BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  ACR 73
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   March 1, 2012

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                Nancy Skinner, Chair
                   ACR 73 (Alejo) - As Amended:  February 27, 2012
           
          SUBJECT  :   César Chávez.

           SUMMARY  :   Calls upon Californians to observe César Chávez's 
          birthday, March 31, as a day of public service, to recognize the 
          hard work and self-sacrifice that farmworkers go through to feed 
          all the families in our state, and to learn from César Chávez's 
          life and his mission of nonviolence and social justice and 
          selfless service to others.   Specifically,  this resolution  
          makes the following legislative findings:  

          1)In 2000, the Legislature passed and Governor Gray Davis signed 
            into law SB 984 (Chapter 213 of the Statutes of 2000) to 
            create the first annual state holiday in the country on César 
            Chávez's birthday, March 31.

          2)César Chávez successfully increased public awareness of 
            farmworker working conditions; and, through strikes, boycotts, 
            marches, and fasts Chávez never stopped his peaceful battles 
            on behalf of the farmworkers with whom he shared his life.

          3)César Chávez experienced the hardships and injustices of 
            farmworker life firsthand; and Chávez recognized that for many 
            people, spanning many generations and ethnicities, the path to 
            a better life frequently begins in the fields.  

          4)César Chávez's dedication earned him the respect of some of 
            our greatest political and civil rights leaders; and, since 
            his passing, the United Farm Workers of America has continued 
            his work through organizing farmworkers and campaigns to enact 
            laws and regulations to bring dignity and protections to 
            farmworkers.

          5)To many Californians the farmworkers' struggles are an issue 
            from the past; and, the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy in 
            our daily lives are produced by farmworkers who often endure 
            long hours of backbreaking work and still face challenges such 
            as inadequate enforcement of pesticide, safety, and labor 
            protection laws in the fields.









                                                                  ACR 73
                                                                  Page  2

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Anna McCabe / RLS. / (916) 319-2800