California Assembly Bill AJR27 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AJR 27AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 8, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla  (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members   Ammiano,   Hall,   Ma,   Monning,   Perea,   and Williams   )   (   Coauthors:   Senators   Alquist,   Evans,   Liu,   and Runner   )  FEBRUARY 14, 2012 Relative to women in sports. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AJR 27, as amended, Bonilla. Women in sports. This measure would commemorate the 40th anniversary of Title IX on June 23, 2012, commend the movement toward increased equality and fair treatment of female athletes, and praise the goal of greater opportunities in sports for girls and young women in California. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, When the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) was formed in 1914, girls' physical education did not include interscholastic sports teams; and WHEREAS, In 1964, the CIF Federated Council adopted a set of bylaws for girls' interscholastic sports that stated that schools and school districts may organize girls' sports teams; and WHEREAS, By the 1967-68 school year, almost half of California's secondary schools conducted a CIF girls' interscholastic athletic program of some degree; and WHEREAS, In 1972, the United States Congress enacted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and WHEREAS, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (hereafter Title IX) states, in part, as follows: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . ."; and WHEREAS, Prior to the enactment of Title IX, many schools refused to admit girls and women to, or imposed strict limits on their participation in, a wide range of sports; and WHEREAS, Since the enactment of Title IX, the participation and interest of girls and women in sports has soared. Only 300,000 girls participated in California high school sports  and fewer than 32,000 women participated in college sports  prior to Title IX; today the number is  in excess of 2.37   nearly three  million; and  WHEREAS, Since the enactment of Title IX, participation of girls and women in sports has increased by 904 percent in high schools and 456 percent in colleges; and  WHEREAS, Title IX governs the overall equity of opportunity in athletics, including areas such as equipment and supplies, travel, support services, and scholarships; and WHEREAS, Scholarship opportunities are an important way that educational institutions meet the needs and interests of student athletes; and WHEREAS, In 1995-96, across all National Collegiate Athletic Association divisions, male athletes received 63 percent of the scholarship funding and female athletes received 37 percent of scholarship dollars, or $142,622,803 less than their male counterparts; and  WHEREAS, Today, male athletes receive 55 percent of the scholarship funding and female athletes receive 45 percent of scholarship dollars; and  WHEREAS, The amount of recruitment dollars spent on women athletes can be viewed as a measure of institutional commitment to women's sports programs; and WHEREAS,  Women's   In 1995-96, women's  teams received 26.6 percent of the total available funding while men' s teams received 72.6 percent of that amount; and  WHEREAS, Women now constitute 37 percent of college athletes and were 39 percent of the 1996 United States Olympic Team members; and   WHEREAS, Today, women's teams receive 38 percent of the total available funding while men's teams receive 62 percent of that amount; and  WHEREAS, Participation in girls' and women's sports has led to tremendous learning opportunities in leadership skills and team building; and WHEREAS, Girls' and women's sports have contributed enormously to developing self-confidence and self-esteem in women; and WHEREAS, Girls and young women who are involved in sports have been found to be less likely to smoke, use drugs, or have babies as teenagers; and WHEREAS, Girls' and women's sports and other fitness programs for women have led millions of women into positive lifelong habits of physical activity, improved fitness, and consequently greatly improved health in our state; and WHEREAS, Title IX has continued to increase opportunities for girls and women in sports but has not achieved the goal of full equality in participation in scholarships, equipment, and other funding; and WHEREAS, In addition to girls' and women's sports, numerous health clubs, specialized programs in women's fitness, and outdoor activities and programs that promote self-sufficiency and self-confidence in women through outdoor adventures are dedicated to promoting lifelong participation of women in sports and fitness; and WHEREAS, These same organizations have sought to create a public awareness that encourages greater female participation and greater support of gender equality and empowerment through sports and outdoor programs; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That high school and college coaches of women's athletics are to be commended for progress in attaining the goals of Title IX and fulfilling the hopes and dreams of girls and women in sports; and be it further Resolved, That the CIF and California high schools and colleges are to be commended for the progress made already  ,  and encouraged in further efforts by all to meet the challenge of equality in sports and the greatest fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of girls and women in our schools; and be it further Resolved, That programs and projects that emphasize girls' and women's confidence building through fitness and physical challenges in sports and outdoor adventure, such as the Women's Sports Foundation, be commended for their positive impact in carrying forward the fitness message for girls and women; and be it further Resolved, That parents, families, businesses, women athletes who serve as positive role models, and all others who have contributed to girls' and women's leadership and team player skills through sports and fitness activities are to be commended; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California, on June 23, 2012, commemorates the 40th anniversary of Title IX, commends the movement toward increased equality and fair treatment of female athletes, and praises the goals of greater opportunities in sports for girls and young women in 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, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.