這是加州歷史上華裔高中生首次登上州議會，他們今天創造的歷史離不開整個華裔社區的支持，這是我們華裔團結一致的成果。 2015年11月他們以"The Mental Health Act"为主題自编自导的錄影在眾議員Catherine Baker創辦的 "There Ought To Be A Law" Video Contest 中力奪桂冠, 随后三人和Baker 團隊一起起草了Bill AB2443。 该议案要求在校執業心理辅导師數量納入校園環境考量。此議案的目的在於加強學校及社會就幫助學生減壓，提供一个健康的成長環境，以避免悲劇發生。

在此我們深深感謝華人社區團體, 感谢每一位支持的，點讚的，或幫忙轉發的朋友。沒有你們的支持幫助, 孩子們又怎麼可能在contest中勝出, 進入Bill AB2443 stage. 最後深深感謝PLAY (Promoting Leadership in Aspiring Youth, http://www.playleadership.org, 

http://playclub.weidb.com) 全體夥伴和親友團, 沒有你們一路以來的鼓勵支持, Bill AB2443 將是一個不可能實現的夢想。 

注：三位华裔高中生是旧金山湾区三谷地区PLAY Club成员.

讓感謝飛：寫在AB2443在加州州議會教育委員會全票通过時。 

特別感谢以下朋友, 各大群群主和群友們： 

個人：

刘晓菲，Netty Goya, 皮皮虾, Peter Kuo , Wally Liaw, 希望中華, 萬英, Xinchuan, 張慈, Alicia陈叶

團隊： 

San Ramon 华人协会, SVCA, APAPA, DCA, TriValley Academy, UBC, 

中華商報北加版, Supermicro

微信群： 

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如有遺漏, 敬請原諒。

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nanette Farag 

April XX, 2016, 916-319-2016 

Assemblywoman Baker To Be Joined By Local High School Students 

To Testify On Student Mental Health Bill 

Sacramento – Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon) will be joined by the winners of her “There Ought to be a Law” student video contest to testify before the Assembly Education Committee in support of AB 2443, a measure inspired by the students’ winning contest submission advocating for greater student access to mental health services in schools. 

As part of California’s Local Control Funding Formula, local school districts are required to collect data to determine how best to meet their goals on a number of priority areas, such as school climate—which is measured by pupil suspension and expulsion rates and a sense of safety and connectedness. AB 2443 will help districts to better measure and address school climate by adding to their reporting metrics the number of practicing school psychologists and other mental health professionals. 

AB 2443 is a result of a bill proposal submitted to Assemblywoman Catharine Baker’s “There Ought to be a Law” Video Contest, which was open to all high school students in the 16th Assembly District during November and December of last year. For this contest, students were asked to identify a problem impacting California that they believe requires a legislative solution, and to propose a bill idea to address the issue in a short two- to five-minute video. 

Students were asked to address why the problem they identified should be solved by our state government rather than our local or federal government, the private sector, or non-profits, and how their proposed legislation will be paid for. They were also reminded that their proposed law idea need not necessarily create a new program or regulation; rather, their idea could be to repeal, replace, or modify an existing law. 

The winning video submission came from three students: Alexander Lee, Foothill High School; James Zeng, California High School; and Steven Yuan, Dougherty Valley High School. The three students attend different high schools, but each of them participate in PLAY (Promoting Leadership in Aspiring Youth)—an organization that teaches youth about the importance of civic and political engagement, and encourages community participation at a young age. 

The group’s bill proposal focused on the need for mental health support in public schools. In their proposal, the group suggested providing districts with more support for mental health counselors as a solution to the problem. 

“A lack of access to mental health services should never be the reason that a student’s needs go unmet,” said Assemblywoman Baker. “My staff and I have been diligently working with Alexander, James, and Steven since the start of this year to develop their idea into substantive legislation which better ensures students receive the mental health attention they need.” 

The student group stated, “Access to school psychologists is needed for all students. In 2011 to 2013, almost one-fifth of students in California public schools in grades 9 and 11 considered seriously attempting suicide. We hope that AB 2443 will take a step towards providing all students access to mental health services.” The student group will join Assemblywoman Baker at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 13 to testify on AB 2443. Others supportive of the legislation can also attend the hearing and add their support. 

Baker added, “I am thrilled that Alexander, James, and Steven will be joining me to present AB 2443 in the Assembly Education Committee. These three students have played an instrumental role since the bill’s conception, and it is important that they continue to be actively involved as AB 2443 makes its way through the legislative process.” 

The student group added, “The process of the creation of the bill has been an astounding experience, as it has allowed us to contribute to the society that shapes who we are today. With the right initiative and enough support, every problem will have a solution.” 

To view the group’s winning video submission, click here. 

To read the full text for AB 2443, click here. 

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Baker represents the 16th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.