BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 121|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SCR 121
Author: Block (D), Jackson (D), Leno (D), Steinberg (D), and
Wolk (D), et al.
Amended: 7/3/14
Vote: 21
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SENATE FLOOR : 34-0, 6/9/14
AYES: Anderson, Beall, Block, Cannella, Corbett, Correa, De
Le�n, DeSaulnier, Evans, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Hancock,
Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Knight, Lara, Leno,
Liu, Mitchell, Morrell, Nielsen, Padilla, Pavley, Roth,
Steinberg, Torres, Vidak, Walters, Wolk, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Berryhill, Calderon, Lieu, Monning, Wright,
Yee
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 7/3/14
SUBJECT : Trade: Israel: memorandum of understanding
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution states the Legislatures support for
the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for establishing strategic
partnerships between California and Israel.
Assembly Amendments add clarifying language and add coauthors.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
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1.Two-way trade between Israel and California totaled over $4
billion in 2013. California and Israel share close ties and
are global leaders in the alternative energy, environmental
technology, and other technology-based industry sectors.
2.The Governor of California and the Prime Minister of Israel
have just signed an MOU for strategic partnerships for joint
innovation, exchanges, and cooperation between California and
Israel. The participants in this MOU seek to expand the
current level of cooperation between Israel and California in,
but not limited to, alternative energy, environmental
technology, health, food and agriculture, and other
technology-based industry sectors, business innovation,
research, and development.
3.Collaboration with Israel will foster peace and democracy in
the Middle East; and to achieve these aims, the MOU envisions
undertaking actions, including, among others, creating
public-private partnerships between Californian and Israeli
entities in the areas of economic development, social
entrepreneurship, or academic research.
This resolution states that the Legislature supports the MOU for
establishing strategic partnerships between California and
Israel that support joint innovation in clean technologies,
water conservation, health, biotechnology, cybersecurity,
education, agricultural technology, research, and other
informational exchanges.
Comments
According to the author, "SCR 121 would establish the
Legislature's support for the memorandum of understanding for
establishing strategic partnerships between California and
Israel. On March 5th 2014 Governor Jerry Brown and Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a Memorandum of Understanding
in Mountain View to boost economic, cultural, and academic
cooperation between California and Israel in the areas of
cybersecurity, health, biotechnology, education, agricultural
technology, water conservation, and alternative energy."
Prior Legislation
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AB 1032 (Blumenfield, 2009-10 Session) would have required the
Governor to establish an MOU to formalize a relationship between
the state and Israel to foster technology development, business
development, and educational opportunities in solar energy and
environmental technology industries. The bill died in the
Assembly Appropriations Committee.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/5/14)
Anti-Defamation League
Bay Area Council
Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents write, "As the resolution
states, there are multiple reasons why an MOU between Israel and
California makes sense and is beneficial, including: two way
trade between Israel and California totaled over $4 billion in
2013; California and Israel are global leaders in the
alternative energy, environmental and other technology-based
industry sectors; and job creation, a key area of concern and
focus for the state and the nation, are clear outcomes of the
signed MOU."
MW:nl 8/5/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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