BILL ANALYSIS
SB 312
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 19, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
SB 312 (Romero) - As Amended: July 9, 2009
Policy Committee: Education
Vote:10-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE) and State
Allocation Board (SAB) to provide for live video and audio
transmission of all board meetings/hearings that are open to the
public, as specified. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires access to SBE and SAB meetings/hearing be provided
though a technology that is accessible to as large a segment
of the public as possible, including, but not limited to,
television and webcast. This measure further requires any
webcast transmission be accessed through the K-12 High Speed
Network, as specified.
2)Requires the SBE and SAB to consult with the State Chief
Information Officer for the purposes of implementing this
measure.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor, absorbable GF administrative costs to the State
Department of Education (SDE) to meet the requirements of this
measure. The SAB will likely incur minor, absorbable costs as
well. However, these costs would likely be absorbed through
state school construction bond proceeds.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . In November 2006, the governor signed an executive
order to expand broadband access and usage in California.
Specifically, the executive order states: "The Department of
General Services (DGS) and the Department of Technology
SB 312
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Services (DTS) shall facilitate State use of streaming video
technologies to broadcast public meetings over the Internet?.
Within 180 days of the date of this Executive Order, DGS shall
enter into a contract with one or multiple companies for
offering webcasting services to State Agencies. DTS shall
provide technical consulting and training to State Agencies
that elect to use webcasting services."
According to the author, the SBE and SAB "are state agencies
with primary responsibility for K-12 education policy and for
allocating state bond funds for school construction. The
boards hold public meetings in Sacramento, but their decisions
impact public schools statewide." This bill requires the SBE
and SAB to provide live audio and video transmission of their
meetings, as specified.
2)The SBE , established by the State Constitution and statute,
consists of 11 members appointed by the governor, including
one student member. It is the governing and policy-making
body of the SDE. The board establishes K-12 education policy
in the areas of standards, instructional materials,
assessment, and accountability. The SBE adopts textbooks for
grades K-8, adopts regulations to implement legislation, and
has authority to grant waivers of the Education Code. It 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.
Likewise, the SBE is required to conduct meetings in public
pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. However, it is
allowed to meet in closed session in order to consider such
things as pending litigation, personnel matters, and to review
and discuss the content of the state's assessment system.
3)The SAB is a statutorily created state government board that
allocates general obligation bonds and other funds used for
the construction, modernization, maintenance and repair of
local public school facilities. It is the policy-level body
for the programs administered by Office of Public School
Construction within the Department of General Services. The
board consists of the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
the Director of Finance, the Director of General Services, an
individual appointed by Governor, three Members of the Senate
(appointed by the Senate Rules Committee), and three Members
of the Assembly (appointed by the Speaker). It meets monthly
to apportion funds to school districts, act on appeals and
adopt policies and regulations that govern the administration
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of SAB programs. Likewise, the SAB is required to conduct
meetings in public pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting
Act. However, it is allowed to meet in closed session in
order to consider such things as pending litigation and
personnel matters.
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081