Bill Text: CA SCR15 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Earth Hour.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-03-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 6, Statutes of 2009. [SCR15 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SCR15-Chaptered.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SCR 15	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  6
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  MARCH 25, 2009
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 26, 2009
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 23, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wiggins

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2009

   Relative to Earth Hour.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 15, Wiggins. Earth Hour.
   This measure would endorse efforts to raise awareness of global
climate change and energy efficiency and would declare the hour of
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March to be "Earth Hour"
throughout the state. The measure would encourage city, county, and
state employees, and businesses to turn off nonessential lights in
government buildings, public schools, public landmarks, and other
buildings for that hour on March 28, 2009.




   WHEREAS, Communities throughout California are affected by the
impacts of global warming and are gravely concerned about the future
health of our planet; and
   WHEREAS, There is growing public support for action to stop global
warming, and communicating a desire for change is an important part
of democracy; and
   WHEREAS, Earth Hour is both an international and local symbolic
event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about
climate change issues, to encourage businesses, individuals, and
governments to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions and
their impact on the environment in their daily lives and operations;
and
   WHEREAS, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, government
agencies, and commercial and noncommercial establishments to
voluntarily turn off all nonessential lighting for one hour beginning
at 8:30 p.m. on March 28, 2009, and encourages citizens and
businesses to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to
reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy; and
   WHEREAS, The state has long been a national and international
leader on energy conservation and environmental stewardship efforts,
including the areas of air quality protections, energy efficiency
requirements, renewable energy standards, natural resource
conservation, and greenhouse gas emission standards; and
   WHEREAS, Earth Hour is an opportunity for state agencies and
community energy awareness programs to promote information and tools
available to residents and businesses to increase energy efficiency
and decrease emissions and use of natural resources; and
   WHEREAS, Extinguishing nonessential lights in all state buildings
and public landmarks for one hour and urging all businesses and
citizens to do the same demonstrates that the state is concerned
about climate change, that it stands with the rest of the world in
seeking solutions, and that it demands all elected leaders act
immediately to take measures that will help fight global climate
change, including enacting environmentally important legislation and
participating in good faith in global climate treaty negotiations in
Copenhagen in December 2009; and
   WHEREAS, Turning off all nonessential lights in government
buildings and public landmarks will serve as an important rallying
point for the worldwide energy conservation event, Earth Hour; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the state endorses efforts by the World
Wildlife Fund, through Earth Hour, to raise awareness of global
climate change and energy efficiency; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all city, county, and
state employees, as well as businesses to turn off all nonessential
lighting in government buildings, public schools, and public
landmarks, and inside business establishments for the hour between
8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on March 28, 2009, to conserve energy and raise
awareness about global climate change as part of the international
event, Earth Hour; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature declares the last Saturday in
March, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. to be "Earth Hour" throughout the
state; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the office of the Governor, the California
Environmental Protection Agency, and the mayors of the following
cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego,
Oakland, Bakersfield, and Fresno.