BILL ANALYSIS
AB 352
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Date of Hearing: April 30, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Curren D. Price, Chairman
AB 352 (Strickland) - As Amended: April 22, 2009
SUBJECT : Public records: California Interscholastic Federation
SUMMARY : Declares the intent of the Legislature that the
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), in consultation
with the California Department of Education (CDE), comply with
the California Public Records Act. Specifically, this bill :
1) Declares the intent of the Legislature that the CIF in
consultation with CDE comply with the California Public
Records Act [Education Code Section 33353 (a) (5)].
2) Requires that when the CIF complies with the California
Public Records Act requests, CIF shall protect the privacy
rights of student athletes and school district personnel
[Education Code Section 33353 (a) (5), page 2, lines 21-33
].
EXISTING LAW
1) Declares the California Interscholastic Federation as a
voluntary organization that consists of school and
school-related personnel with responsibility for
administering interscholastic athletic activities
in secondary schools; and, sunsets this declaration on
January 1, 2012.
2) Declares the intent of the Legislature that the
California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with
the California Department of Education, implement the
following policies:
a) Give the governing boards of school districts
specific authority to select their athletic league
representatives.
b) Require that all league, section, and state
meetings affiliated with the California
Interscholastic Federation be subject to the notice
and hearing requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act
(Brown Act).
c) Establish a neutral final appeals body to hear
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complaints related to interscholastic athletic
polices.
d) Provide information to parents and pupils
regarding the state and federal complaint procedures
for discrimination complaints arising out of
interscholastic athletic activities.
1) Requires the California Interscholastic Federation to
report to the Legislature and the Governor on its
evaluation and accountability activities undertaken on or
before January 1, 2010; and, requires the report to
include:
a) The governing structure of the California
Interscholastic Federation, and the effectiveness of
that governance structure in providing leadership for
interscholastic athletics in secondary schools.
b) Methods to facilitate communication with
agencies, organizations, and public entities whose
functions and interests interface with the California
Interscholastic Federation.
c) The quality of coaching and officiating,
including, but not limited to, professional
development for coaches and athletic administrators,
and parent education programs.
d) Gender equity in interscholastic athletics,
including, but not limited to, the number of male and
female pupils participating in interscholastic
athletics in secondary schools, and action taken by
the California Interscholastic Federation in order to
ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972.
e) Health and safety of pupils, coaches,
officials, and spectators.
f) The economic viability of interscholastic
athletics in secondary schools, including, but not
limited to, the promotion and marketing of
interscholastic athletics.
g) New and continuing programs available to
pupil-athletes.
h) Awareness and understanding of emerging issues
related to interscholastic athletics in secondary
schools.
2) Declares the intent of the Legislature that the
California Interscholastic Federation accomplish all of the
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following:
a) During years in which the California
Interscholastic Federation is not required to report
to the Legislature and the Governor, it shall hold a
public comment period relating to the report at three
regularly scheduled federation council meetings per
year.
b) Annually allow public comment on the policies
and practices of the California Interscholastic
Federation at a regularly scheduled federation council
meeting.
c) Require sections of the California
Interscholastic Federation to allow public comment on
the policies and practices of the California
Interscholastic Federation and its sections, and the
report required, at each regularly scheduled section
meeting.
d) Engage in a comprehensive outreach effort to
promote the public hearings.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal
COMMENTS : This bill declares legislative intent for the
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to comply with the
California Public Records Act (Act). Currently, the California
Interscholastic Federation complies with the Ralph M. Brown Open
Meetings Act which requires all meetings to be publicly noticed
and open to the public.
Background . 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 ten 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 California Interscholastic Federation 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 relating to a
student's involvement in athletics - age, semesters in school,
scholarship, residence, transfer status, and amateur standing.
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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, because the California Interscholastic
Federation (CIF) is a public entity whose authority to govern
interscholastic sports in California was delegated by the
Legislature, it is important their records be subject to the
California Public Records Act (Act). The Act is designed to
give the public access to information in possession of public
agencies for the purposes of transparency and accountability to
the public. AB 352 will declare the intent of the Legislature
for the CIF to comply with the Act to promote transparency and
accountability. There is a need for the CIF to comply with the
Act so that the public has access to records or precedence often
dealing with the eligibility of student athletes to participate
in sports and CIF sanctions on students, teams, or schools that
violate CIF policies.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Rod Brewer / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
AB 352
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