BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 312
AUTHOR: Romero
INTRODUCED: February 25, 2009
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 15, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: James Wilson
SUBJECT : Public Meetings: State Education Boards
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education and the
State Allocation Board to provide for live video and audio
transmission of all meetings and hearings that are open to
the public through a technology that is accessible to as
large a segment of the public as possible.
BACKGROUND
Current law establishes the office of the State Chief
Information Officer appointed by the Governor to advise the
Governor on the strategic management of the state's
information technology resources, coordinate the activities
of agency chief information officers and ensure compliance
with information technology policies and standards, among
other duties. The office is the successor to the Office of
Technology Review, Oversight, and Security within the
Department of Finance. The office has no authority over the
Legislature, or the Legislative Data Center or the
Legislative Counsel Bureau.
The Constitution and statute establish the State Board of
Education (SBE), consisting of 10 members and an 11th
student member, who are appointed by the Governor. The SBE
is required to meet at least six times a year and may meet
more often at the call of the Board President or any four
members. The State Allocation Board (SAB) consists of the
Director of Finance, the Director of General Services, a
person appointed by Governor, and the Superintendent of
Public Instruction. The SAB also includes three Members of
the Senate appointed by the Rules Committee and three
Members of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker. The SAB
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receives staff assistance from the Office of Public School
Construction in the Department of General Services.
Both boards are required to conduct meetings in public
pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, although
that act allows a board to meet in closed session in order
to consider such things as pending litigation or the
appointment, evaluation or dismissal of a public employee.
The State Board of Education is specifically exempted from
meeting in public when reviewing assessment instruments
when actual test content is reviewed and discussed.
ANALYSIS
1) Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to provide
for live video and audio transmission of all board
meetings and hearings that are open to the public and
take all reasonable steps to use of all of the
following technologies:
a) Cable television.
b) Web cast.
c) The K-12 High Speed Network.
2) Requires the State Allocation Board (SAB) to provide
for live video and audio transmission of all board
meetings and hearings that are open to the public and
take all reasonable steps to use of all of the
following technologies:
a) Cable television.
b) Web cast.
c) The K-12 High Speed Network.
3) Requires the SBE and the SAB to consult with the State
Chief Information Officer to provide for live video
and audio transmission of all board meetings and
hearings.
STAFF COMMENTS
1)State policy . In 2006, the Governor issued Executive
Order S-23-06 calling for expanded use of broadband
networks and advanced communication services to enhance
government operations through such methods as distance
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learning for education. In the order, the Governor also
directed that "the Department of General Services and
the Department of Technology Services facilitate State
use of streaming video technologies to broadcast public
meetings over the Internet."
2)Strategic plan . The Chief Information Officer's
Information Technology Strategic Plan calls for the use
of technology that makes government transparent,
available, and intuitive. To make government more
transparent, the plan calls for the state to "deploy
available technologies to allow Californians to offer
suggestions as part of the policy development and
deliberative process."
SUPPORT
None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.