BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 944
AUTHOR: Runner
AMENDED: March 16, 2010
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: March 24, 2010
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Beth Graybill
SUBJECT : Ronald Reagan Day
SUMMARY
This bill designates February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan
Day and calls for the day to be observed by the public
schools as a day of special significance. The bill also
requires the Governor to annually proclaim February 6 as
Ronald Reagan Day.
BACKGROUND
Existing law designates a number of days as days having
special significance, when public schools are encouraged, but
not required, to conduct commemorative exercises integrated
into regular school programs. Current law establishes the
following days as having special significance (Education Code
37222):
a) April 6 of each year as California Poppy Day.
b) April 21 of each year as John Muir Day.
c) The second Wednesday in May as the Day of the
Teacher.
d) May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day.
Existing law also requires the Governor to proclaim various
days to remember individuals. These days include September
28 as Cabrillo Day; January 15 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day; March 31, as Cesar Chavez Day; and April 21 as John Muir
Day. (Government Code 6708, et seq.)
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Makes various findings and declarations concerning the
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life of Ronald Reagan.
2) Designates February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day,
to be a
day having special significance when all public schools and
educational institutions are encouraged to conduct
exercises remembering the life of Ronald Reagan,
recognizing his accomplishments as well as the
contributions he made to the state.
3) Requires the Governor to annually proclaim February 6 as
Ronald Reagan Day.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill : Ronald Reagan served as the Governor
of California from 1967 to 1975 and as President of the
United States from 1981 to 1989. By designating his
birthday as a special day of significance, the authors
hope this bill will encourage public schools and
educational institutions to conduct suitable
commemorative exercises to recognize Ronald Reagan's
accomplishments and familiarize pupils with his
contributions to California.
2) Related and prior legislation :
SB 572 (Leno, Chapter 626, Statutes of 2009)
designated May 22 of
each year as a special day of significance for
remembering the life and contributions of Harvey
Milk. SB 572 was heard and approved by this
committee on a 7-2 vote on May 6, 2009.
SB 1256 (Hancock) designates January 23 of
each year as a special
day of significance for the purpose of observing
the life and contributions of Ed Roberts and
familiarizing pupils with the contributions of
other Californians with disabilities.
1) Recognition criteria . This bill, along with SB 1256,
raises a question about the need for a broader policy
discussion about the criteria and process for
determining special days of significance in the public
schools. Notwithstanding the extraordinary
accomplishments of Ronald Reagan, should other
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noteworthy Californians, such as the other 50 inductees
of the California Hall of Fame, be similarly recognized?
To avoid the potential proliferation of special
recognition days, should the Legislature establish
specific criteria for who or what is recognized? Should
the process for approving special days of significance
in the public schools be delegated to the State Board of
Education who might review proposals for consistency
with the state's academic content standards and
curriculum frameworks?
SUPPORT
None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.