Bill Text: CA SCR96 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Sunshine Week.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-03-24 - Referred to Com. on RLS. [SCR96 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SCR96-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 96 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Yee
MARCH 10, 2014
Relative to Sunshine Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 96, as introduced, Yee. Sunshine Week.
This measure would designate March 16, 2014, through March 22,
2014, as Sunshine Week.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, California has a long tradition in support of open
government and access to government records; and
WHEREAS, 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 a fundamental and necessary
right of every person in this state"; and
WHEREAS, In 1953, California enacted the Ralph M. Brown Open
Meetings Act guaranteeing the public's right to attend and
participate in local governing bodies; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act was adopted
by the State to mandate open meetings of state agencies, boards, and
commissions; and
WHEREAS, California voters approved Proposition 59, a state
constitutional amendment, also known as the "Sunshine Amendment," in
2004 that furthers open government protections and the rights of
voters; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, California entrepreneurs created the information
technology revolution and are creating opportunities for government
to use technology to improve performance, transparency, and trust;
and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama issued an Open Government
Directive to all federal departments and agencies that required the
federal government to take steps towards a more open government
including publishing government information online with the
presumption of openness, to improve the quality of government
information, and to institutionalize a culture of open government
within departments and agencies; and
WHEREAS, Many local governments have been leaders in open records
and public meetings and the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, West
Sacramento, and Los Angeles and the County of San Mateo have adopted
open data policies; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature has asked the voters of California to
affirm the people's mandate for open government through Proposition
42, that will appear on the June 3, 2014, statewide primary election
ballot; and
WHEREAS, With an inaugural grant from the Knight Foundation,
American Society of News Editors launched Sunshine Week in March
2005, and it continues to be celebrated each year in mid-March to
coincide with National Freedom of Information Day and President James
Madison's birthday on March 16; and
WHEREAS, Although originally created by journalists, Sunshine Week
is about the public's right to know what its government is doing and
why; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to
play an active role in all levels of government, and to give people
access to information that makes their lives better and their
communities stronger; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, The California Newspaper Publishers' Association,
California Forward, the League of Women Voters of California,
Californians Aware, First Amendment Coalition, and other
nongovernmental organizations continue to work alongside media and
government allies to enhance public access to their government; and
WHEREAS, 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; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That 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; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates March 16, 2014,
through March 22, 2014, as Sunshine Week and encourages all
Californians to participate in appropriate activities relating to
open government and access to public information; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate provide copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
