BILL ANALYSIS
AB 352
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 352 (Strickland)
As Amended June 7, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(May 11, 2009) |SENATE: |32-0 |(June 28, |
| | | | | |2010) |
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Original Committee Reference: ED.
SUMMARY : Declares the intent of the Legislature that the
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) comply with the
California Public Records Act (CPRA).
The Senate amendments specify that when CIF complies with the
CPRA, CIF shall be afforded the same public records disclosure
exemptions as are afforded to school districts, in order to
protect the confidentiality of pupil and school personnel
records and information.
EXISTING LAW declares:
1)The CIF 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)The intent of the Legislature that the CIF, in consultation
with the California Department of Education (CDE), 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 CIF be subject to the notice and
hearing requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act;
c) Establish a neutral final appeals body to hear
complaints related to interscholastic athletic policies;
and,
d) Provide information to parents and pupils regarding the
AB 352
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state and federal complaint procedures for discrimination
complaints arising out of interscholastic athletic
activities.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : This bill declares legislative intent for CIF to
comply with the California Public Records Act. Currently, CIF
complies with the Brown Act which requires all meetings to be
publicly noticed and open to the public.
Background on CIF . Since 1914, the CDE has allowed CIF, a
voluntary association of schools, to regulate interscholastic
athletics statewide. The Federation 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.
According to the author, because 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 CPRA. The CPRA 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 CPRA to promote transparency and accountability.
There is a need for the CIF to comply with the CPRA 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.
Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0005068