BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 616|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 616
Author: Huff (R) and Nguyen (R), et al.
Amended: 1/4/16
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 6-0, 1/13/16
AYES: Liu, Block, Hancock, Mendoza, Monning, Vidak
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner, Leyva, Pan
SUBJECT: Public schools: Asian Lunar New Years Day
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: 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.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)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)
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2)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. (EC § 37220 - § 37221)
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.
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
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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 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.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified1/13/16)
Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association
Southern California Region
Asians for Lunar New Year Group
Chinese American Equalization Association
Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern
California
The Orange Club PAC
OPPOSITION: (Verified1/13/16)
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None received
Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105
1/14/16 15:21:20
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