ACR 41, as introduced, Ting. Sunshine Week.
This measure would designate March 15, 2015, through March 21, 2015, as Sunshine Week.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, California has a long tradition in support of open
2government and access to government records; and
3WHEREAS, In 1953, California enacted the Ralph M. Brown
4Act guaranteeing the public’s right to attend and participate in
5local governing bodies; and
6WHEREAS, In 1967, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act was
7adopted to mandate open meetings of state agencies, boards, and
8commissions; and
9WHEREAS, In 1968, California enacted the California Public
10Records Act that expressly declared that “access to information
11concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental
12and necessary right of every person in this state”; and
13WHEREAS, California voters approved Proposition 59, a state
14constitutional amendment, also known as the “Sunshine
15Amendment,” in 2004 that furthers open government protections
16and the rights of voters; and
P2 1WHEREAS, California voters approved Proposition 42, a state
2constitutional amendment, in 2014 to affirm the people’s mandate
3for open government; and
4WHEREAS, California entrepreneurs created the information
5technology revolution and are creating opportunities for
6government to use technology to improve performance,
7transparency, and trust; and
8WHEREAS, Open government reforms continue to spread across
9the country, including the adoption of open data policies to urge
10innovation and economic development through the use of
11high-value government data that can be freely accessed, modified,
12and shared; and
13WHEREAS, President Barack Obama issued an Open
14Government Directive to all federal departments and agencies that
15required the federal government to take steps towards a more open
16government including publishing government information online
17with the presumption of openness, to improve the quality of
18government information, and to institutionalize a culture of open
19government within departments and agencies; and
20WHEREAS, The state of California was one of the first states
21to launch an open data repository (data.ca.gov), designed to provide
22a single source of raw data in the state; and
23WHEREAS, State agencies, including the California Health and
24Human Services Agency and the State Controller’s office, have
25shown leadership in creating portals that showcase government
26data in an interactive and searchable format that enhances its value
27and utility; and
28WHEREAS, Many local governments have been leaders in open
29records and public meetings and the Cities of San Francisco,
30Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, West Sacramento, and Los
31Angeles and the Counties of Los Angeles and San Mateo have
32adopted Open Data policies; and
33WHEREAS, Numerous California cities have named Chief Data
34Officers, and local government agencies have launched Open Data
35portals; and
36WHEREAS, With an inaugural grant from the Knight
37Foundation, the American Society of News Editors launched
38Sunshine Week in March 2005, and it continues to be celebrated
39each year in mid-March to coincide with National Freedom of
P3 1Information Day and President James Madison’s birthday on March
216; and
3WHEREAS, Sunshine Week is now a national initiative to
4promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and
5freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic
6groups, libraries, nonprofit entities, schools, and others interested
7in the public’s right to know; and
8WHEREAS, The coverage, commentaries, and activities
9promoting open government during Sunshine Week have led to
10tangible, meaningful changes to people’s lives, and the laws that
11govern them; and
12WHEREAS, Sunshine Week is increasing public awareness and
13people are playing more of a role in the actions that affect their
14communities. People are learning what kinds of information they
15have a right to see, how and where to obtain that information, and
16what to do if someone tries to prevent them from accessing it; now,
17therefore, be it
18Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
19thereof concurring, That Sunshine Week is a celebration of the
20public’s commitment to openness and an exploration of what open
21government means in a technology-enhanced future; and be it
22further
23Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates March 15,
242015, through March 21, 2015, as Sunshine Week and encourages
25all Californians to participate in appropriate activities relating to
26open government and access to public information; and be it further
27Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
28of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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