ACR 96: Assembly Member Patty Berg Memorial Highway.

WHEREAS, Patricia “Patty” Berg was born in Seattle, Washington, on June 6, 1942; and

WHEREAS, Patty graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social welfare, and in 1970 she met her future husband, Patrick Murphy, who passed away in 1987; and

WHEREAS, Patty made significant contributions to the community throughout her lifetime, as she worked for the County of Humboldt and the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, she founded and served as the executive director for the Area Agency on Aging for Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, for which she received national honors and recognition for her work, and she testified before Congress and in Sacramento for policy changes to support older adults; and

WHEREAS, Patty made numerous contributions to the local community, cofounded the Redwood Coast Music Festival, the largest event for tourism in the County of Humboldt at the time, and advocated locally for Planned Parenthood, Hospice of Humboldt, and Life Plan Humboldt; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Patty was elected to the State Assembly, where she served with distinction for six years representing District One, serving the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity; and

WHEREAS, During her tenure in the State Assembly, Patty served as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, Chair of the Select Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, Patty led efforts to cause the state to publish a master plan on aging; and

WHEREAS, Patty believed so strongly in a person’s right to die as they chose that she authored “death with dignity” legislation to allow aid in dying, and, while the legislation didn’t pass right away, it served as the foundation for future death with dignity legislation that did pass in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Patty passed away on November 19, 2024, at 82 years of age, leaving behind her brother, sister, stepdaughter, stepson and stepgranddaughters; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Route 101 from the 14th Street Overcrossing 04-0245, at postmile 86.501, to Turner Draw, at postmile 89.181, in the County of Humboldt, as the Assembly Member Patty Berg Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.