Home California Assemblymember Alejo Proposes to Ban ‘Redskins’ as School Mascot in Public Schools

Assemblymember Alejo Proposes to Ban ‘Redskins’ as School Mascot in Public Schools

by ECT

A bill introduced by Assemblymember Luis Alejo would ban the use of “Redskins” as a mascot in California Public Schools.

Introduced December 1, 2014, Assembly Bill 30 would establish the California Racial Mascots Act, which would prohibit public schools from using the term Redskins as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname beginning January 1, 2017, subject to specified exceptions.

The bill would also provide that this prohibition may not be waived by the State Board of Education. To the extent that this prohibition would impose additional duties on schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Currently, the number of California high schools using Redskins as a mascot is four: Calaveras, Chowchilla, Gustine and Tulare high schools all use it. Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley and Colusa High School recently changed their names to Red Hawks.

Here is a look at the Assembly Bill Text:

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 30, as introduced, Alejo. School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act.

Existing law provides that it is the policy of this state to afford all persons in public schools equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state, as specified, and further prohibits, and provides remedies for, acts that are contrary to that policy.

This bill would establish the California Racial Mascots Act, which would prohibit public schools from using the term Redskins as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname beginning January 1, 2017, subject to specified exceptions. The bill would also provide that this prohibition may not be waived by the State Board of Education. To the extent that this prohibition would impose additional duties on schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 221.2) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read:

Article  3.5. The California Racial Mascots Act

221.2.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames in California public schools is antithetical to the California school mission of providing an equal education to all.

(b) Certain athletic team names, mascots, and nicknames that have been used and remain in use by other teams, including school teams, in other parts of the nation are discriminatory in singling out the Native American community for the derision to which mascots or nicknames are often subjected.

(c) Many individuals and organizations interested and experienced in human relations, including the United States Commission on Civil Rights, have concluded that the use of Native American images and names in school sports is a barrier to equality and understanding, and that all residents of the United States would benefit from the discontinuance of their use.

(d) No individual or school has a cognizable interest in retaining a racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname.

221.3.

 (a) Beginning January 1, 2017, all public schools are prohibited from using the term Redskins for school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames.

(b) This section does not apply to a school located within, or with enrollment boundaries that include a portion of, Indian country,” as defined in Section 1151 of Title 18 of the United States Code, provided that the tribe having regulatory jurisdiction over the territory within that boundary has authorized the use of the school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname through an appropriate enactment or resolution.

(c) Notwithstanding this section, a public school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing the term Redskins as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname that were purchased before January 1, 2017, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The school selects a new school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname.

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the school refrains from purchasing or acquiring, for the purpose of distribution or sale to pupils or school employees, any uniform that includes or bears the term Redskins.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), prior to January 1, 2019, a school using uniforms that bear the term Redskins may purchase or acquire a number of uniforms equal to up to 20 percent of the total number of uniforms used by a team or band at that school during the 2016–17 school year for the purposes of replacing damaged or lost uniforms.

(3) Refrains from purchasing or acquiring, for the purpose of distribution or sale to pupils or school employees, any yearbook, newspaper, program, or other similar material that includes or bears the prohibited school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname in its logo or cover title.

(4) Refrains from purchasing or constructing a marquee, sign, or other new or replacement fixture that includes or bears the prohibited school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname.

(d) This section is not subject to waiver by the state board pursuant to Section 33050, except as specified in this section.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

You may also like

4 comments

JimSimmons42 Dec 4, 2014 - 10:40 am

Here is an idea how about schools just do not name themselves redskins. Do we really need a bill for this?

Joe Marsh Dec 4, 2014 - 10:43 am

Come on Sacramento this is a waste of resources. Come up with more productive bills

Jeff C Dec 4, 2014 - 10:55 am

This is the first time I have heard of this guy. Not impressed.

Rob Dec 4, 2014 - 2:26 pm

Assemblymember Luis Alejo: Do you really believe the people elected you to office so that you can introduce wasteful legislation like this? Do you really want to put the taxpayers on the hook to pay for these changes? This is an issue for the school boards, not the state assembly.

Oh, by the way, are you going to introduce similar legislation for private schools next? Where does it end?

Comments are closed.