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Sacramento –Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announces Governor Brown has signed Senate Bill 1036 (SB 1036) into law. SB 1036 prohibits a local educational agency from including directory or personal information of a student or parent in the meeting minutes.
“The governor’s signature on this bill ensures citizens can participate in school board meetings without fear of their personal address or other information being released to the public,” said Wilk. “Democracy works best when people feel free to participate without fear of reprisal or intimidation; this bill will accomplish that goal.”
Currently California and Federal law allows for the publishing and release of personal information such as full names, home addresses, telephone numbers, etc., by California school boards in the minutes of their board meetings. The release, or potential release of personal information, has led to troubling issues in our school communities. Primarily it can have the effect of suppressing participation and dissent in those meetings, particularly when a controversial issue is before the board.
“There is no reason a school board needs to publicize a person’s address when he or she is weighing in on a controversial issue,” said Wilk. “With so many concerns about the compromising of personal information in this age of technology and fast flowing information, it is logical to put policies in place to protect someone’s privacy when they participate at the school board level.”
The passage of this bill will eliminate real or perceived intimidation on the part of these boards and increase and encourage community participation in school board governance proceedings by eliminating personal information disclosures.