BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                        ACR 17|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                              |
          |(916) 651-1520    Fax: (916)      |                              |
          |327-4478                          |                              |
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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  ACR 17
          Author:   Chang (R), et al.
          Amended:  3/12/15 in Assembly 
          Vote:     21  

          ASSEMBLY FLOOR:  Read and adopted, 3/12/15

           SUBJECT:   Women and Girls in STEM Week


          SOURCE:    TechNet


          DIGEST:  This resolution designates April 5 to April 11, 2015,  
          inclusive, as Women and Girls in STEM (science, technology,  
          engineering, and mathematics) Week, and encourages all citizens  
          and community organizations to support the observance of  
          California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and  
          celebrating women in the STEM fields.


          ANALYSIS:   This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1.STEM are critical fields for the success of California's  
            economy.


          2.Many of the fastest growing occupations in the United States  
            require some form of expertise in the areas of STEM.   
            Preparing students for the STEM workforce is essential to  
            fulfill the demands of our 21st century, innovation-focused  
            economy.









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          3.According to the Census Bureau, while women make up nearly  
            one-half of the working population, they only represent 26% of  
            the STEM workforce.  In California, the gender disparities  
            among STEM fields are similar if not more pronounced.  Only  
            15% of engineering graduates in California are women and only  
            15% of engineers in the workforce are women.


          4.Despite underrepresentation in the STEM fields, there are many  
            California female leaders who represent the STEM community and  
            serve as role models for young girls preparing for STEM  
            careers.


          This resolution encourages all citizens and community  
          organizations to support the observance of California Women and  
          Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the  
          STEM fields, and declares April 5 to April 11, 2015, inclusive,  
          as Women and Girls in STEM Week.


          Prior Legislation


          ACR 124 (Wieckowski, Resolution Chapter 46, Statutes of 2014)  
          proclaimed April 2014 as Mathematics Awareness Month; and urged  
          the establishment of STEM outreach programs to encourage the  
          recruitment of girls and women to study and work in STEM fields.


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


          SUPPORT:   (Verified4/6/15)


          TechNet (source)
          American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
          Bloom Energy
          California Communities United Institute








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          California STEM Learning Network 
          Children Now
          PayPal
          The Boeing Company
          Verizon


          OPPOSITION:   (Verified4/6/15)


          None received



          
          Prepared by:Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520
          4/6/15 9:08:33


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