BILL NUMBER: SCR 25	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senators Block, Allen, Hertzberg, Jackson, Leno,
Stone, and Wolk
   (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Bloom, Levine, Linder,
Medina, Nazarian, and Thurmond)

                        MARCH 5, 2015

   Relative to the memorandum of understanding between Israel and
California.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 25, as introduced, Block. Trade: Israel: memorandum of
understanding.
   This measure would state the Legislature's support for the
memorandum of understanding for strategic partnerships for joint
innovation, exchanges, and cooperation between California and Israel.

   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The California Legislature recognizes the many ties that
inexorably bind the State of California to the nation of Israel; and
   WHEREAS, Two-way trade between Israel and California totaled over
$4.2 billion in 2014--one of the largest two-way trade relationships
between Israel and a state of the United States; and
   WHEREAS, California and Israel share close ties and are global
leaders in the alternative energy, environmental technology, and
other technology-based industry sectors; and
   WHEREAS, California is home to the largest in-state innovation
network in the United States, which offers
technology-commercialization opportunities for Israel; and
   WHEREAS, March, 5, 2015, marks the one year anniversary of the
historic meeting at which the Governor of California and the Prime
Minister of Israel signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for
strategic partnerships for joint innovation, exchanges, and
cooperation between California and Israel; and
   WHEREAS, This action was the culmination of an effort started in
the California Legislature as Assembly Bill 1032 of the 2009-10
Regular Session, calling for the creation of the MOU geared toward
fostering the exchange of information and research. The MOU will
strengthen relationships with Israel and help California and Israel
grow in these areas; and
   WHEREAS, The participants in this MOU seek to expand the current
level of cooperation between Israel and California in areas
including, but not limited to, alternative energy, environmental
technology, health, food and agriculture, and other technology-based
industry sectors, business innovation, research, development, and
academia; and
   WHEREAS, The unfettered collaboration between Israeli and
California universities will benefit multiple disciplines and
enhances the academic experience of the faculty and students of both
countries; and
   WHEREAS, The MOU will also establish a formal relationship between
the two parties to foster economic cooperation and economic
development, facilitate joint industrial research and development,
and enhance business relationships and educational opportunities
between all Israeli universities and all California universities to
foster job creation and incubate global solutions from joint
California-Israel innovation initiatives; and
   WHEREAS, Collaboration with Israel will foster peace and democracy
in the Middle East; and
   WHEREAS, To achieve these aims, the MOU envisions undertaking the
following actions: convening bilateral, interagency working groups
with international expertise to coordinate initiatives; facilitating
collaborations between Israeli and Californian entrepreneurs and
researchers through the California innovation hub network; supporting
and encouraging further development of interpersonal contacts and
exchanges and promoting mutual cooperation, understanding, and
friendship by encouraging ad hoc task forces, trade delegations, and
professional exchanges between Israel and California in key sectors;
creating public-private partnerships between Californian and Israeli
entities in the areas of economic development, social
entrepreneurship, and academic research; strengthening the sister
city program; and facilitating collaboration between universities in
California and Israel to foster research and development; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby supports the
memorandum of understanding for establishing strategic partnerships
between California and Israel that support joint innovation in clean
technologies, water conservation, health, biotechnology,
cybersecurity, education, agricultural technology, research, and
other informational exchanges, and that also promote mutual
cooperation, understanding, and friendship by encouraging trade
delegations and collaboration on mutual projects and issues of
interest; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.