BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  SB 1256|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 1256
          Author:   Hancock (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE  :  8-0, 3/24/10
          AYES:  Romero, Huff, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Price,  
            Simitian, Wyland
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Maldonado


           SUBJECT  :    Ed Roberts Day

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill designates January 23 each year as Ed  
          Roberts 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 January 23  
          as Ed Roberts Day.

           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law designates a number of days as  
          having special significance, when public schools are  
          encouraged, but not required, to conduct suitable  
          commemorative exercises integrated into regular school  
          programs.  Current law establishes the following days as  
          having special significance:

          1.April 6 of each year as California Poppy Day.

          2.April 21 of each year as John Muir Day.
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          3.The second Wednesday in May as the Day of the Teacher.

          4.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. 

          This bill:

          1.Makes various findings and declarations concerning the  
            life and contributions of Ed Roberts.

          2.Designates January 23 of each year as Ed Roberts Day, to  
            be a day having special significance when all public  
            schools and educational institutions are encouraged to  
            conduct exercises remembering the life of Ed Roberts,  
            recognizing his accomplishments as well as the  
            accomplishments of other Californians with disabilities,  
            and familiarizing pupils with the contributions that Ed  
            Roberts and other Californians with disabilities have  
            made to the state.

          3.Requires the Governor to annually proclaim January 23 as  
            Ed Roberts Day.

           Background

           Ed Roberts (1939-1995) was an international leader and  
          education in the independent living and disability rights  
          movement.  He was the first severely disabled student to  
          attend UC Berkeley and helped create the first student-led  
          disability services program in the country.  Ed Roberts  
          advocated for the rights of individuals with disabilities  
          to fully participate in society and served as the Director  
          of the Department of Rehabilitation from 1975-1983.  

           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  







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          remembering the life and contributions of Harvey Milk.   
          Passed the Senate with a vote of 23-14 on 9/8/09.

           SB 944 (Runner) -- 2009-10 Session  .  Designates February 6  
          of each year as Ronald Reagan Day and establishes that day  
          as a special day of significance in the public schools.   
          (On Senate Third Reading File)

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  No    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  3/24/10)

          California Federation of Teachers
          California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
          Center for Independent Living
          Developmental Disabilities Board Area 5
          Development Disabilities Council of Contra Costa
          University of California Berkeley Disabled Students' Union
          University of California Berkeley Disabled Students'  
          Program
          World Institute on Disability

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the author's office,  
          this bill will encourage schools to conduct commemorative  
          exercises to recognize Mr. Robert's accomplishments and  
          raise awareness of issues faced by individuals with  
          disabilities.


          CPM:cm  3/24/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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