BILL NUMBER: ACR 201 ENROLLED BILL TEXT ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 31, 2016 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gonzalez AUGUST 11, 2016 Relative to California Young Parents Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 201, Gonzalez. California Young Parents Day. This measure would recognize August 25, 2016, and every August 25 thereafter, as California Young Parents Day and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating California Young Parents Day. WHEREAS, Young mothers and fathers, as all families, deserve dignity, tangible support, and recognition as important members of California communities; and WHEREAS, Young mothers and fathers, as all youth, are part of the fabric of vibrant communities across California and represent its future prosperity; and WHEREAS, Children, youth, and young adults under 20 years of age make up over one-quarter of California's population; and WHEREAS, Young people of all economic backgrounds, gender identities and expression, sexualities, abilities, and immigration statuses have the right to parent the children they have; and WHEREAS, Pregnant and parenting youth have the right, as all youth, to all support needed to continue with their educational and career goals, including child care, health care, housing assistance, and job training and other economic opportunities; and WHEREAS, Using negative language and stereotypes around young parenting serves only to blame and denigrate young people for their circumstances and does not reflect their realities; and WHEREAS, Young people of color, whether pregnant, parenting, or nonparenting, face persistent systemic inequities, including, but not limited to, poverty, racism, sexism, and violence, that shape and often undermine their decisionmaking and aspirations; and WHEREAS, Pregnant, parenting, and nonparenting youth must have access to culturally relevant and gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health services and educational, material, economic, and emotional support; and WHEREAS, The health and wellness of young parents and their children is our shared responsibility and must be reflected in our state policies; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the contributions and needs of young parents and that this resolution serves as a framework to inform future policy decisions that affect their well being; and be it further Resolved, That August 25, 2016, and every August 25 thereafter, shall be recognized as "California Young Parents Day" and that all Californians are encouraged to celebrate the occasion; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.