BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  ACR 50
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 23, 2009

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                 Ted W. Lieu, Chair
                  ACR 50 (Skinner) - As Introduced:  March 11, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :   The 2009 State Scientist Day.

           SUMMARY  :   Proclaims May 20, 2009, as the 21st Annual State  
          Scientist Day, as a tribute to the dedication and  
          professionalism of the state scientists who work on behalf of  
          all Californians.  Specifically,  this resolution  makes the  
          following legislative findings:  

          1)The state employs nearly 3,000 professional scientists working  
            in over 30 state departments in 230 scientific  
            classifications; and the work of state scientists impacts the  
            lives and property of all Californians.

          2)State scientists perform important work in the areas of  
            infectious disease prevention, oil spill prevention and  
            cleanup, public health drinking water monitoring, the  
            protection of agricultural crops, brownfields mitigation,  
            chemical and radiological disaster response, and much more.

          3)State Scientist Day at the Capitol increases public awareness  
            and recognizes contributions made by scientists working in  
            state government while entertaining and educating over 2,000  
            elementary school students with fun, hands-on exhibits; and  
            the event has sparked an interest in science for thousands of  
            California school children, legislators, state employees, and  
            the public who attend the special event.
           
          FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           COMMENTS  : 

          The author has proposed amendments and committee staff  
          recommends that language is adopted to be consistent with SCR 96  
          (Steinberg) regarding 2008 State Scientists Day which was  
          approved by this committee last year:

          1)Delete reference to advocacy for fair pay and benefits for  
            state scientists.  (On page 1, delete lines 10 and 11.)









                                                                  ACR 50
                                                                  Page  2

          2)Insert advocacy for recognition of the important work of state  
            scientists.  (On page 1, after line 9, insert:  earning  
            recognition for the important work of state scientists.)

          3)Delete findings that fair and equitable compensation for state  
            scientists is necessary to retain California's scientific  
            expertise and to protect the state's environmental and  
            children's health programs.  (On page 2, delete lines 5  
            through 15.)
           
          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Anna McCabe / RLS. / (916) 319-2800