BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 616
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Date of Hearing: June 22, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
SB
616 (Huff) - As Amended January 4, 2016
SENATE VOTE: 40-0
SUBJECT: Public schools: Asian Lunar New Year's Day
SUMMARY: Encourages all public schools and educational
institutions to conduct culturally appropriate activities and
exercises observing the Asian Lunar New Year and requires the
Governor to annually proclaim the date corresponding with the
start of the lunar calendar as Asian Lunar New Year's Day.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Makes findings and declarations relative to the significance
of the Asian Lunar New Year.
2)Designates the date corresponding with the start of the Asian
lunar calendar of each year as set apart as Asian Lunar New
Year's Day, a day having special significance.
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3)Encourages all public schools and educational institutions to
conduct culturally appropriate activities and exercises
observing the Asian Lunar New Year on Lunar New Year's Day.
4)Requires the Governor to annually designate the date
corresponding with the start of the lunar calendar as Asian
Lunar New Year's Day.
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 and to conduct suitable
commemorative exercises. Those recognizing individuals are
John Muir Day (April 21), Harvey Milk Day (May 22), Fred
Korematsu Day (January 30), Ronald Reagan Day (February 6),
and Ed Roberts Day (January 23).
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, thanksgiving or holiday, and any other day designated as
a holiday by the governing board of the school district.
3)Requires, for some specified holidays for which schools are
required to close (Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln Day,
Washington Day), that schools conduct exercises in
commemoration.
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4)Authorizes public schools to close on two other days if the
governing board, pursuant to a collective bargaining
agreement, agrees to close schools for that purpose. These
days are César Chávez (March 31) and Native American Day
(fourth Friday in September).
5)Requires public schools to remain open on specified days
(unless otherwise closed to mark a holiday by decision of the
governing board), and to celebrate the significance of those
days with appropriate commemorative exercises. These days are
the anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, the
birthdays of Luther Burbank (March 7) and Susan B. Anthony
(February 15), and the death of Crispus Attucks (March 5).
6)Requires the State Board of Education to ensure that state
curriculum on César Chávez and the history of the farm labor
movement in the United States include information on the role
of immigrants, including Filipino Americans, in that movement.
7)Designates October 25th of each year as Larry Itliong Day, a
day of special significance, and requires the Governor to
annually proclaim October 25th of each year as Larry Itliong
Day. Encourages all public schools and educational
institutions to observe this day and conduct exercises
remembering the life and contributions of Larry Itliong.
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS:
Asian Lunar New Year. The Asian Lunar New Year typically occurs
in late January or early February and is a significant cultural
event for Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and some other Asian
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ethnic groups. The San Francisco Unified School District closes
its schools in observance of the lunar new year, and this year
the New York City Department of Education did the same. This
bill encourages, but does not require, public schools and
educational institutions to conduct exercises celebrating the
occasion.
Similar bills. This bill is substantially similar to AB 2598
(Ting), which was approved by this Committee on April 20th. AB
2598 encourages all public schools and educational institutions
to conduct culturally appropriate activities and exercises
observing the Lunar New Year, and requires the Governor to
annually proclaim the date corresponding with the start of the
lunar calendar as Lunar New Year's Day. The Committee may wish
to consider whether it should approve two measures which are
substantially similar.
Related legislation. AB 2598 (Ting) of this Session, which was
approved by this Committee on April 20th, encourages all public
schools and educational institutions to conduct culturally
appropriate activities and exercises observing the Lunar New
Year and requires the Governor to annually proclaim the date
corresponding with the start of the lunar calendar as Lunar New
Year's Day. This bill is pending in the Senate Education
Committee.
AB 7 (Bonta), Chapter 29, Statutes of 2015, designates October
25th of each year as Larry Itliong Day, a day of special
significance, and requires the Governor to annually proclaim
October 25th of each year as Larry Itliong Day. Encourages all
SB 616
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public schools and educational institutions to observe this day
and conduct related exercises remembering the life and
contributions of Larry Itliong.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association
(sponsor)
Asians for Lunar New Year Group (sponsor)
Chinese American Equalization Association (sponsor)
Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern
California (sponsor)
Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation (sponsor)
The Orange Club Political Action Committee (sponsor)
Opposition
None on file
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Analysis Prepared by:Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916)
319-2087