BILL ANALYSIS AB 352 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 352 (Strickland) As Amended June 7, 2010 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(May 11, 2009) |SENATE: |32-0 |(June 28, | | | | | | |2010) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: ED. SUMMARY : Declares the intent of the Legislature that the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) comply with the California Public Records Act (CPRA). The Senate amendments specify that when CIF complies with the CPRA, CIF shall be afforded the same public records disclosure exemptions as are afforded to school districts, in order to protect the confidentiality of pupil and school personnel records and information. EXISTING LAW declares: 1)The CIF as a voluntary organization that consists of school and school-related personnel with responsibility for administering interscholastic athletic activities in secondary schools; and, sunsets this declaration on January 1, 2012. 2)The intent of the Legislature that the CIF, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE), implement the following policies: a) Give the governing boards of school districts specific authority to select their athletic league representatives; b) Require that all league, section, and state meetings affiliated with the CIF be subject to the notice and hearing requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act; c) Establish a neutral final appeals body to hear complaints related to interscholastic athletic policies; and, d) Provide information to parents and pupils regarding the AB 352 Page 2 state and federal complaint procedures for discrimination complaints arising out of interscholastic athletic activities. FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal. COMMENTS : This bill declares legislative intent for CIF to comply with the California Public Records Act. Currently, CIF complies with the Brown Act which requires all meetings to be publicly noticed and open to the public. Background on CIF . Since 1914, the CDE has allowed CIF, a voluntary association of schools, to regulate interscholastic athletics statewide. The Federation consists of ten regional sections, each of which is divided into several "leagues," for purposes of scheduling athletic contests, assigning referees, etc. Similar organizations exist in other states. Almost all public, private and parochial schools are CIF members. According to the author, because CIF is a public entity whose authority to govern interscholastic sports in California was delegated by the Legislature, it is important their records be subject to the CPRA. The CPRA is designed to give the public access to information in possession of public agencies for the purposes of transparency and accountability to the public. AB 352 will declare the intent of the Legislature for the CIF to comply with the CPRA to promote transparency and accountability. There is a need for the CIF to comply with the CPRA so that the public has access to records or precedence often dealing with the eligibility of student athletes to participate in sports and CIF sanctions on students, teams, or schools that violate CIF policies. Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0005068