Amended in Assembly August 23, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 201

Introduced by Assembly Member begin delete Weber end delete begin insert Gonzalez end insert

August 11, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 201—Relative to California Young Parents Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 201, as amended, begin delete Weber end delete   begin insert Gonzalez end insert . California Young Parents Day.

This measure would recognize August 25, 2016, and every August 25 thereafter, as California Young Parents Day and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating California Young Parents Day.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Young mothers and fathers, as all families, deserve
dignity, tangible support, and recognition as important members
of California communities; and

WHEREAS, Young mothers and fathers, as all youth, are part
of the fabric of vibrant communities across California and represent
its future prosperity; and

WHEREAS, Children, youth, and young adults under 20 years
of age make up over begin delete a quarter end delete begin insert one-quarter end insert of California’s
population; and

WHEREAS, Young people of all economic backgrounds, gender
identities and expression, sexualities, abilities, and immigration
statuses have the right to parent the children they have; and

WHEREAS, Pregnant and parenting youth have the right, as all
youth, to all support needed to continue with their educational and
career goals, including child care, health care, housing assistance,
and job training and other economic opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Using negative language and stereotypes around
young parenting serves only to blame and denigrate young people
for their circumstances and does not reflect their realities; and

WHEREAS, Young people of color, whether pregnant,
parenting, or nonparenting, face persistent systemic inequities,
including, but not limited to, poverty, racism, sexism, and violence,
that shape and often undermine their decisionmaking and
aspirations; and

WHEREAS, Pregnant, parenting, and nonparenting youth must
have access to culturally relevant and gender-sensitive sexual and
reproductive health services and educational, material, economic,
and emotional support; and

WHEREAS, The health and wellness of young parents and their
children is our shared responsibility and must be reflected in our
state policies; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the
contributions and needs of young parents and that this resolution
serves as a framework to inform future policy decisions that affect
their well being; and be it further

Resolved, That August 25, 2016, and every August 25 thereafter,
shall be recognized as “California Young Parents Day” and that
all Californians are encouraged to celebrate the occasion; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.