CA SR111

Proclaims August 2024 as California Life Sciences Month to recognize contributions to public health, the economy, and environmental innovation.

Recognizes California's dominance in life sciences, including over 1,380 therapies in development pipeline and more than one-third of all nationwide research and development activity.

Notes the life sciences sector directly employed over 441,000 Californians with $57 billion in total wages and generated $472 billion in economic activity in 2023.

Highlights California's leadership in biotechnology research through 12 R1 research universities, over $5 billion in National Institutes of Health funding, and major contributions to COVID-19 vaccine development.

Acknowledges over 90 percent of California life science companies are small businesses, with 68 percent having only one to four employees.