BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 572
AUTHOR: Leno
AMENDED: April 20, 2009
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: May 6, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: James Wilson
SUBJECT : Harvey Milk Day
SUMMARY
This bill designates May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk
Day, and calls for the day to be observed by the public
schools as a day of special significance. The bill also
requires the Governor to annually proclaim May 22 as Harvey
Milk Day.
BACKGROUND
Current law designates a number of days as days having
special significance, when public schools are encouraged to
conduct suitable commemorative exercises integrated into
the regular school programs. Current law calls for the
second Wednesday in May to be the Day of the Teacher, April
21 each year to be John Muir Day and April 6 each year to
be California Poppy Day.
Current law also requires the Governor to proclaim various
days to remember individuals. These days include September
28 as Cabrillo Day, January 15 as Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day; March 31, as Caesar Chavez Day; and April 21 as
John Muir Day.
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Makes various findings and declarations concerning the
life of Harvey Bernard Milk.
2) Designates May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day, to
be a
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day having special significance when all public schools and
educational institutions are encouraged to conduct
exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk and
recognizing his accomplishments as well as the
contributions he made to the state.
3) Requires the Governor to annually proclaim May 22 as
Harvey Milk Day.
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STAFF COMMENTS
Previous legislation . AB 2567 (Leno) of 2008, was almost
identical to this bill, and was heard and approved by this
committee on June 18, 2008. AB 2567 was vetoed by the
Governor with the following message:
I respect the author's intent to designate May 22nd as
"Harvey Milk Day" and a day of special significance
for California public schools and educational
institutions to honor Harvey Milk as an important
community leader and public official in the city and
county of San Francisco. However, I believe his
contributions should continue to be recognized at the
local level by those who were most impacted by his
contributions.
SUPPORT
Ally Action
Anti Defamation League
Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
California Communities United Institute
California Federation of Teachers
California Teachers Association
Chair of the State Board of Equalization Betty Yee
City of San Diego
City of San Diego Human Relations Commission
Equality California (Sponsor)
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
GroundSpark
National Association of Social Workers
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
San Francisco Unified School District
Letters from individuals.
OPPOSITION
California Family Council
Capitol Resource Family Impact
Traditional Values Coalition
Letters from individuals.
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