BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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SENATE THIRD READING
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6 (Monning)
As Introduced January 12, 2015
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 33-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Jobs |9-0 |Eduardo Garcia, Kim, | |
| | |Brough, Brown, Chau, | |
| | |Chu, Gipson, Irwin, | |
| | |Mathis | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Memorializes the intent and commitment of the
California Legislature to formalize a sister state relationship
with the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina, for the purpose of
encouraging and facilitating social, economic, scientific,
educational, and cultural exchanges that further promote the
prosperity of both regions and to improve the international
understanding and goodwill between both regions. Upon adoption,
the Secretary of the Senate is to transmit copies of the
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resolution to the author for distribution.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: This resolution proposes the commitment of the
Legislature to establish a sister state relationship between
California and the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina.
A sister state relationship is a formal declaration between two
regions, states, or nations. Such an agreement is a symbol of
mutual goodwill. Additionally, it is an effort to encourage and
facilitate mutually beneficial social, economic, educational,
and cultural exchanges. Both the Legislative and the
Administrative branches of government have the authority to
establish sister state relationships.
The California State Senate has had an ongoing exchange over a
decade with both the government of the Province of Santa Fe and
a Santa Fe-based foundation whose mission is to promote civic
awareness and democracy, the Fundación Nueva Generación
Argentina (FNGA).
The California State Senate has sent official delegations to
Argentina in 2004, 2007, and 2010. The FNGA has sponsored
delegations to California in 2005, 2007, and 2012. Among other
non-government meetings, the FNGA meets with California business
and trade related organizations including the California Chamber
of Commerce. Another round of meetings is planned for
2015/2016. According to the author, this resolution would build
on these relationships in formalizing a sister state
relationship with the Province of Santa Fe.
Origins of Sister Programs: United States sister affiliations
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began shortly after WWII and developed into a national
initiative when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed the
people-to-people program at a White House Conference in 1956.
According to research on Maryland's Sister State Web page,
President Eisenhower's intention was to involve people and
organized groups at all levels of society in personal, citizen
diplomacy with the hope that people-to-people relationships,
fostered through sister city affiliations, would lessen the
chance of future world conflicts. Many sister city
relationships are coordinated through the nonprofit network,
Sister Cities International.
Sister State Programs: States differ in their approach to
selecting and implementing sister state relationships. Some
states, such as Hawaii, require a detailed application from the
foreign state wishing to enter into partnership. The
application form includes information on prospective partner's
economic structure, cultural resources, primary industries and
foreign trade and investment. Applications are reviewed by the
Hawaiian Governor, who refers applications he or she supports
for further review by the Legislature. The Legislature
expresses their approval through the adoption of a concurrent
resolution authorizing the Governor to proceed in negotiating a
sister state agreement with the applicant state.
One recurrent model for managing the sister state relationship
is the establishment or designation of a sister organization.
Iowa, for example, has Iowa Sister State, a non-profit,
volunteer organization whose mission is to "develop and
implement international programs that promote the interests of
the State of Iowa and its citizens." Activities for each of
Iowa's nine sister state relationships is coordinated through a
special committee, which organizes events and exchanges.
Several states have information on their Web pages regarding
longstanding sister state relationships. Michigan, as an
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example, has had a sister state relationship with Shiga
Prefecture, Japan, since 1968, and stills hosts several
exchanges per year. For the 40th Anniversary of the sister
state relationship between HyMgo Prefecture, Japan, and the
State of Washington, the two governor's attended several special
events including "Kobe Day" at a Seattle Mariners' Game, with
260 delegates from HyMgo and Governor Toshizo Ido throwing the
first pitch.
Another core component of sister state relationships is
education. Michigan and other states often emphasize
educational exchanges, as well as cultural exchanges. South
Carolina even offers fee waivers to foreign students from their
sister state who wish to attend public universities.
Many sister state relationships also include economic and
business development priorities, as well as cultural and
educational exchanges. The Alberta, Canada, and Jalisco,
Mexico, sister state relationship focuses on enhancing the
economic cooperation between the two regions. The
Albert-Jalisco sister state relationship is guided by the
initial and 13 supplemental agreements including agreements that
support joint research funding on micro and nanotechnology,
e-heath, radio-frequency identification and multimedia; and
value added food processing.
California has no formal structure for establishing,
negotiating, or maintaining sister state relationships.
Analysis Prepared by: Toni Symonds / J., E.D., & E. / (916)
319-2090 FN: 0001065
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