BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 25|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SCR 25
Author: Block (D), Allen (D), Hertzberg (D), Jackson (D), Leno
(D),
Stone (R), and Wolk (D), et al.
Amended: 7/13/15
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS, PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 9-0, 4/6/15
AYES: Hill, Bates, Berryhill, Block, Galgiani, Hernandez,
Jackson, Mendoza, Wieckowski
SENATE FLOOR: 34-0, 4/13/15
AYES: Allen, Anderson, Bates, Beall, Berryhill, Block,
Cannella, De León, Fuller, Galgiani, Hall, Hancock, Hernandez,
Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Lara, Leno, Leyva,
McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen,
Nielsen, Pan, Roth, Stone, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wolk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Gaines, Liu, Monning, Pavley, Runner
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 7/13/15
SUBJECT: Trade: Israel: memorandum of understanding
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution states the Legislatures recognition and
support for the memorandum of understanding for strategic
partnerships for joint innovation, exchanges, and cooperation
(MOU) between California and Israel which was signed on March 5,
2014.
SCR 25
Page 2
Assembly Amendments add co-authors and make additional
statements about the importance of California's MOU with Israel.
ANALYSIS:
Existing federal law:
1)Gives the federal government the power to enter into treaties
and trade agreements. Federal law requires Congress to
approve international agreements. (United States (U.S.)
Constitution, Article II)
2)Establishes, by executive order, the United States Trade
Representative as an agency within the Executive Office of the
President to be responsible for international trade
negotiations. (Executive Order 12188)
Existing state law:
1)Establishes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development (GO-Biz) within the Governor's Office for the
purpose of serving as the lead state entity for economic
strategy and marketing of California on issues relating to
business development, private sector investment and economic
growth. (Government Code (GC) §§ 12096 - 12098.5)
2)Specifies that GO-Biz is the primary state agency authorized
to attract foreign investments, cooperate in international
public infrastructure projects, and support California
businesses in accessing markets, and requires the Director of
GO-Biz to develop an international trade and investment
program attracting employment-producing direct foreign
investment to the state and providing support for California
businesses in accessing international markets and increasing
exports. (GC § 13996.41)
SCR 25
Page 3
3)Authorizes GO-Biz to establish international trade and
investment offices outside of the U.S. according to certain
requirements. (GC § 13996.42)
This resolution:
1) States the importance of California's relationship with
Israel and significance of the MOU.
2) States that the MOU has resulted in increased cooperation
between California and Israel in areas of alternative energy,
environmental technology, health, food and agriculture, trade
and other technology-based industry sectors, business
innovation, research, development, and academia.
3) States that since the MOU was signed in 2014, two additional
agreements have been signed with the assistance of GO-Biz
including agreements to add an economic component to the
bilateral partnership and a second agreement between the
California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Israel's
Ministry of Economy to facilitate matching grants for stem
cell research and development.
4) States that collaboration with Israel will foster peace and
democracy in the Middle East.
5) States that 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.
SCR 25
Page 4
6) Resolves that the Legislature hereby supports the MOU 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.
Background
On March 5, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Israel-California
Strategic Partnership for the purposes of establishing a formal
relationship between them to foster economic cooperation and
economic development, facilitate joint industrial research and
development, and enhance business relationships and educational
opportunities to foster job creation and incubate global
solutions from joint California-Israel innovation initiatives.
California would boost economic, cultural, and academic
cooperation between California and Israel in the areas of
cybersecurity, health, biotechnology, education, agricultural
technology, water conservation, and alternative energy.
Since the MOU was signed, there have been a number of
collaborative efforts initiated to meet the goals of the
agreement. A new California iHub program was developed, iHub
Worldwide Innovation Network, to facilitate the introduction of
foreign companies, investment and partners, including those in
Israel, to the state's iHubs. Cyber security discussions,
including workshops and seminars on business expansion
partnerships with Israeli experts and firms are in the works.
Leading Israeli water experts visited California to learn more
about water management in the state. Israel and the California
Department of Food and Agriculture are in contact and GO-Biz
works with agri-tech companies from both California and Israel
to advance partnership and business opportunities. Alternative
energy and clean technology efforts between California and
Israel are being advanced through discussions at the California
SCR 25
Page 5
Energy Commission and a delegation visit of Israeli companies,
led by Israeli officials, to the Los Angeles Clean Tech Global
Showcase. Arts and cultural exchanges are underway, including
partnership between the California Arts Council and Israel.
California officials have spearheaded introductions between
Israel and the University of California Office of the President
and California State University Chancellor's Office to further
develop educational partnerships.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified7/14/15)
American Jewish Committee of Los Angeles
American Jewish Committee of San Francisco
Bay Area Council
California Israel Chamber of Commerce
City of Los Angeles
Consulate General of Israel
Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California
San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener
The Anti-Defamation League
University of California
OPPOSITION: (Verified7/14/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: Supporters state that this resolution
sends a powerful message about the state's support for the MOU
signed in 2014 which
will forge a strategic partnership of mutual benefit and note
that there are multiple reasons why the MOU makes sense and is
beneficial, including California and Israel's global leadership
in the alternative energy, environmental and other
technology-based industry sectors as well as job creation, a key
area of concern and focus for the state and the nation.
SCR 25
Page 6
Supporters also believe this resolution
assists both California and Israel to fulfill their mutual goals
of job creation and economic prosperity.
Prepared by:Sarah Mason / B., P. & E.D. / (916) 651-4104
7/14/15 19:26:04
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