Today's Law As Amended


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-931 Local boards and commissions: representation: appointments.(2019-2020)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) Appointed commission members and board members at the local government level have the power to make important decisions impacting the daily lives, opportunities, and the future welfare of those living and working throughout various regions of the state.
(b) The policy decisions taken by board and commission members with respect to the programs and services they oversee often have a direct and substantial impact on social, economic, and gender equality.
(c) Access to board and commission membership frequently establishes a pathway to other governmental leadership positions.
(d) Research, however, shows that decisionmaking bodies in certain geographic areas of California are comprised disproportionally of White males from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds.
(e) For instance, an August 2018 report by the Center on Policy Initiatives entitled “Community Representation Report: Boards and Commissions in the San Diego Region” concluded that the five entities it studied were disproportionately White, male, economically advantaged, and professionally or politically connected to the established power structure.
(f) It is critical to have boards and commissions comprised of those who more accurately reflect the gender make up of California communities, so that all Californians feel they are represented and have the ability to have their needs and issues heard and addressed by those who represent them in leadership roles.
(g) Therefore, it is necessary for California to take affirmative steps to remedy the injustices resulting from underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in order to improve the lives and opportunities of all Californians.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 11.5 (commencing with Section 54977) is added to Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, to read:

CHAPTER  11.5. Local Board and Commission Composition
54977.
 (a) On and after January 1, 2030, the following shall apply to a city with a population of 50,000 or more:
(1) The city shall not appoint members of nonsalaried, nonelected boards or commissions consisting of five or more members such that individuals of the same gender identity comprise more than 60 percent of the board or commission’s membership.
(2) Any board or commission of the city with four or fewer nonelected and nonsalaried members shall not be comprised exclusively of people of the same gender identity.
(b) For purposes of this section, “gender identity” means the gender or absence of gender with which the board or commission member self-identifies, without regard to the individual’s assigned sex at birth.
(c) This section shall not apply to a board or commission that has as its primary purpose to address issues of relevance to particular gender identity.
(d) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
SEC. 3.
 The Legislature finds and declares that addressing gender equality on appointed boards and commissions throughout the state is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 2 of this act, adding Chapter 11.5 (commencing with Section 54977) to Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, applies to all cities, including charter cities.
SEC. 4.
 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.