California Passes Historic Declaration Becoming
First “Compassionate” State in the Nation

The State of California has passed Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 18, titled “Compassionate California”. Introduced by Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), the Resolution declares California to be the first Compassionate State in the United States of America. The Resolution unanimously passed both the State Senate (32-0) and Assembly (73-0) and became effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State (September 10, 2021). 

SCR 18 has 68 official coauthors: Assemblymembers Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Bauer-Kahan, Bigelow, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bryan, Burke, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Choi, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Megan Dahle, Davies, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Lorena Gonzalez, Gray, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Levine, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O’Donnell, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Seyarto, Stone, Ting, Valladares, Villapudua, Voepel, Waldron, Ward, Akilah Weber, Wicks, and Wood.

The Charter for Compassion was unveiled to the public in 2009 carrying forth the vision of creating a global civil society based upon the principle of compassion which lives at the heart of all religious, ethical, and spiritual traditions. Compassion impels us to alleviate the suffering of all creatures, care for our natural environment, and treat one another with dignity, equity, and respect. While SCR 18 is not an official adoption of the international Charter for Compassion, it does recognize the state as a model of compassion and proclaims California to be a Compassionate State.

“Our State is home to many industries, organizations, and individuals who seek to serve the needs of our communities through compassion, and it is through them that we have risen to be a model of compassion within the Union,” said Senator Cortese. “When we lead with compassion, especially during times of increasing uncertainty, we generate positive benefits that ripple through every sector of our civic and community life.”

Seventeen communities in California have passed “Compassionate Resolutions”, including the County of Santa Clara, which adopted a Resolution introduced by Senator Cortese when he served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Numerous California communities have initiatives in process. Over 450 cities, counties, and states spread across 56 countries globally have already adopted or are actively advancing “Compassionate” community declarations.

Research demonstrates that practicing compassion produces positive benefits in all sectors of civic and community life, including business, education, safety, public health, economic, and physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. 

“Compassion is at the heart of peace and harmony in community,” says Girish Shah of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council and Compassionate California, adding, “This bipartisan resolution brings Compassion into the public square to build a more just and compassionate society.”

“Declaring California as a Compassionate State helps us change the narrative for how we relate to each other and create community,” says Laura Hansen of Compassionate Capital Region and Compassionate California, adding, “Public health, safety and community design that serve everyone equitably are central to that narrative.”

“The passing of this Resolution is highly significant as it lays further groundwork for policies advancing issues of inclusion, diversity, and equity,” says Marina Councilmember Dr. Lisa A. Berkley of Compassionate California, adding, “It lies at the intersection of positive psychology, social and environmental justice, and legislation and further establishes a foundation for policy rooted in care and compassion for the Earth and all her beings.”

As the Resolution states, “The state, along with its 58 counties and 482 cities, regularly empowers and supports compassionate programs and nonprofit services to improve the lives of all California residents and treat them with dignity, with emphasis on supportive services to child and youth programs, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, veterans, immigrants, vulnerable and protected populations such as those defined by race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation and identity, nativity, native language, and related issues, workers, and small businesses.”
Compassionate California Resolution (SCR-18)

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE — 2021-2022 REGULAR SESSION

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18

Introduced by Senator Cortese
March 8, 2021
Relative to Compassionate California.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SCR 18, as introduced, Cortese. Compassionate California.
This measure would declare California to be the first Compassionate State in the United States of America.
Fiscal Committee: no 
WHEREAS, The Charter for Compassion, initiated by TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong, was unveiled at the United Nations in 2009 and carries forth the vision of creating a global civil society adhering to the “golden rule,” to treat others as we would like to be treated; and

WHEREAS, The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical, and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves.  Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and put another there, and to honor the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity, and respect; and

WHEREAS, It is also necessary in both public and private life to consistently and empathically refrain from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, or self-interest toward any other being or group of beings, to impoverish, exploit, or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity; and

WHEREAS, There is now a growing network of Compassionate Communities that have affirmed the Charter for Compassion with their local governments, including 3 countries and over 100 cities, counties, or states spread across 50 countries globally, with more than 300 international cities and communities actively organizing to create a compassionate action plan; and

WHEREAS, Research demonstrates that practicing compassion produces positive benefits in all sectors of civic and community life, including business, education, safety, public health, and economic, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; and

WHEREAS, The State of California is lucky to have over 140,000 nonprofit entities, including 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, and public-private foundations, that serve the needs of Californians and humanity on topics such as human services, education, societal benefit, health, the environment, and enhancing the arts, culture, and humanities; and

WHEREAS, The state is blessed with and grateful for its 12 local governments that have already adopted the Charter for Compassion and the 42 compassionate communities in the state organized through “Compassionate California;” and the state is likewise grateful for its 28 sister states around the world; and

WHEREAS, The State of California is blessed with a talented and dedicated workforce; businesses, agencies, and community organizations ready to pitch in; partnerships that share our values and goals; 58 county and 482 city governments that understand that we are better when we work together; and, above all, residents who volunteers their time, tell us what they think of what we are doing, and offer their solutions; and

WHEREAS, Adoption of the Charter for Compassion is supported by thousands of state residents who organize across the state through “Compassionate California,” and the Assembly of the State of California recognizes the need to encourage, affirm, and promote our continuous efforts to be the most compassionate state in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The state, along with its 58 counties and 482 cities, regularly empowers and supports compassionate programs and nonprofit services to improve the lives of all California residents and treat them with dignity, with emphasis on supportive services to child and youth programs, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, veterans, immigrants, vulnerable and protected populations such as those defined by race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation and identity, nativity, native language, and related issues, workers, and small businesses; and

WHEREAS, The residents of the state regularly join in solidarity through marches, rallies, and volunteer work to uplift, protect, and demonstrate compassion for an untold number of marginalized, ignored, and disadvantaged groups because they know our culture is defined by how we treat our most vulnerable or mistreated residents; and

WHEREAS, The state hopes to serve as a model for other states in our republic — a state of compassion where anyone who wishes to live in acceptance of others can also find refuge in an environment where cultural differences are treated with respect and dignity; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares California to be the first Compassionate State in the United States of America and calls upon other Americans to join us in recognizing that compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological, and religious boundaries, and also recognize that compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.