BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 41|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 41
Author: Ting (D), et al.
Amended: 3/16/15 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 3/16/15
SUBJECT: Sunshine Week
SOURCE: California Forward
DIGEST: This resolution designates March 15, 2015, through
March 21, 2015, as Sunshine Week.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1.California has a long tradition in support of open government
and access to government records.
2.In 1953, California enacted the Ralph M. Brown Act
guaranteeing the public's right to attend and participate in
local governing bodies.
3.In 1967, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act was adopted to
mandate open meetings of state agencies, boards, and
commissions; and in 1968, California enacted the California
Public Records Act that expressly declared that "access to
information concerning the conduct of the people's business is
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a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this
state."
4.In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 59, a state
constitutional amendment, also known as the "Sunshine
Amendment," that furthers open government protections and the
rights of voters. In 2014, California voters approved
Proposition 42, a state constitutional amendment, to affirm
the people's mandate for open government.
5.Open government reforms continue to spread across the country,
including the adoption of open data policies to urge
innovation and economic development through the use of
high-value government data that can be freely accessed,
modified, and shared.
6.Sunshine Week is now a national initiative to promote a
dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom
of information. Participants include news media, civic
groups, libraries, nonprofit entities, schools, and others
interested in the public's right to know. The coverage,
commentaries, and activities promoting open government during
Sunshine Week have led to tangible, meaningful changes to
people's lives, and the laws that govern them.
7.Sunshine Week is increasing public awareness and people are
playing more of a role in the actions that affect their
communities. People are learning what kinds of information
they have a right to see, how and where to obtain that
information, and what to do if someone tries to prevent them
from accessing it.
8.Sunshine Week is a celebration of the public's commitment to
openness and an exploration of what open government means in a
technology-enhanced future.
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This resolution designates March 15, 2015, through March 21,
2015, as Sunshine Week and encourages all Californians to
participate in appropriate activities relating to open
government and access to public information.
Prior Legislation
SCR 96 (Yee, 2014), a similar resolution, died in the Assembly
Committee on Rules.
SCR 8 (Yee, Resolution Chapter 7, Statutes of 2011) designated
March 13 through March 19, 2011, as Sunshine Week.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified3/23/15)
California Forward (source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified3/23/15)
None received
Prepared by:Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520
3/25/15 17:37:52
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ACR 41
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