BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



           ------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SCR 61|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                         |
          |1020 N Street, Suite 524          |                         |
          |(916) 651-1520         Fax: (916) |                         |
          |327-4478                          |                         |
           ------------------------------------------------------------ 
           
                                         
                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SCR 61
          Author:   Price (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
          WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE 


           SUBJECT  :    National Mentoring Month

           SOURCE  :     Children Uniting Nations


           DIGEST  :    This resolution proclaims the month of January  
          2010 as National Mentoring Month.

           ANALYSIS :    This resolution makes the following  
          legislative findings:

          1. The citizens of California recognize that our success  
             depends on helping every child succeed in school and  
             reach his or her full potential in life, and realize  
             that young people need a solid foundation of support  
             that will help them become well-educated, confident, and  
             productive citizens.
           
          2. Mentoring is a proven, effective strategy that helps  
             children and young adults by matching them with caring,  
             responsible adults who can provide guidance and  
             direction and build their confidence.
           
          3. Mentors build character, encourage success, boost  
                                                           CONTINUED





                                                                SCR 61
                                                                Page  
          2

             confidence, lift expectations, and expand the universe  
             of a child, serving as friends, role models, teachers,  
             and sources of stability and support during a critical  
             time in a child's life.
           
          4. Research shows that mentoring has beneficial long-term  
             effects on youth by increasing their chances of high  
             school graduation and college attendance and decreasing  
             the likelihood of substance abuse and other risky  
             behaviors.
           
          5. Mentoring strengthens our state's economic and social  
             well-being by helping young people fulfill their  
             potential while helping maintain healthy families and  
             promoting more vibrant communities.
           
          6. Every day, residents of California are making a profound  
             difference in the lives of our young people by serving  
             as mentors, supported by many private and public sector  
             organizations that offer mentoring opportunities for  
             youth.
           
          7. Thousands of California's children are in need of a  
             caring adult mentor in their lives, and closing this  
             mentoring gap will take more investment, more  
             partnerships, and more volunteers ready to make a  
             difference in a child's life.
           
          8. The Obama Administration is working to expand mentoring  
             and other volunteer opportunities across America through  
             its United We Serve initiative, the Corporation for  
             National and Community Service, and other agencies and  
             programs.
           
          9. National Mentoring Month is an opportunity to raise  
             public awareness of the importance of mentoring, to  
             recognize the dedicated individuals who serve as  
             mentors, and to encourage more citizens to help build a  
             brighter future for California's youth through  
             mentoring.

          This resolution proclaims the month of January 2010 as  
          National Mentoring Month, and calls upon the people of the  
          State of California to recognize the importance of  







                                                                SCR 61
                                                                Page  
          3

          mentoring, to look for opportunities to serve as mentors in  
          their communities, and to observe this month with  
          appropriate activities and programs.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  1/14/10)

          Children Uniting Nations (source)
          Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the  
          Inland Empire
          Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters
          Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters
          Los Angeles CARES Mentoring Movement


          TSM:mw  1/14/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

                                ****  END  ****