Perspectives

Student Government In California Now A Sanctuary

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And maybe school boards as well, thanks to an “urgency statute signed into law by outgoing California Governor Jerry Brown. “Existing law specifies the civil executive officers of the state,” according to the law. “Existing law provides that a person is incapable of holding a civil office if, at the time of his or her election or appointment, he or she is not 18 years of age and a citizen of the state.”

“This bill would authorize any pupil attending a California public secondary school who is under the age of 18 years to serve on any board or commission that includes members who are pupils or minors and is established under specified portions of the Education Code that relate to public elementary and secondary education and that includes members who are pupils or minors.”

As well, “Existing law authorizes any student, including a person without lawful immigration status, or a person who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to a specified statute to serve in any capacity in student government at the California State University or the California Community Colleges, as prescribed,” according to the new law. “This bill would authorize any student attending a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, or an independent institution of higher education, as defined, who qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to a specified statute to serve on any board or commission established pursuant to the portion of the Education Code relating to higher education and that includes members who are students.”

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Malcolm A. Kline
Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia. If you would like to comment on this article, e-mail contact@academia.org.

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