Delaine Eastin Papers, 1987-1994

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Summary

Creators:
Delaine Eastin, California Legislator
Abstract:
Delaine Eastin, Democrat, served as a California State Assembly Member from 1987 to 1994, and was the first female to serve as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1995 to 2003. Eastin’s 18th Assembly District included the cities of Fremont, Milpitas, Sunol, and parts of San Jose. Following redistricting in 1992, Delaine Eastin served the 20th Assembly District, which included the cities of Fremont, Milpitas, and Livermore.The Delaine Eastin papers consist of 12.5 cubic feet of records reflecting Eastin’s activities during her 8 years as a State Assembly Member, from 1987 to 1994. The papers are organized into two record series: Bill Files, 1987-1994 and Hearing Files, 1987.
Extent:
12.5 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The Delaine Eastin papers consist of 12.5 cubic feet of records reflecting Eastin’s activities during her 8 years as a State Assembly Member, from 1987 to 1994. The papers are organized into two record series: Bill Files, 1987-1994 and Hearing Files, 1987. The Bill Files series documents Eastin’s legislative activity in the California State Legislature and include a wide array of subjects including: job training, Alameda – Contra Costa Transportation District, highway construction, traffic mitigation, State Lottery fund allocations for children, education policy, and charter schools. Hearing Files contain information regarding the economic competiveness of California and efforts to locate the headquarters of Sematech, a U.S. semiconductor manufacturer, in San Jose.

Biographical / historical:

Delaine Eastin, Democrat, served as a California State Assembly Member from 1987 to 1994, and was the first female to serve as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1995 to 2003. Eastin’s 18th Assembly District included the cities of Fremont, Milpitas, Sunol, and parts of San Jose. Following redistricting in 1992, Delaine Eastin served the 20th Assembly District, which included the cities of Fremont, Milpitas, and Livermore.

Eastin was born August 20, 1947, in San Diego, California. Eastin graduated in 1969 from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1971 Eastin earned a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. For seven years she was a professor of political science at De Anza College in Cupertino and Cañada Community College in Redwood City.

Eastin was an active member of community and social groups which included: the Commonwealth Club, National Women’s Political Caucus, League of Women Voters, Hispanic Community Affairs Council, American Business Women's Association, and California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research.

As a state legislator, Eastin’s legislative interests were varied, ranging from environmental issues to highway funding to education. Notably, Eastin authored AB2448 in 1987, which imposed a new fee on landfill operators based on the amount of solid waste handled to raise an estimated $100 million for Superfund landfill cleanup work.

During Eastin’s time as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, she authored two bills that effected education policy. AB1273, which was signed into law by Governor Wilson in 1993, expanded the definition of the basic teaching credential, extending the timeframe for the preliminary credentials for out-of-state teacher candidates from one year to two years. The bill also established a new credentialing examination process for prelingually deaf credential candidates who teach or counsel solely in special classes or in the state special schools for the hearing-impaired. Another of her legislative accomplishments was AB1836 (1994), known as the Deaf Children’s Bill of Rights. This historic legislation acknowledged the importance of deaf and hard of hearing children being able to associate with others who are also deaf or hard of hearing and who are proficient in the language utilized by the student. That communication includes regular contact with other children, as well as with professionals, including teachers and other school personnel.

  • Standing and Interim Committees
  • Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development, 1991 – 1992
  • Economic Development and New Technologies, 1987 – 1988
  • Education, 1989 – 1994
  • *Chair, 1991 – 1994
  • Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1987 – 1990
  • Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection, 1987 – 1990
  • *Vice Chair, 1987 – 1989
  • *Chair, 1989 – 1990
  • Revenue and Taxation, 1987 – 1988
  • Transportation, 1987 – 1992
  • Subcommittees
  • Educational Reform (Education), 1989 – 1990
  • Emergency Response Preparedness (Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials), 1987 – 1988
  • Toll Bridges (Transportation), 1987 – 1988
  • Urban Education Quality (Education), 1993 – 1994
  • Select Committees
  • Aviation, 1989 – 1992
  • Child Care and Child Abuse
  • Children and Youth Services, 1991 – 1992
  • Construction Issues, 1989 – 1990
  • *Chair, 1989 – 1990
  • Neighborhood Violence and Mediation, 1987 – 1988
  • State Public Procurement Practices, 1991 – 1994
  • Unlicensed Contractors, 1987 – 1988
  • *Chair, 1987 – 1988
  • Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, 1989 – 1990
  • *Chair, 1989 – 1990
  • Youth, 1987 – 1988
  • Joint Committees
  • School Facilities, 1991 – 1992
  • Additional Committees
  • Oversight Committee on GAIN Implementation, 1987 – 1990
  • *Chair, 1987 – 1990
  • Special Committee on Policy Research Management, 1987 – 1988
  • Additional Bodies
  • 1992 California Quincentennial of the Voyages of Christopher Columbus, 1987 – 1990
  • California Development Review Panel, 1987 – 1992
  • Commission for Economic Development, 1989 – 1992
  • Commission on the Status of Women, 1991 – 1992
  • Legislative Task Force on Televising the Assembly, 1989 – 1990
Acquisition information:
California State Archives acquired the Delaine Eastin papers, in a series of four record transfers (Accession Numbers: 91-03-04, 94-10-15, 94-12-29 and 95-03-13).
Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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