Harman’s response

Kelly Garman from Senator Tom Harman’s office sent over the Senator’s response to Adam Probolsky’s op-ed that I wrote about this morning.
You can read it after the flip.

In Response to Adam Probolsky’s OC Register Editorial Entitled: “There Oughta Be A Law Against This”

As the State Senator representing the 35th Senate District, I am always interested in the views held by my constituents and that is one of the reasons why I sponsored the “There Oughta Be A Law” contest for students. All too often our high school seniors graduate without a clear understanding of how government works. It is my sincere hope that each student who entered the contest gained some insight into how a bill becomes law.

The contest was won by a local high school student, Christine Kim, who suggested that I author a bill requiring high school students to participate in some type of community service prior to graduation. Based on her suggestion, I authored SB 227 and filed it in the State Senate. If Mr. Probolsky had contacted my office with his concerns or taken the time to look the bill up on www.leginfo.ca.gov prior to writing his op-ed, this response would not be necessary. His unwarranted attack on the innocent contest submission of an 11th grade high school student who had a genuine idea on how to help her community would have been avoided.

As of March 28, 2007, SB 227 had been amended to change the requirement from mandatory participation in a community service project to merely requiring a school district to offer a class in community service for those students who have an interest in serving their community. Thus, if a student has the desire to serve his or her community they can do so by voluntarily signing up for the class, much like they would for drama or art. That is the way the bill reads today. There is no mandatory participation requirement.

I sponsored the contest with the hope that the winner would come to fully appreciate the legislative process. As part of the learning experience, I introduced Ms. Kim’s bill idea in the exact format that it was presented to me by her. At the time the bill was introduced, I thought that amendments might very well be needed because of the mandatory provisions of the bill. After the ceremony on the Senate Floor in which Ms. Kim assisted me in officially filing her bill and while SB 227 sat the required thirty days before it could be amended, I spoke with various people about suggested changes to the bill.

Based on their input, the bill was changed to reflect the language currently in print. As a result, I have a bill that addresses the twin concerns of instilling civic responsibility in our young people while at the same time ensuring that any such program is voluntary rather than mandatory.

In closing, let me make it perfectly clear that I have an open door policy. Comments and suggestions from constituents concerning pending legislation are always welcome. Attacking the ideas of an innocent child participating in a contest sponsored by a local legislator benefits no one. Before Mr. Probolsky writes another op-ed objecting to one of my bills, he would be better served to just pick up the phone and call me or my staff.

Senator Tom Harman
35th Senate District
916-651-4035