Bill Text: CA SB892 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Lunar New Year.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Passed) 2018-08-24 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 199, Statutes of 2018. [SB892 Detail]
Download: California-2017-SB892-Chaptered.html
| Senate Bill No. 892 |
| CHAPTER 199 |
An act to add Section 37222.19 to the Education Code, and to add Section 6730 to the Government Code, relating to public schools.
[
Approved by
Governor
August 24, 2018.
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 24, 2018.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 892, Pan.
Lunar New Year.
Existing law designates particular days each year as having special significance and encourages all public schools and educational institutions to observe those days and to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on those days. Existing law also requires the Governor to proclaim certain days each year for specified reasons.
This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim a specified date as the Lunar New Year, would designate and set this date apart each year as a day having special significance, and would encourage all public schools and educational institutions to, on Lunar New Year, conduct exercises recognizing the traditions and cultural significance of the Lunar New Year, among other things.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The Lunar New Year, a time of feasting and renewal of family and community ties, falls annually between January 21 and February 20 on the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene.
(b) Lunar New Year is
predominantly celebrated by millions of Asian and Pacific Islander Californians of Chinese, Korean, Singaporean, and Vietnamese descent.
(c) California is a major destination for tourists from a variety of Asian countries and the San Francisco Bay area’s Lunar New Year celebrations, among other factors, make it the leading destination for Asian tourists in the entire United States of America.
(d) The celebration of Lunar New Year events and programming in communities throughout California illustrates the state’s rich cultural history and commitment to ethnic and cultural
diversity.
(e) Many jurisdictions around California and the United States, including the City and County of San Francisco and the City of New York, have designated Lunar New Year as an official school holiday.
(f) The History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, adopted by the State Board of Education on July 14, 2016, highlighted Lunar New Year as a festival of special relevance in its “Development of the Local Community: Change Over Time” curriculum for third grade.
(g) The celebration of Lunar New Year holds a special meaning for the people of California and is of interest to students of all ages.
SEC. 2.
Section 37222.19 is added to the Education Code, to read:37222.19.
(a) The date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice of each year, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, is designated and set apart as the Lunar New Year, a day having special significance pursuant to Section 37222.(b) On the Lunar New Year, all public schools and educational institutions are encouraged to conduct exercises recognizing the traditions and cultural significance of the Lunar New Year, the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Californians to the state, and any local festivities and celebrations of the occasion.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the exercises encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school program and be conducted by the public school or educational institution within the amount of time otherwise budgeted for educational programs.
