SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 5

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAHLGREN

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR COX)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 5: SENIOR CENTER MONTH.

EXISTING LAW, THE MELLO-GRANLUND OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT, REFLECTS THE POLICY MANDATES AND DIRECTIVES OF THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, AND SETS FORTH THE STATE’S COMMITMENT TO ITS OLDER POPULATION AND OTHER POPULATIONS SERVED BY THE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2013, AND EVERY NOVEMBER THEREAFTER, TO BE “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CALIFORNIA SENIOR CENTERS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 5: RELATING TO SENIOR CENTER MONTH

WHEREAS, ON FEBRUARY 3, 2009, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNED A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2009 “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” FOR THE PURPOSE OF CELEBRATING THE ROLE SENIOR CENTERS PLAY IN SERVING THE LARGEST OLDER ADULT POPULATION IN THE NATION IN STRIVING TO ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER RESIDENTS; AND

WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 700 SENIOR CENTERS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HEALTH CARE, NUTRITION, RECREATION, AND LEGAL ADVICE; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CENTERS ACT AS A CENTRAL PLACE FOR OUR OLDER CALIFORNIANS TO LEARN HOW TO MAINTAIN THEIR WELL-BEING AND TO PARTICIPATE IN STIMULATING SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES NOT OFFERED ANYWHERE ELSE; AND

WHEREAS, OLDER RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE SAFE AND CARING PLACES TO ENJOY THEMSELVES; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CENTERS PROVIDE A PLACE FOR SENIORS TO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES, AS WELL AS A PLACE TO RECOGNIZE THESE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS ONCE A YEAR BY PROVIDING HONORARY CERTIFICATES; AND

WHEREAS, THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING HOSTED A “SENIOR CENTER STAKEHOLDER FORUM” IN FEBRUARY 2009, REVIEWING TOPICS SUCH AS “A NEW VISION FOR SENIOR CENTERS,” “BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE,” “COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION,” “CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/VOLUNTEERS,” AND “RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT”; AND

WHEREAS, THE TRIPLE-A COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA AREA AGENCY ON AGING ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA PARK AND RECREATION SOCIETY, WERE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SENIOR CENTER FORUM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT NOVEMBER 2013, AND EVERY NOVEMBER THEREAFTER, BE PROCLAIMED “SENIOR CENTER MONTH” TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CALIFORNIA SENIOR CENTERS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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RN 12 16426