BILL ANALYSIS Ó ACR 144 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair ACR 144 (Mullin) - As Introduced February 24, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy | Education |Vote:| 7 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY: This resolution urges the State Board of Education (SBE), county offices of education (COE), and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. Specifically, this bill: ACR 144 Page 2 1)Makes findings and declarations relative to the importance of education in character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures. 2)Resolves that the Legislature urges the SBE, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. 3)Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution. FISCAL EFFECT: Minor General Fund and Proposition 98/GF cost pressures for the SBE and local education agencies to increase emphasis on character, citizenship, ethics, and the humane treatment of living creatures in order to promote a humane and compassionate society. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, the State of California has demonstrated support for character education since 1980s, when a select bipartisan committee on character education was initiated. Every year, the California State Board of Education adopts a resolution naming the month of October as "Character Education Month." This resolution builds on existing character education efforts in schools by encouraging the humane ACR 144 Page 3 treatment of animals along with a greater emphasis on character, citizenship, and ethics. Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081