Bill Text: CA ACR18 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 18 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Parks Make Life Better! Month.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 50-26-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-26 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 74, Statutes of 2015. [ACR18 Detail]

Download: California-2015-ACR18-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: ACR 18	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  74
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 26, 2015
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2015
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 14, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 14, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gordon
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen,
Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke,
Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Ch�vez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper,
Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher,
Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez,
Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim,
Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes,
McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell,
Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago,
Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk,
Williams, and Wood)

                        FEBRUARY 4, 2015

   Relative to "Parks Make Life Better!" Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 18, Gordon. Parks Make Life Better! Month.
   This measure would recognize the importance of access to local
parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and
development of all Californians and would declare the month of July
2015 as "Parks Make Life Better!" Month.



   WHEREAS, A 2009 public opinion research study, conducted by the
California Park and Recreation Society, revealed that 98 percent of
California's households visit a local park and 50 percent of
California households participate in an organized recreation program
annually; and
   WHEREAS, California's residents value their local parks and
recreation services, as they provide access to the serenity and
inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and places for play and
exercise; facilities for directed and self-directed recreation;
activities that facilitate social connections, human development, the
arts, and lifelong learning; and positive alternatives for youth
that help lower crime; and
   WHEREAS, The Outdoor Industry Association reports that outdoor
recreation, both passive and active, generates more than eighty-five
billion dollars ($85,000,000,000) in economic activity in California,
supporting nearly 800,000 jobs and representing a business and
economic sector that surpasses the aerospace and insurance industries
in the state; and
   WHEREAS, The 2010 California Obesity Prevention Plan states the
following:
   (a) One in every nine California children, one in three teens, and
over 50 percent of adults are already overweight or obese, and
obesity affects virtually all age, income, educational, ethnic, and
disability groups.
   (b) Research has shown that where people live, work, and play
impacts obesity. For example, in Imperial County, 73 percent of
adults are overweight or obese, while only 43 percent of San
Francisco City and County adults are overweight or obese.
   (c) California's costs attributable to physical inactivity,
obesity, and excess body weight in 2006 were estimated at forty-one
billion two hundred million dollars ($41,200,000,000). In contrast, a
5-percent improvement in each of these risk factors could result in
an annual savings of nearly two billion four hundred million dollars
($2,400,000,000).
   (d) To address obesity, the state must ensure that all California
residents have access to safe places to play and be active; and
   WHEREAS, California's 10 Step Vision for a Healthy California is a
call to action to transform the state so that all Californians can
enjoy healthy eating and active living, resulting in all of the
following:
   (a) Every day, every child will participate in physical activity.
   (b) California's adults will be physically active every day.
   (c) Neighborhoods, communities, and buildings will support
physical activity, including safe walking, stair climbing, and
bicycling; and
   WHEREAS, The Governor, Legislature, and citizens have prioritized
efforts to increase physical activity, access to nature, spaces for
play and exercise, the arts, lifelong learning, and social
connections among children and adults through the approval of
statewide park bond programs; and
   WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society promotes the
positive personal and community benefits of parks, open space,
trails, recreation facilities and programs, nature education, and
sports for able and disabled children, teens, adults, and seniors;
and
   WHEREAS, Participation in physical activities can lower a citizen'
s risk of developing chronic health problems, such as high blood
pressure, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, and also help children
grow up to be healthier adults; and
   WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society has released a
statewide public awareness campaign, "Parks Make Life Better!" to
inform citizens of the many benefits of utilizing parks, facilities,
programs, and services; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the importance of
access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities such as
swimming pools, skate parks, dog parks, tennis courts, nature
centers, and museums, for the health and development of all
Californians; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature declares the month of July 2015 as
"Parks Make Life Better!" Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.