CIF Votes to Postpone Final Decision on Rule 600 Change (Outside Competition – Soccer)

According to good sources, the CIF has voted to indefinitely postpone making a final decision regarding a proposed change to Bylaw 600. As proposed, the rule change would seriously impact club and high school soccer in Northern California.

Click here for background story

Assembly Bill 352 needs to be passed. YOU can help!

Did you know Assemblywoman Audra Strickland authored a Bill last year striking right at the heart of the CIF?

The main thrust of Assembly Bill 352 (AB 352) requires CIF to comply with the Calfornia Public Records Act. As such, CIF will be treated as a public agency and required to provide the public with access to all records related to its operation. AB 352 also includes language permitting CIF to redact sensitive personal information when releasing records to the public, but does not allow withholding of records or documents for this reason.

The passage of AB 352 will finally lift the veil of secrecy CIF has operated under for years. No longer will CIF’s media silence and refusal to produce documents related to its activities and decision be allowed. The public will finally gain access to CIF records. A new era of CIF transparency and accountability will arrive when this Bill is passed.

As you probably guessed, CIF has lobbied hard to kill this Bill. This despite a unanimous committee vote by the Assembly in April of 2009 to move the bill along. They don’t want people knowing the truth. On the other side of the coin, the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) publicly supports passage of AB 352. In June of 2009, CNPA sent a letter to Assemblywoman Strickland detailing its support of the Bill.

So where is AB 352 today? In May of 2009, it was referred to the Committee on Rules (document) which is chaired and vice-chaired by Ted Lieu and Ted Gaines respectively. It sits in Committee today, waiting to be finalized and passed. Unless the public lets the legislature know it wants AB 352 to pass, it is likely to die in Committee.

How can you help?

Contact the following people to let them know your story and that you want AB 352 passed now. Also, tell your friends to do the same:

Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (Author of AB 352)
Phone: 916.319-2037
E-Mail: Assemblymember.Strickland@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Ted Lieu (Chair, Committee on Rules)
Phone: 916.319-2053
E-mail:Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Ted Gaines (Vice Chair, Committee on Rules)
Phone: 916.319.2004
E-mail: Assemblymember.Gaines@assembly.ca.gov

Let’s work together to let the State know we’ve had enough of status quo from the CIF and passage of AB 352 is a big step in the right direction towards changing the organization for the better.