BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 616
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|Author: |Huff |
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|Version: |January 4, 2016 Hearing |
| |Date: January 13, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No | Fiscal: | No |
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|Consultant:|Olgalilia Ramirez |
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Subject: Public schools: Asian Lunar New Year's Day
SUMMARY
This bill designates the date corresponding with the start of
the Asian Lunar calendar of each year as Asian Lunar New Year's
Day, and encourages public schools to recognize it as a special
day of significance.
BACKGROUND
Existing law designates a number of days as days of special
significance to the public schools and educational institutions
and encourages them to observe that day, including Larry
Itliong Day (October 25), Ronald Reagan Day (February 6), John
Muir Day (April 21), and Harvey Milk Day (May 22). (Education
Code § 37222 - § 37222.17)
Existing law also requires public schools to close on a number
of holidays, including January 1, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day, Lincoln Day, Washington Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor
Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, December 25, all days
appointed by the Governor or the President of the United States
for a public fast, holiday, and any other day designated as a
holiday by the governing board of the school district. Existing
law requires that for some specified holidays for which schools
are required to close (Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln Day,
and Washington Day), schools conduct exercises in commemoration.
SB 616 (Huff) Page 2
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(EC § 37220 - § 37221)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Makes various findings and declarations relative to the
Asian Lunar New Year and the contributions of the Asian and
Pacific Islander American community to the social,
cultural, civic, economic, and academic success of
California.
2) Requires the Governor to designate the date corresponding
with the start of the Asian Lunar calendar of each year as
Asian Lunar New Year's Day, as specified.
3) Encourages all public schools and educational institutions
to conduct exercises observing the Asian Lunar New Year
with appropriate activities and programs.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. According to the author, naming Lunar
New Year as a special day of significance encourages
classroom conversations about a major holiday celebrated in
the eastern part of the world and by millions of California
residents. The author further asserts that it is essential
to support these conversations to help build a greater
sense of inclusion and community particularly among members
of the Asian community.
2) Asian Lunar New Year: The Lunar New Year traditionally
occurs in late January or early February and is one of the
most significant cultural holidays for Chinese, Korean,
Vietnamese, and other Asian ethnic groups. With
Asian-American communities in all regions across the state,
the holiday is a popular annual celebration in California.
As such, many schools organize related activities and at
least one California school district, San Francisco
Unified, observes the tradition by closing its schools for
the day. This bill statutorily recognizes Asian Lunar New
Year as a day of having special significance in which
SB 616 (Huff) Page 3
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public schools and educational institutions are encouraged
but not required to conduct exercises celebrating the
occasion.
3) Discretionary activities. Current law encourages all
public schools and educational institutions to observe each
day designated and set apart as a day having special
significance, and to conduct suitable commemorative
exercises. These are not required activities. Current law
also includes legislative intent that exercises be
integrated into the regular school program and be conducted
by the school within the amount of time otherwise budgeted
for educational programs.
SUPPORT
Chinese American Equalization Association
Asians for Lunar New Year Group
Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern
California
OPPOSITION
None received.
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