Bill Text: CA AJR14 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Special Olympics.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 59-17-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-09-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 146, Statutes of 2019. [AJR14 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AJR14-Chaptered.html

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 14
CHAPTER 146

Relative to Special Olympics.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  September 09, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AJR 14, Lackey. Special Olympics.
This measure would call for continued support and recognition of the many benefits provided by Special Olympics.
Fiscal Committee: NO  

WHEREAS, In the 1950s and 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver was motivated by her personal family experience to improve the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities and to take actions that led to the creation of Special Olympics; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics California was founded by Rafer Johnson in 1969; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community; and
WHEREAS, The opportunities provided by Special Olympics allow people with intellectual disabilities to discover new strengths, abilities, skills, and successes, instilling the confidence they need to succeed in life; and
WHEREAS, Today Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to 5,000,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries; and
WHEREAS, In addition to sports, Special Olympics is the world’s largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities and offers a wide range of free health exams and care; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics is improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities by providing tools and information to make healthy choices and knowledge on how to prevent illness; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics has provided over 900,000 screenings to date to identify unmet health needs before they become emergencies; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools promote social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities through sports, classroom, and community events; and
WHEREAS, Students with intellectual disabilities are less likely to spend time in a regular education environment than students with any other type of disability; and
WHEREAS, By having students with and without intellectual disabilities sharing classrooms, bullying and isolation challenges that can occur in school environments are reduced; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Northern California and Special Olympics Southern California each host annual Summer Games that attract more than 1,870 athletes from across the state; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Northern California and Special Olympics Southern California have over 65,700 registered athletes and unified partners that participate in year-round sports training and competition opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics unified partnerships join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team as a quick path to friendship and understanding; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls for continued support and recognition of the many benefits provided by Special Olympics; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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