BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1154
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1154 (Audra Strickland)
As Amended April 22, 2009
Majority vote
EDUCATION 10-0 ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS 9-0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, |Ayes:|Davis, Silva, |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | |Blumenfield, |
| |Buchanan, Carter, Eng, | |Charles Calderon, De |
| |Miller, Solorio, | |Leon, Gaines, Krekorian, |
| |Torlakson | |Price, Audra Strickland |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Encourages the California Interscholastic Federation
(CIF) and its sections, if they impose a sanction on an
interscholastic team of a member school, to post online the name
of the school, the team that has been penalized, the violation
that has occasioned the sanction, and a description of the
sanction.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : This bill will encourage the CIF and its sections to
post online the name of the school, the team that has been
penalized, the violation, and a description of the sanction,
whenever the CIF and its sections impose a sanction on an
interscholastic team.
Background on CIF: Since 1914, the California Department of
Education (CDE) has allowed the CIF, a voluntary association of
schools, to regulate interscholastic athletics statewide. The
CIF consists of 10 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.
The CIF was organized at a high school athletic convention held
at the Y.M.C.A. Field House, Los Angeles, on March 28, 1914.
The primary responsibilities of CIF are to administer high
school athletic programs and to promulgate and enforce rules
AB 1154
Page 2
relating to a student's involvement in athletics - age,
semesters in school, scholarship, residence, transfer status,
and amateur standing. Such regulations, which are generated by
the 1,400 member base of secondary schools, prevent undesirable
exploitation of high school students, provide for the welfare of
participants, and ensure that interscholastic athletics offer
major benefits to students in a safe, rewarding environment.
For purposes of administration, California is divided into the
following 10 sections: Southern Section, Central Section, Los
Angeles City Section, North Coast Section, Sac-Joaquin Section,
Northern Section, Oakland City Section, San Francisco Section,
San Diego Section and Central Coast Section. The State
Federated Council has complete control of all State
championships in high school athletics and may specify all
details as to methods and places for conducting the contests.
The CIF is one of the 50 state associations that belong to the
National Federation of State High School Associations and
actively participates in the national organization. Generally,
rules recommended by the national body are adopted by CIF.
According to the author, the intent of the bill is to not only
increase the transparency of CIF activity, but to remind and
warn other schools or teams engaging or considering engaging in
activities that violate CIF regulations. By having these
records online, schools and pupils will have clear examples of
what is and is not acceptable. This will enhance the goal of
CIF sanctions to deter other schools and teams from violating
CIF policies.
According to CIF, information about sanctions imposed on teams
is posted on the CIF Web site and 9 out of the 10 section Web
sites as part of their regular meeting minutes.
Related legislation: AB 352 (Strickland) from 2009, declares
the intent of the Legislature that the CIF in consultation with
the CDE, comply with the California Public Records Act. This
bill is set to be heard by the Assembly Governmental
Organization Committee on April 30, 2009.
AB 1039 (Strickland) from 2009, authorizes a pupil to appeal a
final decision made by the CIF to suspend or terminate a pupil
from participation in a sport for a violation of its codes and
regulations; and, requires the county board of education to be
the final arbiter in the matter. At the request of the author,
AB 1154
Page 3
this bill is being held in the Assembly Education Committee as a
two-year bill.
Previous legislation: AB 2312 (Strickland) from 2006, would
have prohibited school districts, associations or consortia of
school districts, the CIF, voluntary associations, or any other
entity that governs interscholastic athletics or activities from
prohibiting a pupil who transfers to a school from participating
in interscholastic athletics or activities at that school. The
bill failed passage in the Assembly Education Committee.
SB 1411 (Ortiz) from 2006, would have allowed students to
transfer between high schools and retain varsity athletic
eligibility in sports in which the student competed during the
previous year. The bill failed passage in the Senate Education
Committee.
SB 562 (Torlakson), Chapter 301, Statutes of 2005, extended the
sunset provisions relating to the CIF from January 1, 2007 to
January 1, 2012. Specified certain reporting requirements and
extended, indefinitely, provisions granting authority to the CDE
to supervise physical education courses.
Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0000442