ACR 68 Assembly Concurrent Resolution

BILL NUMBER: ACR 68	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 12, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Portantino, Ammiano, Galgiani,
Gatto, and Hill
   (Principal coauthors: Senators Cannella, La Malfa, and Wyland)

                        JUNE 8, 2011

   Relative to the Italian American Legislator Project.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 68, as amended, Portantino. Italian American Heritage in
California.
   This measure would continue designation and observance of the
month of October as Italian American Heritage Month. This measure
would also encourage the Legislature to continue the Italian American
Legislator Project and welcome the exhibit "The Italian American
Legislator Project of 2011: A Legacy of Service to the California
Legislature" to the State Capitol Building in October 2011 and
encourage all Californians, through the K-12 curriculum and
otherwise, to learn about the history, role, and contributions of
Italian Americans to the State of California.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS,  Italian Americans   People of
Italian descent have participated in American politics and government
since the beginning of United States history, and  have served
 in   as Members of  the California State
Legislature almost since its first session held on December 
15, 1849. The first wave of Italian immigrants arrived in California
before the Gold Rush (1848-52) along with other fortune seekers from
all over the globe. California's first Legislature reflected this
immigration as not a single member of the first Assembly was a native
Californian. Nineteen Members were from northern states, ten were
from southern states, five had an unknown birthplace, and two were of
foreign birth; and   15, 1849; and 
   WHEREAS,  Through the office of Assembly Member Anthony
Portantino in conjunction with the California Italian American Task
Force, the California Research Bureau, and the Office of the Chief
Clerk of the Assembly,  "The Italian American Legislator
Project of 2011: A Legacy of Service to the California Legislature"
(the Legacy Project) was recently launched to  find 
 identify  and compile a list of persons of Italian
American heritage who have served as Members of the houses of the
California  Legislature   Legislature. This
project was initiated by the office of Assembly Member Anthony
Portantino and the California Italian American Task Force with
assistance from the California Research Bureau, the Office of the
Chief Clerk, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Lawrence
DiStasi, former-Senate President pro Tempore David Roberti, other
previously-serving Italian American legislators, and the staff of
various currently-serving Italian American legislators  ; and
   WHEREAS, The Legacy Project survey has already identified 
53   51  Italian Americans who are former or
current members of the California Senate and  Assembly. Most,
but not all, of those identified had Italian surnames. This
  Assembly; this  is the first time that a
comprehensive list of Italian American legislators has been 
compiled and there is a need for a permanent home for the Legacy
Project so that additional Members of Italian descent may be
identified and added to the survey. The Legacy Project will help
highlight the continuing political accomplishments and contributions
of the Italian American population of California; and  
compiled; and 
    WHEREAS, Compiling the tentative Legacy Project list reveals
a complex but highly successful journey of Italian Americans in the
United States and California. A names-only search provided limited
assistance for this project, making this project partly reliant on
oral recollections, intergenerational confirmations, and documents
not readily accessible to the public. Many names were altered
deliberately or by error at Ellis Island or by government and school
personnel. Some names were changed during times of open
discrimination to gain employment, social acceptance, protect
children, or avoid stereotyping, and other names were simply changed
through marriage; and 
    WHEREAS, Legacy Project surveyors have tentatively
identified the following former and current Italian American
legislators to date, and are reaching out to current and former
legislators and community members for additional names: 

   WHEREAS, The following Italian American legislators have been
identified by surveyors who believe that further searches are needed
to find other persons not listed or that further confirmation is
needed to positively affirm the heritage of those persons listed with
an asterisk: 
   1. Tom Ammiano (Assembly, 2008-Present)
   2. John Badaracco (Assembly, 1919, 1921, 1923)
   3. Bill Bagley (Assembly, 1961-74)
   4. Frank Belotti (Assembly, 1951-72)
   5. Patty Berg  (Mazzarelli)  (Assembly, 2003-08)
   6. Paula Boland (Assembly, 1990-96)
   7.  Frank   *Frank  G. Bonelli
(Assembly, 1954-58) 
   8. William Bonelli (1930-32)  
    8. 
    9.  Tom Bordonaro (Assembly, 1994-98) 
   9. Doug 
    10. *Douglas  Bosco (Assembly,  1978-82)
  1978-80)  
   10. 
    11.  Marilyn  Cerolini  Brewer (Assembly,
1994-2000) 
   11. Robert Bulla (Assembly, 1893, 1895; Senate, 1897, 1899)

   12. Anthony Caminetti (Assembly, 1883, 1897, 1899; Senate, 1887,
1889, 1907-13)
   13. Joseph Canciamilla (Assembly, 2000-06)
   14. Victor Canepa (Assembly, 1913, 1915; Senate, 1917-21, 1927,
1929)
   15. Anthony Cannella (Senate, 2010-Present)
   16. Sal Cannella (Assembly, 1990-96)
   17. August Cavagnaro (Assembly, 1901)
   18. Eugene A. Chappie (Assembly, 1965-75)
   19. Larry Chimbole (Assembly, 1976-78)
   20. Dominic Cortese (Assembly, 1981-96) 
   21. Louis Devoto (Assembly, 1899)  
   22. Leonard Joseph Difani (Senate, 1933, 1935)  
   23. 
    21.  Vic Fazio (Assembly, 1975-78) 
   24. 
    22. Dr.  William Filante (Assembly, 1979-92) 
   25. 
    23.  Cathleen Galgiani (Assembly, 2006-Present) 

   26. 
    24.  Mike Gatto (Assembly, 2010-Present) 
   27. 
    25.  Arlen Gregorio (Senate, 1970-78) 
   28. 
    26.  Jerry Hill (Assembly, 2008-Present) 
   29. 
    27.  Wally Knox (Assembly, 1994-2000) 
   30. 
    28.  Robert Lagomarsino (Senate, 1961-74) 
   31. 
    29.  Doug LaMalfa (Assembly, 2002-08; Senate,
2010-Present) 
   32. 
    30.  Paul J. Lunardi (Assembly, 1959-63; Senate,
1963-66) 
   33. 
    31.  Ennio Martinelli (Senate, 1909, 1911) 
   34. 
    32.  Bob Moretti (Assembly, 1965-74) 
   35. 
    33.  George Moscone (Senate, 1967-76) 
   36. 
    34.  Roger Niello (Assembly, 2004-10) 
   37. 
    35.  Egisto Palmieri (Senate, 1885) 
   38. 
    36.  Joseph Pedrotti (Assembly, 1921, 1923; Senate,
1925-29, 1931) 
   39. 
    37.  Don Perata (Assembly, 1996-98; Senate, 1998-2008)

   40. 
    38.  Anthony Pescetti (Assembly, 1999-2002) 
   41. 
    39.  George Plescia (Assembly, 2002-08) 
   42. 
    40.  Anthony Portantino (Assembly, 2006-Present)

   43. 
    41.  Paul Priolo (Assembly, 1967-80) 
   44. 
    42.  David Roberti (Assembly, 1967-71; Senate, 1971-94)

   45. 
    43.  James Rogan (Assembly, 1994-96) 
   46. 
    44.  Don Sebastiani (Assembly, 1980-86) 
   47. 
    45.  Augustus D. Splivalo (Assembly, 1867) 
   48. 
    46.  Alfred Taliaferro (Assembly, 1852; Senate, 1857,
1858) 
   49. 
    47.  Mike Thompson (Senate, 1990-98) 
   50. 
    48.  Charles P. Vicini (Assembly, 1917-19) 
   51. 
    49.  Catherine Marinelli Wright (Assembly, 1980-92;
Senate, 1993-2000) 
   52. 
    50.  Mark Wyland (Assembly,  2000-2006 
 2000-06  ; Senate, 2006-Present) 
   53. Louis 
    51. *Louis  Zocchi (Assembly, 1895)
   WHEREAS, Italian American legislators have left  us with
 a legacy of political leadership and accomplishments. Two
Italian American legislators, David Roberti (1980-94) and Don Perata
(2004-08), have served as  President  
Presidents  pro Tempore of the Senate, and one Italian American
legislator, Bob Moretti (1971-74), has served as Speaker of the
Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, Eight Italian Americans currently serve in the California
Legislature, three in the Senate and five in the Assembly; and
   WHEREAS, California's Italian American legislators have worked
together to represent the interests of  the  Italian
American  people of California. During the 1990s, they
authored and supported a resolution and exhibit highlighting "Una
Storia Segreta--The Secret Story," a book and exhibit about the World
War II internment and relocation of, and restrictions on, large
numbers of California Italian Americans; authored a resolution that
created the Italian American Taskforce, which is still in existence
today; and   people of California, and have 
authored several pieces of legislation seeking to include in the K-12
curriculum the history, role, and contributions of Italian 
Americans. During the 2000s, they continued to pursue an Italian
American curriculum through various legislative and administrative
efforts. During the past four years, they have introduced resolutions
designating the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month
and have sponsored an annual Capitol exhibit capturing nearly 150
years of the history and contributions of Italian Americans in
California; and   Americans, and resolutions designating
October as Italian American Heritage Month, and have sponsored
annual exhibits in the State Capitol capturing over 180 years of
Italian American history in California; and 
   WHEREAS, Columbus Day  is a state holiday   ,
 observed on October 12 of each year  and 
 , is a holiday  of special significance to Italian 
Americans. Columbus Day is celebrated in Italian American
communities across California with festivals, parades, and activities
that celebrate the history and heritage of the Italian American
community. The  Americans in   the United
States and California, and the  designation of October as
Italian American Heritage Month is  a  recognition
of the  important role and contributions Italians 
 significant impact Italian Americans  have made to the rich
cultural fabric of California  and the lives of all its
residents  ; and
    WHEREAS, Italian Americans are a vital part of California'
s diversity, their rich heritage and traditions are a part of the
lives of all Californians.   WHEREAS,  The 2000
Census counted 1,450,885 Italian Americans in California,  an
ethnic group that constituted   constituting  4.3
percent of the state's population  ,   and 
the third largest Italian American population in the United States;
and
   WHEREAS, Italian Americans have made enormous contributions to the
economic and cultural development and success of California, and
Italian American legislators have made important contributions to the
political life of California through their dedication to public
service  and by presenting the interests of the Italian
American community of California  ; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the month of October continue to be
designated Italian American Heritage Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature maintain  and continue to
update  the Legacy Project and continue annual observances of
Italian American Heritage Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature welcomes the exhibit "The Italian
American Legislator Project of 2011: A Legacy of Service to the
California Legislature" to the State Capitol Building during the
month of October; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all Californians,
through the K-12 curriculum and otherwise, to learn about the
history, role, and contributions of Italian Americans to the State of
California.