BILL ANALYSIS Ó
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 106|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 106
Author: Smyth (R) and Huffman (D), et al.
Amended: 3/26/12 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 3/26/12
SUBJECT : Parks Make Life Better! Month.
SOURCE : California Park and Recreation Society
DIGEST : This resolution declares the Legislatures
recognition of the importance of access to local parks,
trails, open space, and facilities for the health and
development of all Californians. This resolution also
declares July 2012 as "Parks Make Life Better!" Month.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following
legislative findings:
1.A 2009 public opinion research study, conducted by the
California Park & Recreation Society, revealed 98 percent
of California's households visit a local park and 50
percent of California households participate in an
organized recreation program annually.
2.California's residents value their local parks and
recreation services, as they provide access to the
serenity and inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and
places for play and exercise; facilities for directed and
CONTINUED
ACR 106
Page
2
self-directed recreation; activities that facilitate
social connections, human development, the arts, and
lifelong learning, and positive alternatives for youth
that help lower crime and mischief.
3.The 2010 California Obesity Prevention Plan states the
following:
A. One in every nine California Children, one in three
teens, and over 50 percent of adults are already
overweight or obese, and that obesity affects
virtually all age, income, educational, ethnic, and
disability groups.
B. The state's childhood obesity epidemic and related
health conditions and associated costs are expected to
increase unless concerted and coordinated efforts are
made to increase opportunities for children and youth
to engage in age-appropriate, high quality physical
activity programs during nonschool hours.
C. Research has shown that where people live, work,
and play impacts obesity. For example, in Imperial
County, 73 percent of adults are overweight or obese,
while only 43 percent of San Francisco City and County
adults are overweight or obese.
D. California's costs attributable to physical
inactivity, obesity, and excess body weight in 2006
were estimated at $41.2 billion. In contrast, a five
percent improvement in each of these risk factors
could result in an annual savings of nearly $2.4
billion.
E. To address obesity, the State of California must
ensure that all California residents have access to
safe places to play and be active.
1.California's 10 Step Vision for a Healthy California is a
call to action to transform the state so that all
Californians can enjoy healthy eating and active living,
resulting in all of the following:
A. Every day, every child will participate in physical
activity.
CONTINUED
ACR 106
Page
3
B. California's adults will be physically active every
day.
C. Neighborhoods, communities, and buildings will
support physical activity, including safe walking,
stair climbing, and bicycling.
1.The Governor, Legislature, and citizens have prioritized
efforts to increase physical activity, access to nature,
spaces for play and exercise, the arts, lifelong
learning, and social connections among children and
adults through the approval of statewide park bond
programs.
2.The California Park and Recreation Society promotes the
positive personal and community benefits of parks, open
space, trails, recreation facilities and programs, nature
education, and sports for able and disabled children,
teens, adults, and seniors.
3.Participation in physical activities can lower a
citizen's risk of developing chronic health problems,
such as high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, and
diabetes, and also help children grow up to be healthier
adults.
4.The California Park and Recreation Society has released a
statewide public awareness campaign, "Parks Make Life
Better!" to inform citizens of the many benefits of
utilizing parks, facilities, programs, and services.
This resolution declares the Legislature's recognition of
the importance of access to local parks, trails, open
space, and facilities for the health and development of all
Californians. This resolution also declares July 2012 as
"Parks Make Life Better!" Month.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/21/12)
California Park and Recreation Society (source)
CTW:nl 5/23/12 Senate Floor Analyses
CONTINUED
ACR 106
Page
4
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****
CONTINUED