Bill Text: CA SCR120 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Biotechnology Day.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-5)

Status: (Passed) 2016-04-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 21, Statutes of 2016. [SCR120 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SCR120-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 120	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  21
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  APRIL 11, 2016
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MARCH 31, 2016
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 7, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hill
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Mullin)
   (Coauthors: Senators Bates, Berryhill, Block, Galgiani, Mendoza,
and Wolk)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Calderon, Chávez, Frazier, Gordon,
Low, Maienschein, Waldron, and Wilk)

                        MARCH 16, 2016

   Relative to Biotechnology Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 120, Hill. Biotechnology Day.
   This measure would declare April 7, 2016, and every April 7
thereafter, as Biotechnology Day in California.



   WHEREAS, California is the global leader in the life sciences
industry; and
   WHEREAS, This great state is home to the entire continuum of the
life sciences industry, including world class universities, basic
research centers, biotechnology startups, and anchor
biopharmaceutical companies; and
   WHEREAS, There are currently 2,848 life sciences companies in
California, with 212 more companies than in 2014, generating $130
billion in revenue; and
   WHEREAS, California life sciences companies directly employ
281,000 people all over the State of California, with concentrations
in the San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, Orange County, and Los
Angeles; and
   WHEREAS, The life sciences are an economic driver in California, a
place where cutting-edge businesses thrive; and
   WHEREAS, California has a concentration of research in the life
sciences industry; and
   WHEREAS, California companies have 1,235 potential new medicines
in the pipeline and life science innovations have a tremendous impact
on the world's health and well-being; and
   WHEREAS, New medicines and technologies emerging from California
companies and research institutions are likely to have a remarkable
impact on the health of the world's population and help those
afflicted with serious diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis,
heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis; and
   WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Herb Boyer at the University of
California and geneticist Stanley Cohen at Stanford University
pioneered a new scientific field called recombinant DNA technology;
and
   WHEREAS, Venture capitalist, Bob Swanson, who was excited by
recombinant DNA technology's potential to help people, and Herb Boyer
together founded the first biotechnology company, Genentech, in
South San Francisco; and
   WHEREAS, The founding of Genentech on April 7, 1976, marked the
birth of the biotechnology industry and planted the industry's roots
in California; and
   WHEREAS, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, remains a leader
in the biotechnology industry and continues to advance its mission of
transforming the lives of people with serious diseases; and
   WHEREAS, The biotechnology industry inspires the next generation
of scientists to help solve challenges like disease, energy, and food
security; and
   WHEREAS, The biotechnology industry generates nearly $259 billion
in economic activity in California, provides more than one million
jobs, and is the source of billions of dollars in state and local tax
revenue; and
   WHEREAS, The largest and most influential biotechnology convention
in the world, the BIO International Convention, will take place in
San Francisco, California, from June 6th to June 9th, 2016, with more
than 15,000 anticipated attendees; and
   WHEREAS, San Francisco hosted this convention in 1995 and San
Diego will host it in 2017, while the State of California has hosted
this convention five other times; and
   WHEREAS, The BIO International Convention is where the global
biotech community meets, connecting the people, companies, and
innovations that help to fulfill the promise of biotechnology through
healing, fueling, and feeding the world; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes April 7,
2016, and every April 7th thereafter, as Biotechnology Day in
California; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Senate urges Californians to recognize the
value and importance of the life sciences industry; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.