California Assembly Bill ACR50 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: ACR 50AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 29, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Skinner MARCH 11, 2009 Relative to the 2009 State Scientist Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 50, as amended, Skinner. The 2009 State Scientist Day. This measure would proclaim May 20, 2009, as the 21st Annual State Scientist Day. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, The State of California employs nearly 3,000 professional scientists in over 30 state departments working in more than 230 scientific classifications; and WHEREAS, State scientists hold graduate degrees in virtually every scientific discipline, including nematology, virology, seismology, epidemiology, toxicology, and many others; and WHEREAS, State scientists are represented by the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), which is dedicated to professionalism, independence, responsible advocacy, and  ensuring that state scientists receive fair pay and benefits for their important work   earning recognition for the important work of state scientists ; and WHEREAS, The work of state scientists protects the public from life-threatening diseases, safeguards our wildlife and abundant natural resources, and protects our air and water from toxic waste and pollution; and WHEREAS, State scientists are required to make critical decisions every day based on rigorous scientific factfinding and these decisions ultimately impact the lives and property of all Californians; and  WHEREAS, The Governor wrote in October 2007 that "I value the dedication and work of the State's scientists, and I am concerned that salaries for this group may have fallen behind those of comparable workers" and that he wants to ensure "that the State is moving in the direction of achieving fair and equitable compensation for the scientists"; and   WHEREAS, If California loses its scientific expertise, the state will go unarmed in the battles against greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and the overall protection of childrens' health, according to a 2006 California Environmental Protection Agency report; and  WHEREAS, State scientists perform important work in the areas of infectious disease prevention, oil spill prevention and cleanup, public health drinking water monitoring, the protection of agricultural crops, brownfields mitigation, chemical and radiological disaster response, and much more; and WHEREAS, State scientists host an annual State Scientist Day at the State Capitol to increase public awareness and recognition of the significant contributions made by scientists working in state government while entertaining and educating over 2,000 elementary school students with fun, hands-on science exhibits, including digging for hidden artifacts, viewing live fish in a 1,500-gallon tank, and playing Pollution Prevention "Wheel of Fortune" and Coastal Creature "Jeopardy"; and WHEREAS, State Scientist Day has sparked an interest in science for thousands of California school children, legislators, state employees, and the public who attend the special event; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That May 20, 2009, shall be recognized as the 21st Annual State Scientist Day, and that this day shall be a tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the state scientists who work on behalf of all Californians; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.