BILL NUMBER: SCR 32ENROLLED BILL TEXT ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 28, 2011 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 19, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Correa (Coauthors: Senators Harman, Pavley, Runner, Simitian, Strickland, Vargas, Wolk, and Wright) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Beall, Hall, Huffman, Lara, Mansoor, and Portantino) APRIL 4, 2011 Relative to Senior Volunteer Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 32, Correa. Senior Volunteer Month. This measure would declare May 2011 and each May thereafter as "Senior Volunteer Month" to honor the contributions of California's senior volunteers. WHEREAS, Each May, Americans observe Older Americans Month and celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of older Americans; and WHEREAS, Many local governments have proclaimed May to be Older Americans Month; and WHEREAS, Senior volunteers serve congregate and home-delivered meals, engage in assisted senior activities, work for the prevention of elder abuse, and provide health care counseling, legal assistance, and transportation; and WHEREAS, Volunteer work is performed for Alzheimer's patients, grandchildren, community organizations, schools, churches, hospitals, and many other nonprofit organizations; and WHEREAS, In 1999, a national survey showed senior citizens' volunteer work hours totaled approximately 5.5 billion hours a year at an estimated value of $71.2 billion. Forty-five percent of seniors reported volunteering in neighborhoods, 54 percent of senior volunteers were either full- or part-time employed, and 45 percent of retired seniors volunteered four or more hours weekly. Eighty-one percent of those individuals over 75 years of age volunteer when asked; and WHEREAS, Many local governments, nonprofit organizations, and senior centers recognize senior volunteers once a year by providing honorary certificates; and WHEREAS, Many senior volunteers are in better health and live longer due to advancements in medical science; and WHEREAS, A major motivator for senior volunteers is their desire to give back to society financially or socially; and WHEREAS, The 2005 White House Conference on Aging resolved to "develop a national strategy for promoting new and meaningful volunteer activities and civil engagements for current and future seniors" because volunteerism is very important to the fabric of American society; and WHEREAS, The 2005 White House Conference on Aging resolved to "reauthorize the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand opportunities for volunteer and civic engagement activities" because volunteerism greatly assists many nonprofit organizations; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares May 2011 and each May thereafter as "Senior Volunteer Month" to honor the contributions of California's senior volunteers; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.