CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 129Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and EggmanAugust 28, 2017 Relative to civic engagement. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 129, as introduced, Cristina Garcia. Civic engagement.This measure would recognize the importance of civic engagement across the State of California.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Civic engagement, including voting in elections, volunteering in the community and for nonprofit services, and participating in the legislative process, to hold representatives accountable, is a critical component of our democratic government; andWHEREAS, Civic engagement requires the broad involvement of not only representative stakeholders, but people and communities from all walks of life. Civic engagement combines values of inclusion, participation, and transparency, local knowledge, and processes and practices that foster dialogue, mutual understanding, creativity, and collective problem solving, while respecting individual autonomy and difference; andWHEREAS, Less engaged communities are often more critical of the public engagement process, so it is important to attend and speak at city council meetings or other public forums, join neighborhood associations, grassroots groups, or community organizations; andWHEREAS, The aspect of civic engagement that gets the most attention is voting, because by voting the people select who will represent them in government. In addition, California voters have the ability to engage in direct democracy through ballot initiatives and propositions; andWHEREAS, Participation in elections has been in a steady decline over the past 15 years due to many factors including lack of time, interest, or information, or general skepticism of the process; andWHEREAS, We have a responsibility to increase voter participation in order to create a more inclusive democracy. California recently enacted legislation creating an automatic voter registration for eligible citizens who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing counties to adopt a new election model in which all registered voters will automatically receive their ballot 28 days prior to election day, and giving Californians the opportunity to register or reregister to vote all the way up to election day at county elections offices and other satellite locations; andWHEREAS, Civic engagement includes many other ways that residents participate with their government, in addition to voting; andWHEREAS, Legislators legislate based on their experiences, and which bills they introduce, and how they vote, is influenced by their lives and the lives of their families and peers; andWHEREAS, In order for legislators to become more informed, they rely upon their constituents to share their personal knowledge and experiences; andWHEREAS, The Legislature encourages individuals to continue to be engaged after election day, to contribute to, and be a part of, the legislative process. This includes meeting with their elected officials, tracking legislation on http://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml, watching legislative committee hearings on http://www.calchannel.com, testifying before legislative committees, and voicing support and opposition on specific bills through telephone calls or letters; andWHEREAS, The public is encouraged to get involved in their communities as well, and the Legislature offers various programs to the public including Walk n Talks where legislative updates are given and state and community services are brought to peoples doors with community volunteers; Community Coffees where residents can meet with their elected officials over a cup of coffee to discuss their ideas, questions, and concerns about legislation and state issues; #Pride58 which honors deserving individuals, organizations, and businesses that serve their communities with distinction and encourages residents to ensure that those who do good work are recognized; Open Houses where the community is invited to the Downey District Office to meet elected officials and their staff to learn about constituent services; and There Ought to be a Law which allows constituents to submit bill ideas and the winner of the contest has their bill introduced; andWHEREAS, Getting youth to become more civically engaged is critical given that less than one-half of eligible young people 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, voted in the 2012 elections. In California, less than 50 percent of high school seniors surveyed viewed being actively involved in state and local issues as their responsibility; andWHEREAS, The Legislature is encouraging youth to get more engaged by revitalizing civic learning and participation in California through the State Seal of Civil Engagement, which allows students who develop a deeper understanding of civics through active engagement in their communities to receive an insignia on their diplomas; andWHEREAS, People who are 16 and 17 years of age can now preregister with their county elections offices to vote as soon as they turn 18 years of age; andWHEREAS, Youth involvement in the legislative process is especially important. The Legislature has taken critical steps to further increase youth participation through programs like the Young Legislature Program, which provides high school students with the opportunity to become acquainted with the legislative process and to integrate themselves into their local communities through service; and the Fellows in Government program, which is a month-long interactive program designed to expose 8th graders to how legislation impacts their daily lives and empower them to find their own voice in government; andWHEREAS, Because civic engagement has steadily declined both in California and nationally over the last two decades, it is important that we take time to explore what engagement tools and processes will best meet the needs and conditions of specific populations; andWHEREAS, More programs are needed to encourage civic engagement and involvement in the legislative process from all populations and communities in California, especially minority populations, underrepresented communities, and students; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the importance of civic engagement across the State of California; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 129Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and EggmanAugust 28, 2017 Relative to civic engagement. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 129, as introduced, Cristina Garcia. Civic engagement.This measure would recognize the importance of civic engagement across the State of California.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 129
Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and EggmanAugust 28, 2017
Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and Eggman
August 28, 2017
Relative to civic engagement.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 129, as introduced, Cristina Garcia. Civic engagement.
This measure would recognize the importance of civic engagement across the State of California.
This measure would recognize the importance of civic engagement across the State of California.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Civic engagement, including voting in elections, volunteering in the community and for nonprofit services, and participating in the legislative process, to hold representatives accountable, is a critical component of our democratic government; and
WHEREAS, Civic engagement requires the broad involvement of not only representative stakeholders, but people and communities from all walks of life. Civic engagement combines values of inclusion, participation, and transparency, local knowledge, and processes and practices that foster dialogue, mutual understanding, creativity, and collective problem solving, while respecting individual autonomy and difference; and
WHEREAS, Less engaged communities are often more critical of the public engagement process, so it is important to attend and speak at city council meetings or other public forums, join neighborhood associations, grassroots groups, or community organizations; and
WHEREAS, The aspect of civic engagement that gets the most attention is voting, because by voting the people select who will represent them in government. In addition, California voters have the ability to engage in direct democracy through ballot initiatives and propositions; and
WHEREAS, Participation in elections has been in a steady decline over the past 15 years due to many factors including lack of time, interest, or information, or general skepticism of the process; and
WHEREAS, We have a responsibility to increase voter participation in order to create a more inclusive democracy. California recently enacted legislation creating an automatic voter registration for eligible citizens who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing counties to adopt a new election model in which all registered voters will automatically receive their ballot 28 days prior to election day, and giving Californians the opportunity to register or reregister to vote all the way up to election day at county elections offices and other satellite locations; and
WHEREAS, Civic engagement includes many other ways that residents participate with their government, in addition to voting; and
WHEREAS, Legislators legislate based on their experiences, and which bills they introduce, and how they vote, is influenced by their lives and the lives of their families and peers; and
WHEREAS, In order for legislators to become more informed, they rely upon their constituents to share their personal knowledge and experiences; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature encourages individuals to continue to be engaged after election day, to contribute to, and be a part of, the legislative process. This includes meeting with their elected officials, tracking legislation on http://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml, watching legislative committee hearings on http://www.calchannel.com, testifying before legislative committees, and voicing support and opposition on specific bills through telephone calls or letters; and
WHEREAS, The public is encouraged to get involved in their communities as well, and the Legislature offers various programs to the public including Walk n Talks where legislative updates are given and state and community services are brought to peoples doors with community volunteers; Community Coffees where residents can meet with their elected officials over a cup of coffee to discuss their ideas, questions, and concerns about legislation and state issues; #Pride58 which honors deserving individuals, organizations, and businesses that serve their communities with distinction and encourages residents to ensure that those who do good work are recognized; Open Houses where the community is invited to the Downey District Office to meet elected officials and their staff to learn about constituent services; and There Ought to be a Law which allows constituents to submit bill ideas and the winner of the contest has their bill introduced; and
WHEREAS, Getting youth to become more civically engaged is critical given that less than one-half of eligible young people 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, voted in the 2012 elections. In California, less than 50 percent of high school seniors surveyed viewed being actively involved in state and local issues as their responsibility; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature is encouraging youth to get more engaged by revitalizing civic learning and participation in California through the State Seal of Civil Engagement, which allows students who develop a deeper understanding of civics through active engagement in their communities to receive an insignia on their diplomas; and
WHEREAS, People who are 16 and 17 years of age can now preregister with their county elections offices to vote as soon as they turn 18 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Youth involvement in the legislative process is especially important. The Legislature has taken critical steps to further increase youth participation through programs like the Young Legislature Program, which provides high school students with the opportunity to become acquainted with the legislative process and to integrate themselves into their local communities through service; and the Fellows in Government program, which is a month-long interactive program designed to expose 8th graders to how legislation impacts their daily lives and empower them to find their own voice in government; and
WHEREAS, Because civic engagement has steadily declined both in California and nationally over the last two decades, it is important that we take time to explore what engagement tools and processes will best meet the needs and conditions of specific populations; and
WHEREAS, More programs are needed to encourage civic engagement and involvement in the legislative process from all populations and communities in California, especially minority populations, underrepresented communities, and students; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the importance of civic engagement across the State of California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution.