BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 501
Page 1
(Without Reference to File)
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
501 (Levine)
As Amended August 1, 2016
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(January 27, |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 15, |
| | |2016) | | |2016) |
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(vote not relevant)
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|COMMITTEE VOTE: | |(August 30, |RECOMMENDATION: |concur |
| |16-0 |2016) | | |
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(G.O.)
Original Committee Reference: W. P. & W.
AB 501
Page 2
SUMMARY: Designates "denim" as the official state fabric.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of the bill,
and instead:
1)Designate "denim" as the official state fabric.
2)Make various findings and declarations regarding denim.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill would have required that
state-funded environmental research in the San Francisco
Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Delta) be shareable
and made available to the Delta Science Program.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Designates the following as official state insignia:
a) State Flower - "Golden Poppy" (Added by Chapter 69,
Statutes of 1903)
b) State Bird - "California Valley Quail" (Added by Chapter
777, Statutes of 1931)
c) 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)
d) State Theatre - "Pasadena Playhouse" (Added by
Resolution Chapter 45, Statutes of 1937)
e) State Fish - "California Golden Trout" (Added by
Resolution Chapter 90, Statutes of 1947)
f) State Song - "I Love You California" (Added by
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Resolution Chapter 87, Statutes of 1951)
g) State Animal - "California Grizzly" (Added by Chapter
1140, Statutes of 1953)
h) State Motto - "Eureka" (Added by Chapter 1237, Statutes
of 1963)
i) State Rock - "Serpentine" (Added by Chapter 89, Statutes
of 1965)
j) State Mineral - "Native Gold" (Added by Chapter 89,
Statutes of 1965)
aa) State Nickname - "Golden State" (Added by Chapter 66,
Statutes of 1968)
bb) State Reptile - "Desert Tortoise" (Added by Chapter 683,
Statutes of 1972)
cc) State Insect - "California Dogface Butterfly" (Added by
Chapter 521, Statutes of 1972)
dd) State Fossil - "Sabre-Tooth Cat" (Added by Chapter 792,
Statutes of 1973)
ee) State Historical Society - "California Historical
Society" (Added by Chapter 52, Statutes of 1979)
ff) State Marine Mammal - "California Gray Whale" (Added by
Chapter 328, Statutes of 1975)
AB 501
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gg) State Gemstone - "Benitoite" (Added by Chapter 1365,
Statutes of 1985)
hh) State Folk Dance - "Square Dance" (Added by Chapter
1645, Statutes of 1988)
ii) State Dance - "West Coast Swing" (Added by Chapter 1645,
Statutes of 1988)
jj) State Prehistoric Artifact - "Chipped Stone Bear" (Added
by Chapter 73, Statutes of 1991)
aaa) State Marine Fish - "Garibaldi" (Added by Chapter 948,
Statutes of 1995)
bbb) State Soil - "San Joaquin Soil" (Added by Chapter 331,
Statutes of 1997)
ccc) State Fife and Drum Band - "California Consolidated Drum
Band" (Added by Chapter 58, Statutes of 1997)
ddd) 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)
eee) State Gold Rush Ghost Town - "Town of Bodie" (Added by
Chapter 365, Statutes of 2002)
fff) State Tall Ship - "Californian" (Added by Chapter 113,
Statutes of 2003)
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ggg) State Grass - "Nassella Pulchra" - commonly referred to
as "purple needlegrass" (Added by Chapter 243, Statutes of
2004)
hhh) State Silver Rush Ghost Town - "Calico" (Added by
Chapter 90, Statutes of 2005)
iii) Official Marine Reptile - "Pacific Leatherback Sea
Turtle" (Added by Chapter 591, Statutes of 2012)
jjj) State Amphibian - "California Red-Legged Frog" (Added by
Chapter 77, Statutes of 2014)
aaaa)State Pet - "Shelter Pet" (Added by Resolution Chapter
184, Statutes of 2015)
bbbb)State Lichen - "Lace Lichen" (Added by Chapter 113,
Statutes of 2015)
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative
Counsel.
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill: According to the author: "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. AB 501 recognizes denim as the official state
fabric of California. The author's office contends that denim
represents more than just a fabric - it represents California's
AB 501
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diversity, culture, and economic and technological development
since the Gold Rush."
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 jeans.
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, United States Presidents, music
artists, models, 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
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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."
Prior/Related 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 Pérez), 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
"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.
AB 965 (Kehoe), Chapter 113, Statutes of 2003, established the
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"Californian" as the official State Tall Ship.
AB 1757 (Leslie), Chapter 365, Statutes of 2002, designated
"Bodie" as the official State Gold Rush Ghost Town.
Analysis Prepared by:
Kenton Stanhope / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN:
0005009