage public schools and educational institutions
to engage in exercises remembering the life of Ronald Reagan, as
specified.
   Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days in
honor of a person, status, or an event.
   This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim February
6 as Ronald Reagan Day.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Ronald Wilson Reagan was a man of humble background who worked
throughout his life serving freedom and advancing the public good,
having been employed as an entertainer, union leader, corporate
spokesman, Governor of California, and President of the United
States.
   (b) Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction for two terms
as the 40th President of the United States of America; the second of
which he earned the confidence of three-fifths of the electorate and
was victorious in 49 of the 50 states in the general election--a
record unsurpassed in the history of American presidential elections.

   (c) In 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President, he
inherited a disillusioned nation shackled by rampant inflation and
high unemployment.
   (d) Ronald Reagan's commitment to the nation's children helped
lower crime and drug use in our neighborhoods.
   (e) Ronald Reagan's commitment to our Armed Forces contributed to
the restoration of pride in America and her values, and those values
cherished by the free world, and prepared America's Armed Forces to
meet 21st century challenges.
   (f) Ronald Reagan's vision of "peace through strength" led to the
end of the Cold War.
   (g) Members of the Legislature take great pride in honoring Ronald
Reagan for his many contributions to our country  ,  and in
celebrating his life.
  SEC. 2.  Section 37222 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   37222.  (a) The following days in each year are designated and set
apart as days having special significance:
   (1) The second Wednesday in May as the Day of the Teacher.
   (2) April 21 of each year as John Muir Day.
   (3) April 6 of each year as California Poppy Day.
   (4) May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day.
   (5) February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day.
   (b) On each of the days designated in subdivision (a), all public
schools and educational institutions are encouraged to observe those
days and to conduct suitable commemorative exercises as follows:
   (1) On the Day of the Teacher, exercises commemorating and
directing attention to teachers and the teaching profession.
   (2) On John Muir Day, exercises stressing the importance that an
ecologically sound natural environment plays in the quality of life
for all of us, and emphasizing John Muir's significant contributions
to the fostering of that awareness and the indelible mark he left on
the State of California.
   (3) On California Poppy Day, exercises honoring the California
Poppy, including instruction about native plants, particularly the
California Poppy, and the economic and aesthetic value of
wildflowers; promoting responsible behavior toward our natural
resources and a spirit of protection toward them; and emphasizing the
value of natural resources and conservation of natural resources.
   (4) On Harvey Milk Day, exercises remembering the life of Harvey
Milk, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with
the contributions he made to this state.
   (5) On Ronald Reagan Day, exercises remembering the life of Ronald
Reagan, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils
with the contributions he made to this state.
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the exercises
encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school
program, and be conducted by the school or institution within the
amount otherwise budgeted for educational programs.
  SEC. 3.  Section 6723 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   6723.  The Governor shall annually proclaim February 6 as Ronald
Reagan Day.