Bill Text: CA AB2064 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: State Library: media literacy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-19 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2064 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB2064-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 03, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2064


Introduced by Assembly Member Irwin

February 14, 2022


An act to add Article 5 (commencing with Section 19340) to Chapter 7 of Part 11 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction. the State Library.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2064, as amended, Irwin. Pupil instruction: media literacy: instructional materials. State Library: media literacy.

Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer instruction or courses in specified areas of study, as provided. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to make available to school districts on its internet website a list of resources and instructional materials on media literacy, as defined, including media literacy professional development programs for teachers.

Existing law creates the California State Library under the control of the State Librarian. Existing law requires the State Librarian to establish and administer the Reading Initiative Program to, among other things, develop a list of recommended books in consultation with various groups, including, but not limited to, teachers, librarians, parents, writers, publishers, and employees of the department. State Department of Education. Existing law requires the State Librarian to develop a method of involving pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the program and to develop an appropriate form of recognition for pupils who succeed in the program.
This bill would, contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purpose or the receipt of funds from private sources, establish the Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program in the California State Library Library, to be administered by the State Librarian, for purposes of supporting media literacy across multiple languages for pupils and their families, individuals and developing media literacy skills for pupils and their families individuals to help navigate issues of public health and representation, as provided. The bill would require the State Librarian to administer the program and develop a list of recommended books, articles, digital multimedia resources, and any other instructional materials to support the development of media literacy for pupils and their families, in consultation with various groups, including, but not limited to, teachers, librarians, parents, writers, publishers, and employees of the department. The bill would require the recommended instructional materials to supplement the state-recommended English language arts curriculum framework and include recreational reading selections for children. The bill would also require the State Librarian to develop a method of involving pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and their families, in the program, and to develop an appropriate form of recognition for pupils and their families who succeed in the program. for specified purposes to be made available to county and municipal libraries across the state. The bill would create the Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program Fund in the State Treasury and require state or private funds to be deposited in the fund, as provided.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Article 5 (commencing with Section 19340) is added to Chapter 7 of Part 11 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  5. Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program

19340.
 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, media literacy is vital to the safety, security, health, and well-being of individuals and communities. The proliferation of social media and applications have increased the volume of information individuals are exposed to everyday. Additionally, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are spending more time online, thereby increasing the risk of being exposed to false or misleading information.
(2) Becoming digital media literate can help individuals build resiliency and confidence in our system of government and institutions, and reduce the risk of radicalizing to violence. Communities and individuals can equip themselves with effective tools, knowledge, and resources that do not impede the free flow of reliable information, which is a cornerstone of a healthy and functioning society. Every individual plays an important role in recognizing and building resilience to false and harmful narratives.
(3) Media literacy helps individuals better recognize, evaluate, and understand three main types of content:
(A) Misinformation that is false, but not created or shared with the intention of causing harm.
(B) Malinformation that is based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.
(C) Disinformation that is deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate a person, social group, organization, or country.
(4) Media literacy is important to individuals of all language backgrounds and misinformation, malinformation, and disinformation are not limited to English speakers. Different ethnic groups communicate and receive news on different chat and social media platforms beyond the platforms that are popular among English-speaking individuals. Regardless of the platform used, there are basic steps that every individual can take to identify and mitigate harmful or untrue narratives.
(b) Recognizing the important role literacy plays in navigating issues of public health and representation, it is the intent of the Legislature for the California State Library, as an extension of its mission in promoting English literacy, to support media literacy through critical thinking and source evaluation strategies that apply to multiple languages.

19341.
 For purposes of this article, “program” means the Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program established pursuant to Section 19342.

19342.
 (a) Contingent on an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purpose, or the receipt of funds from private sources, the Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program is hereby established in the California State Library, to be administered by the State Librarian, for both of the following purposes:
(1) To support media literacy for pupils and their families individuals through critical thinking and source evaluation strategies that apply to multiple languages.
(2) To develop literacy skills for pupils and their families individuals to help navigate issues of public health and representation.
(b) The State Librarian shall do all of the following to administer the program: shall:
(1) (A)Develop a list of recommended books, articles, digital multimedia resources, and any other instructional materials for the purposes described in subdivision (a). The recommended books, articles, digital multimedia resources, and any other instructional materials shall supplement the state-recommended English language arts curriculum framework, and shall include recreational reading selections for children. (a) to be made available to county and municipal libraries across the state.

(B)The list described in subparagraph (A) shall be developed in consultation with various groups, including, but not limited to, teachers, librarians, parents, writers, publishers, and employees of the department.

(2)Develop a method of involving pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and their families, in the program and an appropriate form of recognition for pupils and their families who volunteer to participate in the program and who succeed in the program. Rewards and related recognition activities shall be funded with funds received from private sources.

(3)

(2) To the extent private funds are received, and consistent with paragraph (2), expend private funds received for purposes of this article to obtain and make available to the public the books, articles, digital multimedia resources, and any other instructional materials on the list developed pursuant to paragraph (1).

19343.
 Funds appropriated or received for purposes of this article shall be deposited in the Media Literacy Through Critical Thinking Program Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury.

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