Article 5 - Museum and Cultural Resources Program

California Education Code — §§ 20090-20092

Sections (3)

§ 20090

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 300, Sec. 1. (SB 963) Effective January 1, 2023.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)Museums help Californians understand the past, the present, and potential futures. Museums contribute to formal and informal learning at every stage of life, from the education of children in preschool to the continuing education of adults.

(b)Museums are considered a trusted source for information. Museums leverage this high level of public trust to help fight misinformation and promote understanding of critical issues.

(c)Museums are places for respite and support the well-being of Californians. Participation in museum experiences and programs can have measurable and positive impacts on children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.

(d)Museums are an important means of making art, science, history, and culture available to

Californians.

(e)Museums are caretakers and interpreters of the past and present. Providing a safe environment and proper care for collections for the public’s benefit is a responsibility of many museums.

(f)Museums capture, preserve, and share untold stories and prompt important public dialogue through exhibitions and education programs.

(g)Museums provide an economic boost to their communities

by attracting tourists and local visitors, all of whom create a demand for services.

(h)Museums often help define the public identity of a community, and serve as a foundation of its cultural identity. A museum has the legacy of its community as the heart of its mission.

(i)Museums are vital partners with schools and teachers in sharing narratives about the state’s diverse racial and ethnic populations and understanding science.

§ 20091

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 27. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.

To the extent that funding is available for such purposes, the endowment shall establish a competitive grant program to assist and enhance the services of museums in the state that undertake programs and projects that are deeply rooted in and reflective of underserved communities. This program shall give priority to those programs and projects doing any of the following:

(a)Serving pupils and teachers at schools eligible to be served under Part A of Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95).

(b)Serving children in low-income communities.

(c)Supporting museums in engaging or collaborating with underserved communities, including, but not limited to, people with disabilities and low-income families.

(d)Advancing preservation of at-risk cultural and natural collections and historic buildings. For purposes of this subdivision, “at-risk” refers to the potential for loss or deterioration due to forces, including, but not limited to, fires, harmful temperatures, humidity, earthquakes, improper handling, neglect, theft, vandalism, or exposure to water, pests, contaminants, light, or radiation.

(e)Improving access, including, but not limited to, accommodating the access needs of people with disabilities, to historic buildings, cultural sites, or museums.

(f)Supporting the ethical stewardship of culturally sensitive art and artifacts,

including, but not limited to, engaging in consultations with California Indian tribes or repatriation.

(g)Educating the public about critical issues affecting Californians.

§ 20092

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 300, Sec. 3. (SB 963) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)The endowment may create a competitive grant program to support capital projects, exhibits, educational programs, outreach programs, public programs, curriculum, publications, marketing, and collections care in museums pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 20057. The grant program shall give priority to the objectives listed in Section 20091.

(b)Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development and adoption of program guidelines and selection criteria for purposes of this section. The endowment shall hold at least one public hearing before adopting program guidelines and selection criteria.