BILL ANALYSIS Ó SCR 107 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 25, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES Gordon, Chair SCR 107 (Lara) - As Amended April 6, 2016 SENATE VOTE: 37-0 SUBJECT: Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week SUMMARY: Recognizes the week of April 11, 2016 to April 17, 2016, inclusive, as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, and calls upon all Californians to observe the week by participating in appropriate activities and programs. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings: 1)The Cambodian people have a long and rich cultural heritage symbolized by the temple city Angkor Wat, considered one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, built between the 9th and 12th centuries, and which stands as a living icon of the endurance and genius of all Cambodians throughout the world. 2)Between April 17, 1975, and January 7, 1979, the Khmer Rouge of Democratic Kampuchea, led by Pol Pot, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, and other members of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and their agents, committed acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity. April 17, 2016, will mark both the 41st anniversary of the Khmer Rouge seizing control of Cambodia and the beginning of the Cambodian Genocide. SCR 107 Page 2 3)The genocide and other crimes against humanity committed against the people of Cambodia, including various religious groups and ethnic minorities, during the Khmer Rouge regime led to the deaths of over 1,700,000 Cambodians, which was 21% of the nation's population. 4)After the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, over 140,000 Cambodians came to the United States as refugees, a group of special humanitarian and foreign policy concern to the United States because of the well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion and thus in need of protection in accordance with the United Nations' 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. 5)The Cambodian people have drawn from their cultural history to rebuild their lives and communities through participation in American politics on the local and national levels, by establishing local and international businesses, by developing new art forms and community organizations, and by raising a new generation of Americans who promise to contribute to the future of the State of California and the nation. 6)The Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week will honor the survivors and their descendants for their courage and contributions to our state and country, and will serve as a way to remember those who lost their lives in Cambodia and in genocides around the world. FISCAL EFFECT: None REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support SCR 107 Page 3 None on file Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by:Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800