BILL NUMBER: SB 471 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 22, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 2, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senators Romero and Steinberg
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
An act to amend Section 60204 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, as amended, Romero. Education: stem cell
research. California Stem Cell and Biotechnology
Education and Workforce Development Act.
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 state findings and declarations of the Legislature
relating to stem cell research and science, including the
development of the California Stem Cell Education Initiative by the
CIRM to educate California pupils about stem cell science and
regenerative medicine, and to create pathways for careers in the stem
cell industry. The bill would state the Legislature's findings and
declarations that all education policymakers, including the State
Department of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
the State Board of Education, and all other institutions of public
education, including postsecondary schools, should collaborate to
help CIRM advance its education initiatives, as specified.
Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt basic
instructional materials for use in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8,
inclusive, and requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental
Materials Commission to make recommendations to the state board
regarding policies and activities for the purpose of guiding and
strengthening the quality of instruction in the public schools.
This bill would also require the commission to make those
recommendations for the purpose of promoting pupil awareness of
career opportunities in industries facing workforce shortages.
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 a stronger link among industry sectors, the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and California
public schools. This bill would require the State Department of
Education, in consultation with the CIRM and representatives of the
biotechnology industry, to promote stem cell and biotechnology
education and workforce development in the department's existing
programs, as specified.
The bill would also require the state board to incorporate stem
cell science curriculum content into science curriculum framework at
its next science curriculum revision. The bill would request that the
Regents of the University of California consult with the CIRM and
representative of the biotechnology industry in developing curriculum
for the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
and it also would require the science subject matter project, upon
agreement by the Regents of the University of California, in
consultation with the CIRM and representatives of the biotechnology
industry, to pursue opportunities to include stem cell and
biotechnology science in professional development programs.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
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, a stronger link is 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
alarmingly 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) CIRM, in recognition that the rapid progress in stem cell
research in California will lead to the development of treatments and
cures, to the growth of regenerative medicine and the stem cell
industry, and will require an expanding pool of individuals with
specialized training and skills, has tentatively made Bridges to Stem
Cell Research grants to fund research and training activities for
postsecondary students interested in careers in regenerative
medicine.
(l) CIRM also is developing a "California Stem Cell Education
Initiative" aimed at high schools with the goal of broadly educating
California pupils about stem cell science and regenerative medicine
and creating pathways for careers in the stem cell industry.
(m) In order to ensure that all California pupils have an
opportunity for a career in the stem cell industry and to ensure that
California fully realizes the medical and economic benefits of
regenerative medicine, all education policymakers, including the
State Department of Education, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Secretary for Education, and the State Board of
Education, including the board's curriculum advisory commission, and
all institutions of public education, including postsecondary
schools, California Community Colleges, California State University,
and the University of California, should collaborate to help CIRM
advance its education initiatives, which may include, but not be
limited to, all of the following:
(1) Developing and implementing a curriculum that includes stem
cell topics.
(2) Developing and implementing pilot projects related to
curriculum and teacher professional development.
(3) Providing high school pupils with laboratory research
opportunities.
(4) Conducting outreach programs between high schools and
institutions of higher education.
(5) Developing programs in magnet or charter schools with a
math-science focus and in partnership academies.
(6) Developing distance learning opportunities using the K-12 High
Speed Network.
SEC. 2. Section 60204 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
60204. The commission shall:
(a) Recommend curriculum frameworks to the state board.
(b) Develop criteria for evaluating instructional materials
submitted for adoption so that the materials adopted adequately cover
the subjects in the indicated grade or grades and comply with
Article 3 (commencing with Section 60040) of Chapter 1. The criteria
developed by the commission shall be consistent with the duties of
the state board pursuant to Section 60200. The criteria shall be
public information and shall be provided in written or printed form
to a person requesting that information.
(c) Study and evaluate instructional materials submitted for
adoption.
(d) Recommend to the state board instructional materials that it
approves for adoption.
(e) Review and have the authority to adopt the educational films
or videotapes produced in accordance with Article 3 (commencing with
Section 52740) of Chapter 11 of Part 28.
(f) Recommend to the state board policies and activities to assist
the state department and school districts in the use of the
curriculum framework and other available model curriculum materials
for the purpose of guiding and strengthening the quality of
instruction in the public schools, and promoting pupil awareness of
career opportunities in industries facing workforce shortages.
(m) 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. The California Biotechnology Foundation is releasing a
comprehensive directory of these industry programs as a resource for
other schools to implement similar programs.
(n) In order to ensure that all California pupils have an
opportunity for a career in the stem cell and biotechnology
industries and that California fully realize the medical and economic
benefits these industries offer, including the benefits made
possible by the substantial public investment California has made in
stem cell research and facilities, all education policymakers and
institutions of public education, and all relevant public agencies
and industry organizations, should collaborate and make it a priority
to increase stem cell and biotechnology education and workforce
development.
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 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 a stronger link 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 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.
(d) The regional science resource centers, pursuant to Chapter 3.6
(commencing with Section 44770) of Part 25 of Division 3.
(e) The California 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
information and links to information about the following:
(a) Existing biotechnology education programs, including, but not
limited to, those identified by the California Biotechnology
Foundation.
(b) CIRM education initiatives and related stem cell education and
workforce development programs.
33475.5. The state board shall incorporate stem cell science
curriculum content into science curriculum framework at its next
science curriculum revision.
33475.6. The Regents of the University of California are
requested to consult with the CIRM and representative of the
biotechnology industry in developing curriculum for the California
State Summer School for Mathematics and Science pursuant to Chapter
3.8 (commencing with Section 8660) of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title
1.
33475.7. The science subject matter project described in Section
99201, upon agreement by the Regents of the University of California,
in consultation with the CIRM and representatives of the
biotechnology industry, shall include stem cell and biotechnology
science in professional development programs.
33475.8. It is requested that the Independent Citizens Oversight
Committee of CIRM, when allocating funds for stem cell research and
facilities pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 125290.10)
of Part 5 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, consider
education and workforce development in addition to other criteria,
with the goal of furthering the purpose of this article.