BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �






                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
                             Alan Lowenthal, Chair
                           2011-2012 Regular Session
                                        

          BILL NO:       AB 2269
          AUTHOR:        Swanson
          AMENDED:       March 20, 2012
          FISCAL COMM:   No             HEARING DATE:  June 13, 2012
          URGENCY:       No             CONSULTANT:    Lynn Lorber

           SUBJECT  :  Labor History Month.
          
           SUMMARY  

          This bill expands Labor History week to Labor History 
          month.

           BACKGROUND  

          Current law proclaims the first week of April as Labor 
          History Week and encourages school districts to commemorate 
          the week with appropriate educational exercises that make 
          pupils aware of the role the labor movement has played in 
          shaping California and the United States.  (Education Code 
          � 51009)

          Current law designates the following days of special 
          significance:

          1)   March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.  (EC � 37220.5)

          2)   The fourth Friday in September as Native American Day. 
                (EC � 37220.7)

          3)   The anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of 
               the United States (September 17).  (EC � 37221)

          4)   March 7 as Conservation, Bird and Arbor Day (birthday 
               of Luther Burbank).  (EC � 37221)

          5)   February 15 as Susan B. Anthony Day.  (EC � 37221)

          6)   March 5 as Black American Day (death of Crispus 
               Attucks).  (EC � 37221)





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          7)   The second Wednesday in May as Day of the Teacher.  
               (EC � 37222.10)

          8)   April 21 as John Muir Day.  (EC � 37222.11)

          9)   April 6 as California Poppy Day.  (EC � 37222.12)

          10)  May 22 as Harvey Milk Day.  (EC � 37222.13)

          11)  March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.  (EC � 
               37222.14)

          12)  January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties 
               and the Constitution.  (EC � 37222.15)

          13)  February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day.  (EC � 37222.16)

          14)  January 23 as Ed Roberts Day.  (EC � 37222.17)

           ANALYSIS
           
          This bill expands the recognition of Labor History in 
          schools from the first week of April to the month of May.

           STAFF COMMENTS  

           1)   Need for the bill  .  According to the author, "An 
               unanticipated problem has arisen in that, for many 
               school districts, the first week of April is Spring 
               Break (when students are generally not in class).  In 
               addition, April is very busy with preparation for 
               statewide standardized testing.  As a result, many 
               school districts simply celebrate Labor History Week 
               events later in the month of April or in May."

           2)   Not a mandate  .  Current law encourages all public 
               schools and educational institutions to observe each 
               day designated and set apart as a day having special 
               significance, and to conduct suitable commemorative 
               exercises.  Current law states legislative intent that 
               exercises be integrated into the regular school 
               program and be conducted by the school within the 
               amount of time otherwise budgeted for educational 
               programs.  (Education Code � 37222)

           SUPPORT  




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          American Federation of State, County and Municipal 
          Employees
          California Federation of Teachers
          California Labor Federation
          California Nurses Association
          California Professional Firefighters
          California School Employees Association
          California Teachers Association
          Northern California District Council of the International 
          Longshore and 
               Warehouse Union
          State Building and Construction Trades Council
          Superintendent of Public Instruction

           OPPOSITION

           None on file.