Sen. Norma Torres

This measure would call upon all Californians to observe César Chávez's birthday, March 31, as a day of public service, to recognize the hard work and self-sacrifice that farmworkers go through to feed all the families in our state, and to learn from César Chávez's life and his mission of nonviolence, social justice, and selfless service to others.

This measure would designate the month of November 2012 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.

This measure would proclaim California as a Purple Heart State, honoring the service and sacrifices of our nation's men and women in uniform wounded or killed by the enemy while serving to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.

This measure would proclaim April 15 through April 22, 2012, as California Holocaust Memorial Week and would urge Californians to observe these days of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialized license plates in accordance with requirements that include, among other things, a distinct license plate design or message that publicizes or promotes the official policy, mission, or work of a state agency and that additional fees charged be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for programs that further that agency's policy, mission, or work. This bill would require the department, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to design and make available for issuance specialized license plates that contain a message that promotes the policy of the state that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics and disability, gender, gender identity, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The bill would require that the specialized license plate be known as the "Antibullying License Plate Program." The bill would create the Antibullying Program Account in the Specialized License Plate Fund and moneys in the account would be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the program. The bill would require the State Department of Education to transfer sufficient moneys to the Department of Motor Vehicles to initiate the program.

This measure would respectfully request Congress and the Department of Defense to remain committed to maintaining the 144th Fighter Wing and the Aerospace Control Alert mission in California in order to prevent any negative impacts to Southwest air defense operations, the California economy, and the ability of first responders to protect the residents of this state.

This measure would designate March 25 through March 31, 2012, as California Tsunami Awareness Week.