SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is a voluntary organization whose mission includes promoting equity, quality, character, and academic development. Part of the CIF’s mission is to provide equal opportunity without regard to race, gender, and ethnicity within all aspects of the athletic program for students, personnel, schools, and governance.

(b) Each year, approximately 30 high school football teams across 15 divisions play in a state football championship game at the end of the football season. The site of these CIF state football championship games varies depending on the division.

(c) Approximately 5 of those 15 games are held at neutral locations across the state at college stadiums, and are typically reserved for the 5 highest divisions. The remaining 10 games are generally held at the home field of the higher seeded team. The higher seeded team with home field advantage is responsible for providing the field and other facilities for the game, as well as organizing the event. As such, the higher seeded team gets an advantage and generally draws a larger fan base.

(d) The CIF section commissioners decide where these championship games are held. The commissioners take into consideration different factors such as the facilities, the security and safety of the venues, and the travel costs for the teams and their fans.

(e) As is evidenced by the 2022 state championship venue selections, the CIF treats rural and small divisions differently and has been historically inequitable. Those schools that play in lower divisions will never get the chance to play a championship game at a college stadium. Instead, they are forced to play at their own field, or a field of a similarly situated high school, where lower quality facilities that pose safety risks to football players are prevalent.

(f) In this state, there are still disparities in the quality and availability of sports facilities between high-income and low-income schools. For example, high-income schools may have access to better quality sports fields, modern gymnasiums, and state-of-the-art athletic equipment, while low-income schools may have limited or inadequate sports facilities that negatively impact student athletic experiences and opportunities.

(g) By requiring state football championship games to be held at neutral locations, all teams will get a fair and equal playing experience. This would also ensure that the games are decided based on the skill and performance of the teams, rather than the location of the game.

(h) Additionally, holding all championship games at a neutral location, such as a college stadium, would allow for larger crowds for both teams and can have positive implications for the safety of high school football players.

(i) College stadiums, for example, typically have better medical facilities on site, and have advanced field systems that can reduce the risk of injuries.

(j) All teams that make it to a state championship game, regardless of their size or division, should be provided an opportunity to play on the same type of field and in the same type of atmosphere as all other teams.