BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 501|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 501
Author: Levine (D), et al.
Amended: 6/21/16 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE: 13-0, 6/28/16
AYES: Hall, Berryhill, Bates, Block, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer,
Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Lara, McGuire, Vidak
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Not relevant
SUBJECT: State fabric
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill designates "denim" as the official state
fabric.
ANALYSIS: Existing law designates the following as official
state insignia:
State Flower - "Golden Poppy" (Added by Chapter 69, Statutes
of 1903)
State Bird - "California Valley Quail" (Added by Chapter 777,
Statutes of 1931)
State Tree - "California Redwood" includes both the coast
redwood (Sequoia empervirens) and the Sierra big tree (Sequoia
gigantea) - (Added by Chapter 134, Statutes of 1943; Amended
by Chapter 1140, Statutes of 1953)
State Theatre - "Pasadena Playhouse" (Added by Resolution
Chapter 45, Statutes of 1937)
State Fish - "California Golden Trout" (Added Resolution
AB 501
Page 2
Chapter 90, Statutes of 1947)
State Song - "I Love You California" (Added by Resolution
Chapter 87, Statutes of 1951)
State Animal - "California Grizzly" (Added by Chapter 1140,
Statutes of 1953)
State Motto - "Eureka" (Added by Chapter 1237, Statutes of
1963)
State Rock - "Serpentine" (Added by Chapter 89, Statutes of
1965)
State Mineral - "Native Gold" (Added by Chapter 89, Statutes
of 1965)
State Nickname - "Golden State" (Added by Chapter 66, Statutes
of 1965)
State Reptile - "Desert Tortoise" (Added by Chapter 683,
Statutes of 1972)
State Insect - "California Dogface Butterfly" (Added by
Chapter 521, Statutes of 1972)
State Fossil - "Sabre-Tooth Cat" (Added by Chapter 792,
Statutes of 1973)
State Historical Society - "California Historical Society"
(Added by Chapter 52, Statutes of 1979)
State Marine Mammal - "California Gray Whale" (Added by
Chapter 328, Statutes of 1975)
State Gemstone - "Benitoite" (Added by Chapter 1365, Statutes
of 1985)
State Folk Dance - "Square Dance" (Added by Chapter 1645,
Statutes of 1988)
State Dance - "West Coast Swing" (Added by Chapter 1645,
Statutes of 1988)
State Prehistoric Artifact - "Chipped Stone Bear" (Added by
Chapter 73, Statutes of 1991)
State Marine Fish - "Garibaldi" (Added by Chapter 948,
Statutes of 1995)
State Soil - "San Joaquin Soil" (Added by Chapter 331,
Statutes of 1997)
State Fife and Drum Band - "California Consolidated Drum Band"
(Added by Chapter 58, Statutes of 1997)
State Tartan - "Based on the family tartan of the revered John
Muir" (blue and green with red, gold, and blue seams) (Added
by Chapter 100, Statutes of 2001)
State Gold Rush Ghost Town - "Town of Bodie" (Added by Chapter
365, Statutes of 2002)
State Tall Ship - "Californian" (Added by Chapter 113,
Statutes of 2003)
AB 501
Page 3
State Grass - "Nassella Pulchra" - commonly referred to as
"purple needlegrass" (Added by Chapter 243, Statutes of 2004)
State Silver Rush Ghost Town - "Calico" (Added by Chapter 90,
Statutes of 2005)
Official Marine Reptile - "Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle"
(Added by Chapter 591, Statutes of 2012)
State Amphibian - "California Red-Legged Frog" (Added by
Chapter 77, Statutes of 2014)
State Pet - "Shelter Pet" (Added by Resolution Chapter 184,
Statutes of 2015)
State Lichen - "Lace Lichen" (Added by Chapter 113, Statutes
of 2015)
This bill designates denim as the official state fabric.
Background
Summary of Findings. Denim's history is interwoven with
California's history from the 1850s through today. Since the
17th century through the present day, denim has been used to
make upholstery, tents, blankets, wagon covers, and pants known
as jeans. With the news of the Gold Rush, Bavarian business
owner Levi Strauss moved to San Francisco to open a branch of
his family's dry goods store. In partnership with tailor Jacob
Davis, Levi Strauss eventually invented the first pair of denim
jeans in 1873.
Denim jeans were designed as practical working attire, but they
eventually became a symbol of not only California culture, but
also American culture. Through the decades, gold miners,
cowboys, farm workers, rock stars, beatniks, hippies, and people
of all walks of life wore denim jeans. The first Hollywood
silent films featured actors who wore jeans, especially in
westerns and war films. As the film industry grew, famous
actors such as John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Marlon Brando, James
Dean, and Marilyn Monroe, were photographed and filmed wearing
denim.
Today, California is responsible for about 75% of the premium
denim jeans sold throughout the world. The industry employs
more than 200,000 people in Southern California alone, making it
the largest fashion manufacturing hub in the United States.
Denim jeans represent an estimated $60 billion global market for
retailers. Celebrities, U.S. Presidents, music artists, models,
AB 501
Page 4
business people, government officials, legislators, and
Californians of all ages wear denim - in fact, denim can be
found in the wardrobes of 96% of American consumers.
Several denim companies are now looking into the future and
making sustainability a core principle of their business model.
California's denim industry has also worked to shrink its carbon
and water footprints.
According to a writer for American Fabrics magazine in 1969,
"Denim is one of the world's oldest fabrics, yet it remains
eternally young."
Purpose of AB 501. The author's office points out existing law
provides for several "official" state emblems that are well
known - the Great Seal of the State of California, the Bear Flag
and Golden Poppy. Additionally, the existing list of state
insignia goes further and includes among other things, the state
fish, the state insect, the state reptile, the state tartan, the
state grass, the state soil, the state folkdance, and the state
marine mammal. The author's office contends that denim
represents more than just a fabric - it represents California's
diversity, culture, and economic and technological development
since the Gold Rush.
Related /Prior Legislation
AB 1528 (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife, Chapter 113,
Statutes of 2015), among other things, declared "Lace Lichen"
(Ramalina menziesii) the official State Lichen.
ACR 56 (Linder, Resolution Chapter184, Statutes of 2015)
declared a "shelter pet" as the official State Pet.
AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez, Chapter 77, Statutes of 2014)
designated the "California Red-Legged Frog" (Rana draytonii) as
the official State Amphibian.
AB 1776 (Fong, Chapter 591, Statutes of 2012) designated the
Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle as the official marine reptile of
the State of California and established October 15 as Pacific
Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.
SB 906 (Ashburn, Chapter 90, Statutes of 2005) designated
AB 501
Page 5
"Calico" in San Bernardino County as the official State Silver
Rush Ghost Town.
SB 1226 (Machado, Chapter 243, Statutes of 2004) designated
"purple needlegrass," or Nassella Pulchra, as the official State
Grass.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 6/28/16)
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations
Gap Inc.
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/28/16)
None received
Prepared by:Arthur Terzakis / G.O. / (916) 651-1530
7/29/16 12:18:24
**** END ****