Assembly Bill No. 1782 - CHAPTER 162

An act to add Section 424.7 to the Government Code, relating to state government. Approved by Governor August 20, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State on August 20, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the state flag and the state’s emblems, including, among other things, the golden poppy as the official state flower and the California redwood as the official state tree.

This bill would establish surfing as the official state sport.

BILL TEXT 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Surfing is an iconic California sport.

(b) It is important to recognize that surfing traces its origins to the Polynesian people and was imported into California from indigenous Hawaii. Since its arrival in California, surfing has been embraced by the state and many Californians have made important contributions to the sport as we know it today.

[OCS: Wonderful, a hat-tip to Hawaii.]

(c) California is home to a number of world-famous surf breaks like Malibu, Trestles, Mavericks, Rincon, Steamer Lane, and Huntington, which are destinations for both domestic and international surfers. It is important to remember that California’s coastline is not only home to these surf breaks, but is also the ancestral homeland to indigenous peoples like the Chumash in Malibu, known as “Humaliwu” in the Chumash language, and Rincon, the Acjachemen in Trestles, known as “Panhe” in the Acjachemen language, the Amah Mutsun in Steamer Lane, the Ohlone in Mavericks, and the Acjachemen and Tongva shared territory in Huntington Beach, known as “Lukupangma” in the Tongva and Acjachemen language. These indigenous people continue to live in these ancestral homelands today and have embraced the sport of surfing in these areas.

[OCS:  I am unaware of any significant number of indigenous American Native Americans surfing in California. Translating words into “native language” means little or nothing other than a shameless ploy to legitimize the indefensible. As for the geographic features which lend themselves to surfing do nothing to legitimize this cultural appropriation.]

(d) It is important to acknowledge that the Acjachemen were instrumental in saving Trestles from potential destruction by a proposed toll road in 2008, due to Panhe’s recognition as an ancient Acjachemen village site by the California Coastal Commission.

[OCS: Can you say progressive scam to control beachfront property? ]

(e) Every year, California surf breaks host numerous domestic and international surf events, including the International Surf Festival in the Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance, the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, and the Founders’ Cup of Surfing in Lemoore.

[OCS: Both Hawaii and Australia have bigger waves and better contests than California.]

(f) California is home to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, the International Surfing Museum, and the California Surf Museum.

[OCS: Nothing like traffic and money-generating attractions. Perhaps, California’s signature animal should be the mouse in honor of Disney?]

(g) California’s coastline spans 1,100 miles and its beaches and coastal areas generate $1.15 trillion in economic activity annually.

[OCS: Comparatively few of those dollars can be directly attributable to surfing and equipment sales.]

(h) California is the heart of the surfboard building industry, which has innovated surfboard technology and pioneered sustainable manufacturing practices and techniques.

[OCS: I remember when Southern California was the heart of the aircraft manifesting industry, yet the state bird is not the iconic DC-3. Not to mention the world famous Clover Field (Santa Monica Airport) or the Lockheed Skunk Works in Burbank.]

(i) The world’s first neoprene wetsuit, a modern staple of surfing, was invented in California’s San Francisco Bay area.

[OCS: If I remember correctly, it was invented for divers and a lightweight version appropriated by surfers for the colder waters of Northern California.]

(j) California pioneered the science of surf forecasting at the University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Surf forecasting allows surfers around the world to predict when and where to go surfing.

[OCS: As I remember this, it was done for economic reasons involving tides and commerce, and it is part of weather forecasting – hardly a science given the results of long forecasts beyond 14-days.]

(k) California’s surfing culture is taking a national and global leadership role in promoting sustainability as a core value, while also placing a high value on environmental protection and stewardship, in order to preserve the ocean, waves, coastline, and wildlife that make the state such a unique place to surf, live, and visit.

[OCS: Now we get down to it. The progressive socialist democrats and the environmentalists have invented a new way to control beach front property and large portions of coastal waters. Save the surfers!] 

SEC. 2.