Amended in Assembly June 23, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 153


Introduced by Assembly Member Burke

March 9, 2016


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 153—Relative to the California Council on Science and Technology.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 153, as amended, Burke. California Council on Science and Technology.

This measure would request the California Council on Science and Technology tobegin delete establish an executive fellowship program to embed scientists within California’s leading clean technologies.end deletebegin insert place an emphasis on selecting fellows who are reflective of the state’s diversity, specifically regarding race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.end insert

Fiscal committee: no.

begin delete

P1    1WHEREAS, California’s output of goods and services ranks it
2as the eighth greatest economic power in the world; and

end delete
begin delete

3WHEREAS, California’s preeminence in science and technology
4was the basis for the development of the aerospace,
5microelectronics, and other advanced technologies in this state;
6and

end delete
begin delete

7WHEREAS, California state policies to adopt clean technology
8and reduce greenhouse gas emissions were the basis for the
9development of wind, solar, geothermal, bioenergy, energy storage,
10and other clean technologies in this state; and

end delete
begin delete

P2    1WHEREAS, California owes its preeminence to its excellent
2educational system, including the University of California and
3California State University systems, its superb independent
4universities and colleges, and its extensive community college
5system, which provides highly trained manpower for California’s
6clean technology industries; and

end delete
begin delete

7WHEREAS, Such research provides education and training to
8California’s students and an opportunity for faculty to break new
9ground solving energy and climate change problems; and

end delete
begin delete

10WHEREAS, The University of California, together with others
11in the state’s academic community, maintains preeminent faculties
12of capable and world-renowned scientists, engineers, and
13technological experts; and

end delete
begin delete

14WHEREAS, California is fortunate to have a group of major
15research universities, the University of California, the University
16of Southern California, the California Institute of Technology, and
17Stanford University, each acknowledged to be world-class
18institutions; and

end delete

19WHEREAS, In 1988, through Assembly Concurrent Resolution
20162, the Legislature requested the President of the University of
21California, in collaboration with the presidents of other
22California-based universities, to establish the California Council
23on Science and Technology (CCST) to ensure the state’s
24competitiveness in science and technology; and

25WHEREAS, The CCST was directed to bring together experts
26from academia, industry, and other research institutions in
27California to provide impartial analyses onbegin delete scienceend deletebegin insert scientificend insert and
28technological issues affecting the State of California; and

begin delete

29WHEREAS, These scientists and engineers have responded to
30requests for analyses on significant and challenging science and
31technology related issues in California, ranging from education to
32climate change and exploring California’s energy future; now,
33therefore, be it

end delete
begin insert

34
WHEREAS, The CCST recognized that scientific and
35technological issues facing California rapidly grew in complexity
36and required legislators to make decisions without having prior
37background in science, engineering, or technology; and

end insert
begin insert

38
WHEREAS, In 2009, the CCST formed the California Science
39and Technology Policy Fellowships to place professional scientists
40and engineers in the California State Legislature for one-year
P3    1appointments. These professional development opportunities enable
2fellows to develop solutions to complex scientific and technical
3issues; and

end insert
begin insert

4
WHEREAS, After seven years in existence, there are 69 CCST
5Science and Technology Fellows and alumni. All of the fellows
6hold Ph.D.s. They have impacted more than 700 bills. Forty percent
7of the fellows stay in the California State Legislature or state
8agencies after their fellowships end; and

end insert
begin insert

9
WHEREAS, California is undergoing a demographic shift that
10makes it one of the most diverse states, evident in the fact that 75
11percent of K-12 pupils are of color; and

end insert
begin insert

12
WHEREAS, It is imperative that the legislative process be
13informed by scientists who are reflective of the state’s diversity in
14order to foster inclusion and input necessary to address issues
15that adversely impact growing communities of color, such as
16climate change and achieving equity within California’s energy
17sector; now, therefore, be it

end insert

18Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
19thereof concurring,
That the Legislaturebegin delete requests, within one year
20of the effective date of this resolution,end delete
begin insert requestsend insert the California
21Council on Science and Technology to begin deleteestablish an executive
22fellowship program to embed scientists from diverse backgrounds
23directly within California’s leading clean technology industries;end delete

24begin insert place an emphasis on selecting fellows who are reflective of the
25state’s diversity, specifically regarding race, ethnicity, and
26socioeconomic status;end insert
and be it further

27Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
28of this resolution to the Governor, the President of the University
29of California, and the Regents of the University of California.



O

    98