BILL NUMBER: SB 312INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Romero FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to add Section 33009.7 to the Education Code, and to add Section 15491 to the Government Code, relating to public meetings and hearings. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 312, as introduced, Romero. Public meetings and hearings. Existing law establishes the State Board of Education for the purpose of, among other things, studying the educational conditions and needs of the state and making plans for the improvement of the administration and efficiency of the public schools of the state. Existing law requires that the State Board of Education adhere to specified requirements relating to meetings and hearings. Existing law establishes the State Allocation Board, consisting of specified members and charged with specified duties, including, but not limited to, determining how bond funds are allocated for public school construction and modernization projects. Existing law requires the State Allocation Board to adhere to specified requirements relating to meetings and hearings. This bill would require the State Board of Education and the State Allocation Board to provide for live video and audio transmission of all meetings and hearings that are open to the public through a technology that is accessible to as large a segment of the public as possible. The bill would require the State Board of Education and the State Allocation Board to take all reasonable steps to provide for live video and audio transmission of all meetings and hearings that are open to the public through cable television, Web cast, and the K-12 High Speed Network. The State Board of Education and the State Allocation Board also would be required to consult with the State Chief Information Officer for the purposes of implementing the provisions of the bill. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 33009.7 is added to the Education Code, to read: 33009.7. (a) The state board shall provide for live video and audio transmission of all board meetings and hearings that are open to the public through a technology that is accessible to as large a segment of the public as possible. (b) The state board shall take all reasonable steps to provide for live video and audio transmission of all board meetings and hearings that are open to the public through the use of all of the following technologies: (1) Cable television. (2) Web cast. (3) The K-12 High Speed Network, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11800 of the Education Code. (c) The state board shall consult with the State Chief Information Officer for the purposes of implementing this section pursuant to the duties that the State Chief Information Officer is required to perform, as described in Section 11545. SEC. 2. Section 15491 is added to the Government Code, to read: 15491. (a) The State Allocation Board shall provide for live video and audio transmission of all board meetings and hearings that are open to the public through a technology that is accessible to as large a segment of the public as possible. (b) The board shall take all reasonable steps to provide for live video and audio transmission of all board meetings and hearings that are open to the public through the use of all of the following technologies: (1) Cable television. (2) Web cast. (3) The K-12 High Speed Network, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11800. (c) The board shall consult with the State Chief Information Officer for the purposes of implementing this section pursuant to the duties that the State Chief Information Officer is required to perform, as described in Section 11545 of the Government Code.