WHEREAS, The California Attractions and Parks Association was founded in 2004 as a trade organization of the most active and engaged amusement attractions and parks in California and 2023 represents the organization’s 19th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, California is home to more than 430 attractions throughout the state, including large destination theme parks and resorts, small local amusement parks, and water parks, and these attractions and parks have been the setting for countless family memories, have inspired billions of guests, and provide the opportunity for entertainment and fun for people from all walks of life; and

WHEREAS, California’s amusement parks attract 92,300,000 visitors annually, which represents 30 percent of the nationwide attendance at amusement parks; and

WHEREAS, The theme, amusement, and water park industry generates $12.6 billion in direct and indirect revenue impact to the state, contributing significantly to local economies and California’s economy as a whole; and

WHEREAS, California’s amusement parks are a driving force behind the state’s vibrant tourism industry, which, in 2017, accounted for revenues of approximately $132.4 billion spent by visitors to the state, helped to support over 1,000,000 jobs, and generated roughly $10.9 billion in state and local taxes to support vital public services, including police, fire protection, health and homeless services, park maintenance, education, and road repair; and

WHEREAS, California’s amusement parks pay approximately $1.5 billion annually in federal, state, and local taxes, and are a major employer in the state, supporting 99,028 jobs and paying an estimated employee compensation of $2.7 billion; and

WHEREAS, The amusement park industry places great importance on employee training and providing growth opportunities to employees, and a majority of senior management personnel in California’s amusement parks started their careers as entry-level employees; and

WHEREAS, California’s amusement parks adhere to safety standards prescribed by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International, a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards, and rules and regulations prescribed by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in the Department of Industrial Relations; and

WHEREAS, California’s amusement parks believe in giving back and sponsoring a wide variety of community-based programs, which include free admission for veterans and active military personnel, firefighters, and law enforcement, programs to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting wishes for kids with life-threatening medical conditions, free field trips for children in underserved communities, free admission to low-income and displaced families, longstanding partnerships with Special Olympics and Goodwill Industries, programs providing jobs to the disabled community, college scholarships and achievement awards for local students, and millions of dollars raised and provided to local community-based charities; now, therefore, be it