Bill Text: CA SCR8 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Sunshine Week.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 52-23)

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 7, Statutes of 2011. [SCR8 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SCR8-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 8	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 24, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Jeffries   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   Relative to Sunshine Week.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 8, as amended, Yee. Sunshine Week.
   This resolution would designate  March 19, 2011, to March
23, 2011   March 13 through March 19, 2011  , as
Sunshine Week.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Sunshine Week began in Florida in 2002, when the Florida
Society of  Newspapers   Newspaper Editors 
launched Sunshine Sunday in response to efforts by some of that
state's legislators to create scores of exemptions to the state's
public records law; and
   WHEREAS, Several states followed Florida's lead and, in June 2003,
the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) hosted a Freedom of
Information Summit in Washington, D.C.; and
   WHEREAS, With an inaugural grant from the Knight Foundation, ASNE
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, 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 the Legislature hereby designates March
 19, 2011, to March 23, 2011   13 through March
19, 2011  , 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.