Italicized text includes proposed additions to law or the previous version of the bill.
Struck text includes proposed deletions to law or the previous version of the bill.
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CHAPTER 185
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 11, 2009
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 11, 2009
PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 15, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 28, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 22, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 2, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senators Romero and Steinberg
(Coauthors: Senators Alquist and Padilla)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Brownley, Carter, Eng, Hill,
Solorio, and Torlakson)
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
An act to add Article 13 (commencing with Section 33475) to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 471, Romero. California Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education
and Workforce Development Act of 2009.
The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act, an initiative
measure approved by the voters at the November 2, 2004, general
election (Proposition 71), establishes the California Institute for
Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the purpose of which is, among other
things, to make grants and loans for stem cell research, for research
facilities, and for other vital research opportunities to realize
therapies, protocols, and medical procedures that will result in the
cure for, or substantial mitigation of, diseases and injuries.
This bill would create the California Stem Cell and Biotechnology
Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009 to establish stem
cell and biotechnology education and workforce development as a state
priority and to promote stronger links among industry sectors, the
CIRM, and California public schools.
The bill would require the State Department of Education to post
certain information on its Internet Web site, including the CIRM
model curriculum on stem cell science, and to communicate to science
teachers and school districts the availability of this curriculum.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) If California is to retain its premier position in stem cell
research and fully realize the medical and economic benefits of
regenerative medicine, stronger links are needed between California
public schools and this emerging industry.
(b) At the November 2004 statewide general election, California
voters approved Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and
Cures Initiative, which authorizes $3 billion in state bond funding
for stem cell research at California universities and research
institutions and added Article XXXV to the California Constitution
and Sections 125290.10 et seq. to the Health and Safety Code.
(c) Proposition 71 established a new state agency, the California
Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), to make grants and
provide loans for stem cell research and research facilities.
(d) The ballot pamphlet information and findings and declarations
of Proposition 71 described how stem cell research will lead to the
development of life-saving regenerative treatments and cures for a
variety of incurable diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart
disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord
injuries, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease; and also
benefit the California economy by creating projects, jobs, and
therapies that will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenues
in our state and advance the biotech industry in California to world
leadership as an economic engine for California's future.
(e) The public funding of stem cell research, combined with
significant private donations, has made California the national
leader in stem cell research.
(f) After President Bush limited federal funding for embryonic
stem cell research in 2001, most states eliminated or significantly
reduced stem cell research.
(g) On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order
lifting restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research,
leading other states to move quickly to try to catch up to
California.
(h) Several recent reports have predicted that California will
soon face a dramatic shortage of trained professionals to fill jobs
in the life sciences sector and a more widespread shortage of college
educated and technically trained workers to meet industry demands.
(i) California's growing gap between supply and demand for
college-educated and technically trained workers is exacerbated by an
alarming high school dropout rate.
(j) Education must be the cornerstone of California's economic
development strategy, and education that is closely linked to the
needs of emerging industries is critical.
(k) The biotechnology industry, in response to an ongoing shortage
of appropriately educated and trained graduates to meet its
workforce requirements, has invested tens of millions of dollars
developing and implementing science and math education programs in
California. A biotechnology organization is releasing a comprehensive
directory of these programs as a resource for other schools to
implement similar programs.
SEC. 2. Article 13 (commencing with Section 33475) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 13. The California Stem Cell and Biotechnology
Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009
33475. This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education and Workforce
Development Act of 2009.
33475.1. The purpose of this article is to establish stem cell
and biotechnology education and workforce development as a state
priority and to promote stronger links among these industry sectors,
the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and California
public schools.
33475.2. For purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) "CIRM" means the California Institute for Regenerative
Medicine.
(b) "Department" means the State Department of Education.
33475.3. The department, in consultation with the CIRM and
representatives of the biotechnology industry, shall promote stem
cell and biotechnology education and workforce development in the
department's existing programs, including, but not limited to, all of
the following:
(a) The California Health Science Educators Institute.
(b) The Health Science Capacity Building Project.
(c) The California Partnership Academies, pursuant to Article 5
(commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division
4.
(d) The regional science resource centers, pursuant to Chapter 3.6
(commencing with Section 44770) of Part 25 of Division 3.
(e) The California Career Resource Network, including the State
Agency Partners Committee.
(f) Multiple pathway programs pursuant to Section 52372.5.
(g) The K-12 High Speed Network, pursuant to Section 11800,
including its academic content platform.
33475.4. The department shall post on its Internet Web site, and
as appropriate, on the Internet Web site created pursuant to Section
52499.66, information and links to information about the following:
(a) Biotechnology education programs, including, but not limited
to, those identified by the biotech industry and industry-related
organizations.
(b) The CIRM education initiatives and related stem cell education
and workforce development programs.
33475.5. The department shall post on its Internet Web site links
to the CIRM model curriculum on stem cell science and communicate to
science teachers and school districts the availability of this
curriculum.
