BILL ANALYSIS
SB 471
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 471 (Romero)
As Amended September 4, 2009
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE : 24-14
EDUCATION 7-2 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, Charles |
| |Arambula, Carter, Eng, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Solorio, Torlakson | |Fuentes, Hall, John A. |
| | | |Perez, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Hill |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Nestande, Miller |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
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SUMMARY : Creates 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 California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
(CIRM), and California public schools. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Requires the California Department of Education (CDE), in
consultation with the CIRM and representatives of the
biotechnology industry to promote stem cell and biotechnology
education and workforce development within 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 (CPAs);
d) The regional science resource centers;
e) The California Career Resource Network (CalCRN),
including the State Agency Partners Committee;
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f) Multiple pathway programs; and,
g) The K-12 High Speed Network (HSN), including its
academic content platform.
2)Requires CDE to post on its Internet Web site and on the CTE
Web site created by AB 597 (Assembly Education Committee),
Chapter 529, Statutes of 2007, information and links about the
following:
a) Biotechnology education programs, including, but not
limited to, those identified by the biotech industry and
industry-related organizations; and,
b) The CIRM education initiatives and related stem cell
education and workforce development programs.
3)Makes several findings and declarations relative to stem cell
research and the biotechnology industry.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the CIRM to, among other duties, 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.
2)Creates the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee to govern
the CIRM and is vested with full power, authority, and
jurisdiction over the CIRM.
3)Establishes a right to conduct stem cell research which
includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor absorbable General Fund costs to the CDE to
complete the requirements of this measure.
COMMENTS : In November 2004, the voters of California approved
Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures
Initiative, which authorized $3 billion in state bond funding
for stem cell research at California universities and research
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institutions and established the CIRM to make grants and provide
loans for stem cell research, research facilities and other
research opportunities. According to information on the CIRM
Web site, to date, 294 grants have been awarded worth a total of
$761 million in 13 rounds of funding.
This bill seeks to make stem cell and biotechnology education
and workforce development a state priority by requiring the CDE
to promote stem cell and biotechnology education and workforce
development within existing academic and career development
programs such as the following:
1)The California Health Science Capacity Building Project which
is intended to build quality health science pathway programs
statewide to prepare qualified workers to meet the critical
worker shortages in the health-care industry by preparing
students for jobs or for postsecondary options.
2)The California Health Science Educators Institute which is a
partnership between the CDE's Health Careers Education Program
and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency to
support health science pathway programs in California through
school district teams' attendance at the California Annual
Health Science Educators Institute. Grants are awarded to
eligible sites interested in developing or implementing health
science and medical technology pathways.
3)The CPA programs, which are three-year programs in grades
10-12, structured as a school-within-a-school to serve at-risk
pupils. The curriculum of CPAs is focused on a career theme
and is coordinated with related academic classes. The
integration of a standards based academic and career technical
curriculum is a key component of this program. The career
technical focus for a CPA is determined by an analysis of the
local labor market and considering fields that have companies
willing to support the program.
4)The CalCRN which is an interagency, state-level network
created to support career guidance and academic counseling
programs to all individuals in California. The primary duty
of CalCRN is to distribute career information, resources, and
training materials to middle school and high school
counselors, educators, and administrators, in order to ensure
that middle schools and high schools have the necessary
information available to provide guidance and instruction on
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education and job requirements necessary for career
development.
5)Multiple pathway programs which integrate academic and
technical courses of study around a broad theme, interest, or
industry sector. These programs include work-based learning
opportunities such as internships or apprenticeships and
provide appropriate student support services.
6)Regional science resource centers, which were established in
the Education Code in 1984 to increase educational and
training opportunities for teachers and students. However,
these programs have not been funded.
7)The K-12 HSN which provides the California K-12 schools
network connectivity, Internet services, network diagnostic
service, teaching and learning application coordination, and
videoconferencing coordination and support. This network is
designed to provide the capacity to deliver online resources
and according to the CDE the K-12 HSN does not have staff or
resources for actual content development.
The authors state, "California will fully realize the medical
and economic promise of regenerative medicine only if it has a
workforce with the education and technical training necessary to
translate discoveries into therapies and cures. Recent reports
predict a shortage of trained professionals to fill jobs in the
biotechnology and life sciences sector and a more general
shortage of workers with the college education or technical
training needed to meet industry demands."
Arguments in support: The California Healthcare Institute
writes, "For California to remain the leader in biotechnology
research and innovation, including stem-cell research, we must
invest in science and math education at the K-12 level that
prepares students for entry-level jobs in the biotechnology
sector or advanced study in these fields at the university
level."
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0002887