Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 43

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 146

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 43--Relative to the state's His-panic population.

(Filed with Secretary of State September 18, 1987.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SCR 43, Presley. The state's Hispanic population.

This measure would make various findings and declarations regarding the state's Hispanic population and resolve that the University of California take certain actions to assist in finding solutions to various enumerated problems facing the state and the state's Hispanic population.

This measure would request that the university initiate efforts in helping coordinate the state's resources toward a comprehensive approach to these problems, as specified, and that the university seek suitable research and graduate training funds, as specified.

This measure would request that the university consider formation of a social research policy and priorities task force and advisory committee to help advise and coordinate the university's efforts, as specified.

This measure would request that these policy research efforts concentrate on, but not be limited to, health, education, employment, government participation, housing, welfare, criminal justice, and immigration policy areas, as specified.

This measure would request that the university consider, as an initial priority, the thorough cataloging and collecting of information on existing efforts and available funding so as to avoid duplication of efforts, as specified.

The measure would provide for a specified report by the university and for development within the university of a focused and coordinated capacity to do research and to address concerns raised by the measure.

WHEREAS, There is in California a large and growing population of persons of Hispanic origin; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that within the next 40 years, this group will comprise the largest single element of the state's population and currently is the state's largest minority population; and

WHEREAS, A substantial proportion of this population has a common heritage, with strong cultural and ethnic identities that are shared with the people of Mexico and other Latin American countries, presenting a unique opportunity for cooperative efforts to address the pressing concerns of our Latin American neighbors as they relate to California's problems as a whole; and

WHEREAS, California's history and development have relied heavily upon the contributions of its Hispanic population, helping to create a rich cultural heritage, prospering economy, and social environment admired around the world; and

WHEREAS, Current statistics demonstrate that large segments of the Hispanic population have not benefited fully from California's advances, a fact that is reflected in high levels of poverty and low economic opportunity, low levels of political participation, substantial underrepresentation in government at all levels, high academic dropout rates, high concentration of limited-English-speaking and writing ability, and pervasive discrimination in numerous aspects of everyday life, indicating that the enormous resources available to the state have not been adequately utilized to plan, strategize, and provide direction or develop resources designed to overcome the obstacles to full participation faced by such a large and important segment of California's population; and

WHEREAS, It is in the interest of all the citizens of the State of California that barriers which inhibit full participation in the educational, political, scientific, social, and economic activities of the state be eliminated; and

WHEREAS, Although there has been steady growth in the number of Hispanics participating in the educational, political, scientific, social, and economic activities of the state, Hispanics remain seriously underrepresented in all of these areas in comparison to the size of the population; and

WHEREAS, The continued underutilization and underdevelopment of the resources that exist within the growing Hispanic population threatens the stability of California's economy and its social structure; and

WHEREAS, For example, if the largest segment of California's work force is unprepared to compete for jobs in a highly technical and skilled marketplace, there is a strong likelihood that employers would look elsewhere to locate and take with them the opportunity for high-paying employment. Lower wages mean less economic power and a reduction of the ability of taxpayers to support the operation of government and the programs it implements for the benefit of all of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, As one example, the rising portion of the state's wage earners who will come from the Hispanic work force, and their lower comparative wage rates, will have a critical economic impact on funds available for retirement programs, workers' and unemployment compensation, and other employee benefits for all employees and their families; and

WHEREAS, The new Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act while alleviating some problems may exacerbate others and create new issues that must be researched or addressed; and

WHEREAS, Passage of Proposition 63, the English as official

language constitutional amendment, poses new issues which must be examined and dealt with in ways which will benefit all Californians;

and

WHEREAS, The serious economic and social problems being experienced by Mexico and other major sources of immigration to California will inevitably affect the state's Hispanic population; and

WHEREAS, It would be of invaluable assistance in seeking solutions to many of these problems to have the benefit of a thorough understanding of the history, demographics, experience, and potential of California's Hispanic population; and

WHEREAS, It has become imperative that resources be focused so as to stimulate research and to promote evaluation and analysis of these problems by knowledgeable academicians, members of the professional and business communities, government officials, political and community leaders, and individual concerned citizens so that they may propose solutions that will benefit all segments of our society; and

WHEREAS, The Hispanic population is so heterogeneous and comprised of so many subpopulations that are differently affected by policy decisions, that solutions to many policy problems can be found only by rigorous study and understanding of the diverse needs and expectations presented by this group's members residing in the state; and

WHEREAS, Through the enormous resources made available through the University of California, the state would benefit from the development of research which would promote the evaluation and analysis of these problems and develop reliable information upon which, with the assistance of the university, strategies can be constructed and solutions can be proposed; and

WHEREAS, The University of California is already demonstrating a strong concern in these problem areas, having established centers for Chicano, Mexican, and Latin American studies on various campuses, a linguistic minority research project, the nine-campus University of California Consortium on Mexico and the United States (UC Mexus), which brings together scholars and scientists from the university and Mexico to address critical issues, and similar focused research and education programs; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California requests that the University of California initiate efforts in helping to coordinate the state's academic, professional, governmental, business, and community resources toward a comprehensive approach to these problems and their solutions, and that the university seek suitable research and graduate training funds commensurate with the university's major and diverse research mission and programs to aid in helping resolve crucial state problems; and be it further

Resolved, That the university make every effort to seek funds from

foundations, private sources, state government, and from federal funds which are becoming available to states, such as the $1 billion included in the Immigration Reform and Control Act to assist states in its implementation, some of which is earmarked for education; and be it further

Resolved, That the university consider formation of a social research policy and priorities task force to help advise and coordinate the university's efforts in this direction and to involve both public and private institutions and sectors in these efforts; and be it further

Resolved. That the university consider establishing an advisory committee as part of the task force to assist in the development of the report. In addition to representatives selected by the university, the university is requested to include three public members, one each to be designated by the Speaker of the Assembly, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Governor. It is the intent of the Legislature that persons appointed or selected to serve on the task force and on the advisory group be selected primarily from the Hispanic community or from groups that represent that community, or both; and be it further

Resolved. That these policy research efforts concentrate on, but not be limited to, health, education, employment, government participation, housing, welfare, criminal justice, and immigration policy areas, using extant data sets when possible and creating new ones when needed; and be it further

Resolved, That the university consider as an initial priority, the thorough cataloging and collecting of information and data on existing efforts and available funding so that the task can be organized in a manner that will avoid the duplication of effort and cross purposes, and work toward goals which benefit and have the support of all responsible elements of our society; and be it further

Resolved, That the university report to the Legislature within nine months after the date this resolution is chaptered its response to this challenge, and how it plans to approach the task given to it through this measure. This report will include a discussion of the time frames contemplated by the university, the resources that will be needed for this effort, existing resources that the university anticipates tapping into, and the perceived benefits that the university believes this endeavor will bring to the people of this state; and be it further

Resolved, That the university, after its report to the Legislature, continue its efforts as expressed in this measure, with the goal of developing within the university a focused and coordinated capacity to do research, provide instruction, and develop resources that specifically address concerns raised in this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That by passage of this resolution, the Legislature once again expresses its confidence in the ability of the nation's greatest university system to assist the state in addressing these important public policy problems and meeting the full potential of California

as we prepare to enter the 21st century; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the Regents of the University of California.