Bill Text: CA SB911 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: State government: California Board to Fund Public Interest Media.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-08-03 - August 3 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB911 Detail]
Download: California-2021-SB911-Introduced.html
Bill Title: State government: California Board to Fund Public Interest Media.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-08-03 - August 3 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB911 Detail]
Download: California-2021-SB911-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 911
| Introduced by Senator Glazer (Principal coauthors: Senators Allen and Newman) |
February 02, 2022 |
An act to Chapter 9.8 (commencing with Section 8780) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to public interest media.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 911, as introduced, Glazer.
State government: California Board to Fund Public Interest Media.
Existing law creates the California Public Broadcasting Commission in state government as an independent commission to encourage the growth and development of public broadcasting services to the people of this state.
This bill would create the California Board to Fund Public Interest Media. The bill would require the Speaker of the Assembly, the Senate Rules Committee, and the Governor to appoint individuals to the 11 member board, as specified. The bill would require the board to do various things, including encouraging independent, local public service news coverage, helping independent local news organizations or individual reporters to cover the cost of reporting local public affairs, and awarding prizes or direct grants to individuals or organizations. The bill would also authorize the board to accept federal grants, and unrestricted gifts,
donations, bequests, or grants of funds from private sources and public agencies for these purposes, to be deposited into the California Fund for Public Interest Media, which the bill would also create.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 9.8 (commencing with Section 8780) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:CHAPTER 9.8. California Board to Fund Public Interest Media
8780.
(a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Public Interest Media Act of 2022.(b) The Legislature finds and declares that life in California is enriched by free and fair local journalism. Communities thrive when locally owned newspapers, television, and radio stations, and online media, are free to portray their surroundings as they exist, without fear or favor. A free and fair press opens up the world around us and provides insights into events and actions of taking place in the communities where we live. It is critical to holding those in power accountable for their actions, and for offering a free flow of information that builds an informed citizenry, the members of which are able to choose their leaders and
participate in decisions affecting them. In sum, a free and fair press is at the center of a vital community and democracy.
(c) For purposes of this chapter, “board” means the California Board to Fund Public Interest Media established pursuant to Section 8780.1.
8780.1.
(a) There is in the state government a California Board to Fund Public Interest Media that shall be composed of 11 members.(b) On or before January 10, 2023, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee shall each appoint one member to represent the general public.
(c) The Governor shall appoint the remaining nine members, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Before making the appointments, the Governor shall request and consider recommendations from organizations representing the local media community, and when making appointments, shall give consideration to the various geographic parts of the state that have suffered from a decline in media coverage of local
public and civic affairs.
(d) Five of the 11 members shall hold office for four years, four shall hold office for three years, and two shall hold office for two years. Terms of office shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the board after January 1, 2023.
(e) In January of each year, the members of the board shall select a chairperson.
(f) Members of the board shall receive one hundred dollars ($100) per meeting and shall be reimbursed for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
8780.2.
If any member of the board is an employee, member, director, or officer of a news organization that has applied to the board for a grant, that member shall not communicate with any other member of the board, or any member of an advisory committee or peer review panel, regarding the grant application and the member shall not be present when the application is considered by the board, committee, or panel.8780.3.
The board shall meet at the call of the chairperson no more than eight times each calendar year. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, all meetings shall be preceded by at least eight days public notice, and shall be held in various places throughout the state so as to encourage broad and diverse attendance.8780.4.
The board shall do all of the following:(a) Encourage independent, local public service news coverage.
(b) Help independent local news organizations or individual reporters to cover the cost of reporting local public affairs.
(c) Foster an environment of public trust in which all news organizations are free from influence, including that of the board, other than a mandate to use the board’s grants to support public interest news coverage.
(d) Adopt regulations in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3) necessary for proper execution of the powers and duties granted to the board by this chapter.
(e) Employ administrative, technical, and other personnel as may be necessary.
(f) Fix the salaries of the personnel employed pursuant to this chapter as nearly as possible to conform to the salaries established by the State Personnel Board for classes of positions in the state civil service involving comparable duties and responsibilities.
(g) Appoint advisory committees whenever necessary. Members of an advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but each may be reimbursed for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
(h) Request and obtain from any department,
division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the state assistance and data to enable it properly to carry on its power and duties.
(i) Hold hearings, execute agreements, and perform any acts necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(j) Accept federal grants for any of the purposes of this chapter.
(k) Accept only unrestricted gifts, donations, bequests, or grants of funds from private sources and public agencies, for any of the purposes of this chapter. However, the board shall give careful consideration to any donor requests concerning specific dispositions.
(l) Establish grant application criteria and procedures.
(m) Award prizes or direct grants to
individuals or organizations in accordance with regulations as the board may prescribe. In awarding prizes or directing grants, the board shall notify the offices of the legislators in whose district the recipient resides.
(n) Appoint peer review panels whenever necessary. Each member of a peer review panel may, at the discretion of the board, receive a per diem and honorarium for each day of service and be reimbursed for necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
8780.5.
The board shall not make any grants or fund any program that has not been established pursuant to the powers granted by this chapter.8780.6.
(a) The California Fund for Public Interest Media is hereby created in the State Treasury to receive funds received pursuant to subdivisions (j) and (k) of Section 8780.4.(b) Any moneys in the California Board to Fund Public Interest Media Donations Account in the Special Deposit Fund shall be transferred to the California Fund for Public Interest Media.
