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 ****