Bill Text: CA SCR55 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 48-24)

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-23 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 12, Statutes of 2012. [SCR55 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SCR55-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 55	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  12
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  APRIL 23, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  APRIL 19, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 10, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 27, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Atkins)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan,
Butler, Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Cook, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng,
Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon,
Gorell, Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Lara, Logue,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning,
Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Olsen, Pan, Perea, John A. Pérez, V.
Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)

                        AUGUST 17, 2011

   Relative to California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 55, Liu. California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.
   This measure would designate the month of November 2012 as
California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month and would recognize the
need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local
governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and
homeless youth in California.



   WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth are young people between 12
and 24 years of age who have the least access to essential
opportunities and supports; and
   WHEREAS, The prevalence of runaways and homelessness among youth
is staggering, with studies nationally suggesting that between 1.6
and 2.8 million youth live on the street for at least one night in a
one-year period; and
   WHEREAS, An estimated 200,000 youth under 18 years of age, and
thousands more who are 18 to 24 years of age, experience homelessness
each year in California; and
   WHEREAS, An overwhelming majority of runaway and homeless youth
have been expelled from their homes by their families; physically,
sexually, and emotionally abused at home; discharged from foster care
and other state custodial systems without adequate transition plans;
separated from their parents by death or divorce; too poor to secure
their own basic needs; and ineligible or unable to access adequate
medical or mental health resources; and
   WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the street are
victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and crime in untold
numbers; and
   WHEREAS, These youths are on the street because they feel there
are no other options open to them; and
   WHEREAS, Youths who "age out" of the foster care system are at an
increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated 25 to 40
percent of the youth who are currently homeless; and
   WHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for runaway
and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and national
priority; and
   WHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the value
we place on our youth, and, in particular, on our actions to provide
the most vulnerable young people in the state with opportunities to
acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to find and
maintain stable housing and develop into healthy and productive
adults; and
   WHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing services and
support to runaway and homeless youth in California is a fraction of
what is needed to fully address the needs of these young people; and
   WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth has operated the
California Youth Crisis Line (1-800-843-5200), 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, for over 24 years as the state's only emergency response
system for youth in crisis; and
   WHEREAS, November is National Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness
Month; and
   WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth, along with other
community-based organizations, providers, and advocates, is
sponsoring the second annual California Runaway and Homeless Youth
Month to increase awareness and action on behalf of youth who are at
risk or currently living on the street; and
   WHEREAS, Awareness of the tragedy of youth homelessness and its
causes must be heightened to ensure greater support for effective
programs aimed at preventing homelessness and helping youth remain
off the streets; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the need for
individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and
the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in
California; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of
November 2012 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.