Here is the text of Senate Concurrent Resolution 40, which was passed by both houses of the California State Legislature on September 9, 2003. It should remain available for viewing at California Legislation.
As far as I know now, no group or organization is making much use out of the annual day of recognition of the accomplishments of young people in California--a sad commentary on the state of organized advocacy today.
BILL NUMBER: SCR 40
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 21, 2003
INTRODUCED BY Senator Chesbro (Principal coauthor: Senator Alpert) (Coauthors: Senators Kuehl and Soto)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Benoit, Berg, Daucher, Diaz, Hancock, Levine, Mullin, and Pavley)
JUNE 30, 2003
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 40
Relative to youth involvement.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This measure would encourage the Legislature to support programs that address problem behaviors in high-risk youth. The measure would, in addition, encourage the Legislature to establish March 28, as an annual day of recognition for those entities that have successfully developed youth participation and involvement programs, and for the youth who participate in those programs. Fiscal committee: yes.
WHEREAS, Over the next two to five years, many counties in California will experience a 25 to 40 percent increase in their youth and young adult populations; and
WHEREAS, Professionally evaluated studies of youth development programs have documented direct behavioral changes relating to reductions in problem behaviors in high-risk youth, overall improvements in positive self-esteem and self-confidence, greater senses of competence and control among vulnerable youth, improvements in personal and social skills development, greater success in academic achievement, and documented clarification of academic and career goals; and
WHEREAS, Over 50 California city, county, and school governing and advisory boards and commissions include youth in local policy and budget decisions, thus engaging those youth in local and regional decision-making and programs; and
WHEREAS, State budgetary and policy decisions have a significant impact on the type and quality of state programs that serve youth; and
WHEREAS, Many legislators and state departments support programs and services that focus on building and reinforcing personal and community asset development as successful prevention and early intervention strategies; and
WHEREAS, An essential element of creating effective and efficient asset-based prevention and early intervention strategies is to include youth in the process of creating, implementing, and managing the programs that serve them; and
WHEREAS, Many cities, counties, and school districts are effectively using youth development strategies and should be supported to achieve the full benefits of these efforts; and
WHEREAS, The evidence is overwhelming that programs utilizing youth development strategies and asset-based prevention and early intervention strategies result in improved personal and community change;
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the state should support programs and prevention and early intervention services that address problem behaviors in youth before those youth become more difficult and costly; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature should solicit advice from youth about budgetary and policy proposals that impact those youth; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature should determine youth involvement opportunities and link those opportunities to existing local government, school, and state programs that promote voluntary civic and community service; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourage individual Members of the Legislature to include local youth in their policy-making efforts; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourage schools and community programs to take affirmative steps to ensure that real opportunities exist for including youth in their planning and implementation efforts; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature establish March 28 as an annual day of recognition to honor and affirm the programs, services, policymakers, and local governmental or educational entities that have successfully developed youth participation and involvement programs, and the youth who contribute to those efforts; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.