BILL NUMBER: AJR 45ENROLLED BILL TEXT ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2010 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 16, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong JUNE 29, 2010 Relative to Lifelong Learning Accounts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AJR 45, Fong. Lifelong Learning Accounts. This measure would urge the federal government to create and fund programs that encourage lifelong learning, such as Lifelong Learning Accounts, within California. WHEREAS, California has a lower percentage of young adults, ages 25 to 34, who have completed high school or who have earned a college degree than the national average; and WHEREAS, 66 percent of California's working adults, ages 18 to 64, over 15 million adults, are without an associate's degree, college degree or a higher degree; and WHEREAS, Working-age adults with a college education in California are 27 percent more likely to participate in the workforce than those with only a high school diploma; and WHEREAS, The lifetime earnings of Californians with a college education are more than double those of Californians without this education. Persons with a college education also have fewer health problems, are less likely to commit crimes, are more likely to participate in civic activities, and are able to create more resources for the state; and WHEREAS, The federal government encourages the citizens of the United States to gain more education so as to enable the country to compete more effectively in the global economy; and WHEREAS, All levels of government could encourage savings to pay for higher education opportunities for working adults to allow those adults to acquire new skills, raise their standard of living, and prepare them to be part of the workforce in our changing economy; and WHEREAS, Lifelong Learning Accounts have been shown to be an effective method to encourage employers and employees to set aside money to pay for tuition, fees, supplies, materials, and books necessary for further education and training; and WHEREAS, The Legislature supports the creation of innovative programs that encourages lifelong learning, including Lifelong Learning Accounts, that might be available through funding from the federal government because those programs will lead to a more skilled workforce which will, in turn, help California maintain its role as an economic leader in today's changing economy; now therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California urges the federal government to create and fund programs that encourage lifelong learning, such as Lifelong Learning Accounts, within California; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Secretary of Labor, to the Secretary of Education, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.