Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. VIII Board of Education

Section 800 Authority. 801 Board of Education. 803 Election of Board Members. 804 Compensation. 805 Powers of the Board. 806 Board of Education Term of Office.

Los Angeles Unified School District Independent Redistricting Commission

810 Commission Establishment and Purpose. 811 Commission Organization, Powers, and Duties. 812 Commissioner Qualifications and Restrictions. 813 Commissioner Selection and Removal. 814 Redistricting Criteria. 815 Public Meetings, Outreach, and Accessibility. 816 Commission Conduct of Business, Administration, and Personnel. 817 Adoption of Final Redistricting Plan. 818 Commission Funding. 819 Commission Recommendations.

Sec. 800. Authority.

The provisions of this Article are adopted pursuant to the City’s authority under California Constitution Article XI, Section 5, and Article IX, Section 16.

Sec. 801. Board of Education.

The Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District shall consist of seven members, elected by districts.

Sec. 802. Board of Education Redistricting.

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Subsec. (g), Charter Amendment L, approved March 6, 2007, effective April 4, 2007; Charter Amendment 1, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015; Charter Amendment 2, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015; Subsec. (c), Charter Amendment E, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018; Subsec. (c), Charter Amendment EE, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018. Repealed by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 803. Election of Board Members.

The election of Members of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 400 through 440 of the Charter and applicable ordinances consistent with the Charter. In order to encourage a broader participation in the political process by placing limits on the amount any person may contribute or otherwise cause to be available to candidates for election to the Board of Education, the following campaign finance provisions apply to elections of the members of the Board of Education. This section is intended to supplement the Political Reform Act of 1974.

(a) Definitions.

(1) "Behested" means and will be treated in the following manner for purposes of this section:

(A) An expenditure behested by a candidate or candidate's controlled committee is not an independent expenditure and shall

be treated as a contribution to the candidate or committee that behests the expenditure. A payment is behested if it is made:

(i) at the request or suggestion of the candidate, committee, or the candidate or committee's agent;

(ii) in concert with, with the cooperation of, or in consultation with, the candidate, committee, or the candidate or committee's agent; or

(iii) under any arrangement, coordination, or direction between the candidate, committee, or the candidate or
committee's agent.

(B) An expenditure is behested without limitation under the following circumstances:

(i) active involvement or participation by a candidate in the creation or design of a communication financed by the
spender, including consultation between the spender and the candidate about content;

(ii) solicitation by the spender and/or provision by the candidate of materials specifically for use in the
communication or procuring the candidate's consent to include specific materials in the communication; or

(iii) arranging with the candidate for preparation of any materials used in the communication.

(C) There is a rebuttable presumption that an expenditure is behested, and therefore not independent, if:

(i) it is made by or through any agent of the affected candidate or member of the candidate's controlled committee in
the course of his/her involvement in the current campaign;

(ii) in the election cycle during which the expenditure is made, both the spender or the spender's agent and the
candidate on whose behalf the expenditure is made retain the same individual or entity to provide non-ministerial,
campaign related professional services (non-ministerial, campaign related professional services include, but are not
limited to: polling or other campaign research, media consulting or production, direct mail consultation, and
fundraising);

(iii) the expenditure finances a communication that replicates, reproduces, republishes, distributes, or disseminates, in whole or substantial part, a broadcast, written, graphic, or other form of campaign material designed, produced, paid for, or distributed by the affected candidate, his or her committee, or agent;

(iv) the expenditure is based on information about a candidate's campaign plans, projects, or needs not generally
available to the public; or information provided directly or indirectly by that candidate, committee, or their agents to the
spender or spender's agent, with an express or tacit understanding that the expenditure was being considered;

(v) the spender or spender's agent discusses or negotiates the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, volume of distribution, or frequency of placement of a communication financed by the spender with the candidate whose election or nomination is advocated by the spender or whose opponent's defeat is advocated by the spender;

(vi) in the election cycle during which the expenditure is made, the spender or spender's agent is serving or has
served in a formal executive, policy-making, or advisory position with the candidate's campaign or has participated in
strategic or policy-making discussions with the candidate's campaign relating to that candidate's pursuit of nomination
or election to office, and the candidate is pursuing the same office as a candidate whose nomination or election the
expenditure is intended to influence;

(vii) the expenditure is made after a request to the spender or spender's agent by the candidate, the candidate's
controlled committee, or their agents for an expenditure on the candidate's behalf; or

(viii) the expenditure is made in connection with or as a consequence of fundraising events or campaign activities
co-sponsored by the candidate and the spender or the spender's agent.

(D) An expenditure will not be deemed behested merely when:

(i) a spender or spender's agent interviews a candidate on legislative or policy positions or issues affecting the
spender or discusses campaign-related issues with the candidate, such as platforms, polling information, which
organizations support the candidate and which support his/her opponent, or the identity of the consultants the candidate
plans to hire, provided that prior to making a subsequent expenditure based on that information, the spender or his agent
has not communicated with the candidate, candidate's controlled committee, or their agents concerning the expenditure;

(ii) the spender solicits and/or obtains a photograph, biography, position paper, press release, or similar material
from the candidate, candidate's controlled committee, or their agents and, without the prior knowledge, control, or
involvement of the candidate, candidate's controlled committee, or their agents, subsequently utilizes or incorporates
that information to create a communication in support of the candidate or in opposition to his or her opponent;

(iii) the spender made prior contributions to the candidate;

(iv) the spender communicates to the candidate, the candidate's controlled committee, or the agent of either, the
intent to make an independent expenditure without discussing any of the items mentioned in Subparagraph (C)(v) of
this section;

(v) a member of an organization that makes an expenditure renders volunteer personal services to or works for the affected candidate's campaign, unless the volunteer or campaign worker was also involved in the activities of the spender-organization's political action committee or makes payments on behalf of the spender-organization, or is serving or has served the affected candidate's campaign in one of the capacities described in Subparagraph (C)(vi) of this section;

(vi) the expenditure was made in response to an unsolicited request from political party leaders or their agents that
the committee "support" the candidate or make an expenditure relating to the candidate;

(vii) the expenditure finances the cost of preparing or disseminating candidate evaluations to voters or conducting a
political survey; or

(viii) the spender employs or is under contract with a political consultant or pollster who rendered services to a
candidate in prior years.

(2) "Board of Education office" means the office of a member of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

(3) "Candidate or Committee Agent" means any person who has express or implied authority to make or to authorize the making of expenditures on behalf of the candidate. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the following have that authority: current or former officers of the candidate-controlled committee, employees of the campaign, persons who have received compensation or reimbursement from the campaign, or any person who has been placed in a position within the campaign organization where it would reasonably appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities he or she may authorize expenditures. A candidate's agent is also any person who is serving or has served in an advisory, decision-making, or strategic role with a candidate's campaign, with or without compensation, where that person's duties and/or actions reflect or require direct knowledge of the candidate's campaign strategy, plans, or needs.

(4) "Election" means any primary nominating election, a general election, a special election and a recall election.

(5) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure made by any person in connection with a communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; or, taken as a whole and in context, unambiguously urges a particular result in an election, but which is not made to or at the behest of the affected candidate or committee.

(6) "Loan" means and will be treated in the following manner for purposes of this section:

(A) A loan shall be considered a contribution from the maker and the guarantor of the loan and shall be subject to the contribution limitations of this section.

(B) The proceeds of a loan made to a candidate by a commercial lending institution in the regular course of business on the same terms available to members of the public and which is secured or guaranteed shall not be considered to be a contribution within the meaning of the contribution limitations of this section.

(C) Extensions of credit (other than loans referred to in Subdivision (6)(B)) for a period of more than 30 days are subject to the contribution limitations of this article.

(7) "Member communications" means payments made pursuant to Government Code Section 85312.

(A) For purposes of this article, payments for member communications that are behested by candidates, with the exception of payments for a regularly published newsletter or periodical limited solely to individual members not exceeding the amount of payments regularly made to publish a regular newsletter or periodical, shall be considered contributions to that candidate or candidate controlled committee for purposes of the contribution limits reporting requirements contained in this article.

(B) For purposes of this article, member communications that are not behested by a candidate, a candidate's controlled committee, or an agent of a candidate or a candidate's controlled committee are not considered contributions to a candidate.

(C) Member communications that are not behested by a candidate, a candidate's controlled committee, or an agent of a candidate or a candidate's controlled committee and are not payments for a regularly published newsletter or periodical limited solely to individual members and do not exceed the amount of payments regularly made to publish a regular newsletter or periodical, are considered expenditures and are required to be reported pursuant to Subsection (s).

(8) "Non-Candidate Spending" means any combination of independent expenditures and/or member communications that are not behested by a candidate.

(b) Campaign Contribution Limitations.

(1) No intended candidate for the Board of Education, and no committee acting on behalf of such candidate, shall solicit or accept,

or cause to be solicited or accepted, any contribution for use in any election for such office unless and until such candidate shall have filed a Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Receive Contributions in connection with candidacy for a specific Board of Education office. That declaration shall be filed with the City Ethics Commission on a form prescribed by the City Ethics Commission. Once the election takes place, the declaration is thereafter void. No person may have on file at the same time more than one declaration for any single election. A candidate may, however, file a form canceling one declaration and may thereafter file a new declaration.

(2) The candidate and the treasurers of the candidate's controlled committees shall file with the City Ethics Commission on a form

prescribed by the City Ethics Commission a statement under oath that the candidate and the treasurers have read and understood Section 803. This statement shall be filed concurrent with the filing of the Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Receive Contributions.

(3) No person shall contribute a total of more than $1,000 to any candidate for the Board of Education and to his or her controlled

committee for a single election. A candidate for the Board of Education shall not accept any contribution or contributions totaling more than $1,000 from any person for a single election. Nothing in this section is intended to limit the amount a candidate can contribute to his or her candidacy for the Board of Education from his or her personal funds.

(4) [Repealed.]

(5) No person shall make a contribution in connection with a single election for a Board of Education office, which would cause the

aggregate amount of such contributions by that person to exceed a sum equal to $1,000 multiplied by the number of Board of Education offices appearing on the ballot at that election, but in no case less than $2,000, in connection with all candidates in that election seeking election to all Board of Education offices; provided, however, that a candidate shall not be limited by this Subdivision (5) in the amount he or she may contribute or expend in connection with his or her own campaign.

(6) No person shall make, and no person or candidate shall solicit or accept any loan of more than $1,000 for use in connection with

an election for the Board of Education. Further, no person shall make, and no person or candidate shall solicit or accept any loan for use in connection with an election for a Board of Education office for a period of more than 30 days. Loans to a candidate or to a candidate's controlled committees shall be counted against the contribution limitations applicable to the candidate. A candidate is not prohibited from obtaining a personal loan of any amount from a licensed financial lending institution in the regular course of business, unless the loan is made for political purposes. Every loan to a candidate or the candidate's controlled committee shall be by written agreement, which shall be filed with the candidate's or committee's campaign statement on which the loan is first reported. This Subdivision (6) shall not limit the amount or duration of loans from the candidate to his or her own campaign.

(7) Any contributions solicited or accepted pursuant to this section shall be expended only in connection with the candidacy for the

office specified in the candidate's Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Receive Contributions. Contributions solicited or accepted pursuant to this section for one individual shall not be expended for the candidacy of any other individual seeking another Board of Education office or in support of or in opposition to any Los Angeles Unified School District ballot measure. No candidate, committee controlled by a candidate, or elected member of the Board of Education shall use contributed funds to make any contribution to any other candidate running for office or to any committee supporting or opposing a candidate for office. Provided, however, a candidate shall not be prohibited from making a contribution from his or her own personal funds to his or her own candidacy, to the candidacy of any other candidate or in support of or in opposition to any Los Angeles Unified School District ballot measure.

(c) Adjustment of Limits. Every four years, the City Ethics Commission shall review whether the contribution limitations contained in this section should be adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The first review shall begin at the end of the calendar year 2011. If the contribution limitations are not adjusted during any review period, the limitations may be adjusted in a subsequent four-year review period, up to the overall increase in the CPI since the last adjustment. Any change to the contribution limitations shall be effective for any subsequent election for which the fundraising period has not yet opened as provided in Subsection (q). The City Ethics Commission shall forward a report with its findings to the Council by March 1, following each review. Within 60 days after the City Ethics Commission forwards its report to the Council, the Council shall hold a public hearing concerning the matter and act to approve or disapprove the report. If the Council fails to disapprove within the 60 day period, the report shall be presented to the Mayor for approval or veto, and to the Council for override of the Mayor's veto. If approved by the Mayor, or if the Mayor fails to act, or if approved by the Council on override of the Mayor's veto, the amount specified in the report shall have the force of law as the contribution limitations applicable to this section, subject to all penalties and remedies in this section.

(d) Cash Contributions and Anonymous Contributions. No person shall make, and no candidate or committee shall solicit or accept, any cash contribution in excess of $25. Total anonymous contributions to a candidate or committee which exceed in the aggregate $200 with respect to a single election shall not be used by the candidate or committee for whom such contributions were intended, but instead, such excess shall be paid promptly to the City Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund of the City.

(e) Campaign Contribution Checking Account. No more than one campaign contribution checking account shall be established by each candidate for a Board of Education office, and by each committee supporting or opposing such candidate. The account shall be established at an office of a bank or savings and loan institution located in the City of Los Angeles. Upon opening such account, the candidate shall file with the City Ethics Commission within ten days of opening the campaign bank account, the name of the bank or savings and loan institution and the account number. Funds shall only be disbursed from such account by checks signed by the candidate, treasurer or designated agent of the treasurer. A candidate, treasurer or designated agent of the treasurer shall deposit into the campaign checking account all contributions received in connection with a Board of Education election. A candidate, treasurer or designated agent of the treasurer shall pay all campaign expenditures for a Board of Education election with monies from this campaign checking account.

If a candidate has other controlled committees and such committees have checking accounts, the candidate shall notify the City Ethics Commission in writing of these committees and the names and addresses of the banks or savings and loan institutions and the account numbers of any such accounts. A candidate shall notify the City Ethics Commission of these committees, the banks or savings and loan institutions, and the account numbers concurrent with the filing of the Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Receive Contributions. If committees are thereafter formed or accounts thereafter opened, then the candidate shall notify the City Ethics Commission on the next regular business day on which the City Ethics Commission office is open. No contribution shall be commingled with the personal funds of the candidate or any other person.

This subsection shall not prohibit the establishment of savings accounts or certificates of deposit, provided that no campaign expenditures may be made therefrom.

(f) Treasurer. A candidate having campaign committees for election to the Board of Education shall appoint a treasurer of each committee. No expenditure shall be made by or on behalf of a committee without the authorization of the treasurer or that of his or her designated agents. No contribution or expenditure shall be accepted or made by or on behalf of a committee at a time when there is a vacancy in the office of treasurer. It shall be the duty of the candidate and the treasurer to approve and authorize such payments and to retain such authorizations, detailed accounts, records, bills and receipts.

(g) Training for Candidates and Treasurers. Every candidate for the Board of Education, and every treasurer of such candidate's

controlled committee, shall attend a training program conducted or sponsored by the City Ethics Commission prior to the election at which the candidate's name will appear on the ballot.

(h) Accountability. The candidate and the treasurer shall maintain such detailed accounts, records, bills and receipts as are necessary to prepare campaign statements. The candidate and the treasurer shall retain the detailed accounts, records, bills and receipts for the periods specified in the Political Reform Act of 1974 as amended. Every candidate and committee shall make available on demand to any public officer having legal authority to enforce this section, details of checking and financial accounts of each committee controlled by the candidate and all records supporting such details.

(i) Petty Cash Fund. Subsection (e) notwithstanding, a candidate, campaign treasurer and other designated agents authorized to issue

checks on a campaign contribution checking account may disburse to the candidate or committee establishing the checking account an amount not greater than $50 per week to be used for petty cash purposes by the candidate or committee.

(j) Assumed Name Contributions. No contribution shall be made, directly or indirectly, by any person or combination of persons, acting jointly in a name other than the name by which they are identified for legal purposes, nor in the name of another person or combination of persons. No person shall make a contribution in his, her or its name of anything belonging to another person or received from another person on the condition that it be used as a contribution. In the event it is discovered by a candidate or committee treasurer that a contribution has been received in violation of this subsection, the candidate or treasurer shall promptly pay the amount received in violation of this subsection to the City Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund of the City.

(k) Campaign Expenditures - Uncontrolled by Candidate or Committee. Persons or organizations not subject to the control of a candidate or committee but who make independent expenditures for or against a candidate or committee shall indicate clearly on any material published, displayed or broadcast that it was not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.

(l) Recall Petition. In the event a recall petition is filed, the committee or individual filing the petition shall be subject to the same campaign disclosure provisions as are applicable to candidates for the Board of Education.

(m) Suppliers of Goods and Services - Disclosure of Records Required. No person who supplies goods or services or both goods and services to a candidate or committee for use in connection with the campaign for a Board of Education office shall knowingly refuse to divulge or disclose to the City Ethics Commission or to any public officer having legal authority to enforce this section, the details and the records supporting such details of any expenditures made by the candidate or committee in payment for such goods or services or both.

(n) Aggregation of Payments. For the purposes of the contribution limitations contained in this section, contributions and/or expenditures from two or more persons will be aggregated and considered to be made by a single person for the purposes of the contribution limitations and reporting provisions contained in this section, if any of the circumstances listed below is applicable:

(1) Contributions and/or expenditures from a person will be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any other
person that controls his, her, or its contribution or expenditure activity;

(2) Contributions and/or expenditures from a sponsored committee, as defined in Government Code Section 82048.7, shall be
aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from its sponsoring organization;

(3) Contributions and/or expenditures from an entity shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any other
entity that has the same individuals constituting a majority of the members of each entity's board of directors;

(4) Contributions and/or expenditures from an entity shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any other
entity that has the same officers or with whom it shares a majority of officers. For the purposes of this subdivision, an officer does not
include an individual who serves only as a member of the entity's board of directors;

(5) Contributions and/or expenditures from a corporation or limited liability company shall be aggregated with contributions and/or
expenditures from any other corporation or limited liability company that has the same majority shareholder and/or member or that
holds a majority of voting rights in that corporation or limited liability company;

(6) Contributions and/or expenditures from a corporation shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any
parent or subsidiary corporation, provided that at least one of the corporations is not publicly traded;

(7) Contributions and/or expenditures from an individual shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any corporation, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company or other business entity not described in Subdivisions (8) or (9) below, in which the individual owns an investment of 50% or more or holds a majority of voting rights;

(8) Contributions and/or expenditures from an individual shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any sole proprietorship the individual owns; or

(9) Contributions and/or expenditures from a general partner shall be aggregated with contributions and/or expenditures from any general or limited partnership in which the general partner owns an investment of 50% or more or in which the general partner holds a majority of voting rights.

(o) Family Contributions. Contributions by a husband and wife shall be treated as separate contributions. Contributions by children under eighteen years of age shall be treated as contributions by their parents and attributed proportionately to each parent (one-half to each parent or the total amount to a single custodial parent).

(p) Return of Contributions. A contribution shall not be considered to be received if it is not negotiated, deposited, or utilized, and is returned to the donor within 14 days of receipt.

(q) Restrictions on When Contributions May Be Received. No candidate for the Board of Education, or the controlled committee of that candidate, shall solicit or accept or cause to be solicited or accepted any contribution more than 18 months before the date of the election at which the candidate seeks office. No candidate for the Board of Education, or his or her controlled committee, shall solicit or receive or cause to be solicited or received a contribution to his or her own campaign committee from any person later than nine months after the date of the election. Contributions solicited or received or caused to be solicited or received by a candidate for the Board of Education, or his or her controlled committee, following his or her election shall be used to retire campaign debt.

(r) Campaign Disclosure, Reporting and Recordkeeping.

(1) In addition to the campaign statements required to be filed pursuant to the Political Reform Act, commencing with Government

Code Section 81000, as amended, candidates for the Board of Education, their controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose these candidates shall file a pre-election statement on the Friday before the election. This statement shall have a closing date of the Wednesday before the election and shall cover activity and payments occurring through that day. Candidates for the Board of Education, their controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose these candidates shall also file campaign statements as follows in connection with a primary nominating election held in March:

(A) For the period ending September 30 of the year prior to the election, a statement shall be filed no later than October 10, for the period from July 1 through September 30.

(B) For the period ending December 31 of the year prior to the election, a statement shall be filed no later than January 10, of the year of the election for the period from October 1 through December 31.

(2) No contribution shall be deposited into a campaign checking account of a candidate for the Board of Education unless the name, address, occupation and employer of the contributor is on file in the records of the recipient of the contribution.

(3) Each candidate, and each committee making independent expenditures or member communications in support of or opposition to a candidate, who sends a mailing or distributes more than 200 substantially similar pieces of campaign literature, shall send a copy of the mailing or other literature to the City Ethics Commission at the same time the mailing or other literature is given to the post office or otherwise distributed. During the election campaign, the Commission shall merely serve as a repository for this literature and shall not judge or comment on the contents of the literature.

(4) Any candidate for the Board of Education and the candidate's controlled committee required to file campaign statements with the City Ethics Commission shall file those campaign statements online, using the Commission's Electronic Filing System (EFS), after the candidate and/or committee has received contributions or made expenditures of $25,000 or more in connection with election to a Board of Education office.

(A) Once a candidate or committee is required to file campaign statements online, that candidate or committee shall continue to file statements online until the committee has officially terminated. Committees and other persons not required to file online by this subsection may do so voluntarily.

(B) A person required to file online shall continue to file a paper copy of each campaign statement, as required by the California Political Reform Act and this article, until the person is no longer required to file campaign statements with the City Ethics Commission. The paper copy shall continue to be the original campaign statement for audit and other legal purposes.

(C) In addition to any late filing penalties that may be imposed for a late filing of a paper copy pursuant to the California Political Reform Act or this article, any person who fails to comply with the online filing requirement of this subsection will, in addition, be subject to an additional late filing penalty of $25 per day after the deadline for the late filing of the online copy.

(D) The information contained on a campaign statement filed online shall be the same as that contained on the paper copy of the same statement that is filed with the City Ethics Commission.

(s) Disclosure of Payments for Independent Expenditures and Non-Behested Member Communications.

(1) Any person, including any committee, who makes or incurs independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in support of or in

opposition to any candidate for the Board of Education, or one or more payments for member communications as defined by this section, totaling $1,000 or more in support of or in opposition to a candidate for the Board of Education, shall notify the City Ethics Commission within 24 hours by certified mail or fax or e-mail each time one or more payments, which meet this threshold, are made.

(2) The notification shall consist of a declaration specifying each candidate supported or opposed by the expenditure, the amount

spent to support or oppose each candidate, whether the candidate was supported or opposed, and that the expenditure was not behested by the candidate or candidates who benefited from the expenditure. This declaration shall be made under penalty of perjury and signed by the person or officer and the treasurer of the group making the expenditure. In addition, the date and amount of the payment, a description of the type of communication for which the payment was made or incurred, the name and address of the person making the payment, the name and address of the payee, and a copy of the mailing or advertisement, or a copy of the script or recording of the call, transmission, or advertisement, shall also be provided to the City Ethics Commission. The notification also shall include disclosure of contributions of $100 or more received by the committee since the day after the closing date of the committee's last campaign disclosure report filed within the Commission or since the first day of the current calendar year, whichever date occurs later; however, contributions that are received, but earmarked for any other candidate outside the Los Angeles Unified School District need not be disclosed. The notification also shall include disclosure of contributions of $100 or more made in the current calendar year by the person to Board of Education candidates or their controlled committees.

(3) City Ethics Commission staff will notify all candidates by phone, fax or e-mail in the affected race within one business day after

receiving the notice of payments for independent expenditures and uncoordinated member communications of $1,000 or more. The notification will indicate the candidate who was supported or opposed by the expenditure as indicated on the signed declaration and include a copy of the communication provided by the person or group making the expenditure.

(4) For purposes of the notification required in Subdivision (1), payments by an organization for its regularly published newsletter

or periodical, if the circulation is limited to the organization's members, employees, shareholders, other affiliated individuals and those who request or purchase the publication, shall not be required to be reported.

(5) Any committee, including but not limited to a candidate controlled committee and an independent expenditure committee, that makes or incurs payments for 1,000 or more recorded telephone calls or any other forms of electronic or facsimile transmission of substantially similar content, or that makes or incurs expenditures of $1,000 or more for a radio or television advertisement, in support of or opposition to any candidate(s) for Board of Education office, shall send a copy of the script or recording used for each communication to the Ethics Commission within 24 hours of the first time the calls, transmissions, or advertisements are made or aired.

(t) Verification. All declarations, reports and statements filed under this section shall be signed and verified by the filer under penalty of perjury. The candidate and any person signing declarations, reports and statements under this provision shall read, know and understand the contents of all these declarations, reports and statements.

(u) Duties of City Ethics Commission. The City Ethics Commission shall administer the provisions of this section. In addition to other duties required under the terms of this section, the City Ethics Commission shall:

(1) Conduct audits and investigations of reports and statements filed by candidates and committees supporting or opposing
candidates for Board of Education offices as required under the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended, and Article VII and this
section of the Charter. The City Ethics Commission shall employ investigators where necessary to fully investigate any person subject
to this section.

(2) Enforce or cause to be enforced the provisions of this section pursuant to Section 90002(c) of the Government Code, in
accordance with Article VII of the Charter.

(3) Report apparent violations of this section and applicable state law to the City Attorney or another appropriate law enforcement
agency.

(v) Enforcement.

(1) Criminal Enforcement - Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provisions of this section is guilty of a

misdemeanor. Any person who knowingly or willfully causes any other person to violate any provision of this section, or who aids and abets any other person in the violation of any provision of this section, shall be liable under the provisions of this section. Prosecution for violation of any provision of this section must be commenced within four years after the date on which the violation occurred. No person convicted of a misdemeanor under this section shall act as a lobbyist or as a City contractor for a period of four years following the date of the conviction unless the court at the time of sentencing specifically determines that this provision shall not be applicable. For purposes of this section, a plea of nolo contendere shall be deemed a conviction.

(2) Civil Enforcement.

(A) Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any provision of this section shall be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney, the City Ethics Commission or by a person residing within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District for an amount not more than $5,000 per violation, or for more than three times the amount the person failed to report properly or unlawfully contributed, gave or received.

(B) Any person who intentionally or negligently makes or receives a contribution, or makes an expenditure, in violation of
any provision of this section shall be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney or by a person residing within the
City for an amount up to three times the amount of the unlawful contribution or expenditure.

(C) If two or more persons are responsible for any violation, they shall be jointly and severally liable.

(D) Any person, other than the City Attorney, before filing a civil action pursuant to this subsection, shall first file with the
City Ethics Commission a written request for the City Ethics Commission to commence the action. The request shall contain a
statement of the grounds for believing a cause of action exists. The City Ethics Commission shall respond within 40 days after
receipt of the request, indicating whether it intends to file a civil action. If the City Ethics Commission indicates in the
affirmative, and files suit within 40 days thereafter, no other action may be brought unless the action brought by the City
Ethics Commission is dismissed without prejudice.

(E) Not more than one judgment on the merits with respect to any violation may be obtained under this subsection. Actions
brought for the same violation or violations shall have precedence for purposes of trial in the order of the time filed. Such
actions shall be dismissed once judgment has been entered or a settlement approved by the court in a previously filed action.
The court may dismiss a pending action without prejudice to any other action for failure of the plaintiff to proceed diligently
and in good faith. The action may be so dismissed on motion by the City Attorney or any plaintiff in an action based on the
same violation.

(F) In determining the amount of liability under this subsection, the court may take into account the seriousness of the
violation and the degree of culpability of the defendant. If a judgment is entered against the defendant or defendants in an
action, a private plaintiff shall receive 50% of the amount recovered. The remaining 50% shall be deposited into the City's
General Fund. In an action brought by the City Attorney or the City Ethics Commission, the entire amount shall be paid to the
General Fund.

(G) No civil action alleging a violation of this section shall be filed more than four years after the date the violation
occurred.

(H) Any person residing within the Los Angeles Unified School District, including the Los Angeles City Attorney, may sue
for injunctive relief to enjoin violations or to compel compliance with the provisions of this section. The court may award to a
party, other than an agency, who prevails in any civil action authorized by this article, his or her costs of litigation, including
reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that no such award may be granted against the City of Los Angeles.

(w) Effect of Violation on Outcome of Election.

(1) If a candidate is convicted of a misdemeanor violation of any provision of this section, the court shall make a determination as to whether the violation had a material effect on the outcome of the election. If the court finds such a material effect, then:

(A) if such conviction becomes final before the date of the election, the votes for such candidate shall not be counted, and
the election shall be determined on the basis of the votes cast for the other candidates in that race;

(B) if such conviction becomes final after the date of the election, and if such candidate was declared to have been elected,
then such candidate shall not assume office, the office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as otherwise provided in the
Charter;

(C) if such conviction becomes final after the candidate has assumed office, then the candidate shall be removed from
office, the office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as otherwise provided in the Charter; and

(D) the person so convicted shall be ineligible to hold any elected City office or the office of a member of the Board of
Education for a period of five years after the date of such conviction.

(2) The City Clerk shall not issue any certificate of nomination or election to any candidate until his or her pre-election campaign
statements required by the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended, or if no campaign statement is required, the written declaration
permitted under Section 84205 of the Government Code, have been filed in the form and at the place required by the Political Reform
Act of 1974.

(x) Late Filing Penalties. If any person files an original statement or report after any deadline imposed by this article, he or she shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established by the article, be liable to the City Ethics Commission in the amount of $25 per day after the deadline until the statement or report is filed. Liability need not be enforced by the Commission if on an impartial basis it determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement of the liability will not further the purposes of the article, except that no liability shall be waived if a statement or report is not filed within 30 days.

(y) Severability. If any provision or portion of this section, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by any court, the remainder of this section or the application of such provisions to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected.

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Charter Amendment L, approved March 6, 2007, effective April 4, 2007; Subsec. (b)(4) repealed, Charter Amendment N § 3, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011; Subsec. (r)(1), Charter Amendment E, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018; Subsec. (r)(1), Charter Amendment EE, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018.

Sec. 804. Compensation.

The total compensation for members of the Board of Education shall be set by a compensation committee provided in this section:

(a) The committee shall be constituted as follows:

(1) The committee shall be comprised of a total of seven members.

(2) Each member of the committee shall reside within the Los Angeles Unified School District.

(3) Two members of the committee shall be parents or guardians of pupils who attend a school within the Los Angeles Unified

School District:

(A) One of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a pupil who attends a school within the boundaries of the City of Los Angeles;

(B) One of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a pupil who attends a school outside of the boundaries of the City of Los Angeles.

(4) One member of the committee shall have expertise in the area of compensation, such as an economist, market researcher or

personnel manager;

(5) Two members of the committee shall have experience in the business community:

(A) One of whom is an executive of a corporation, incorporated in California and located within the Los Angeles Unified School District, which ranks among the largest private sector employers in the Los Angeles Unified School District;

(B) One of whom is an owner of a small business (of less than 25 employees) located within the Los Angeles Unified

School District.

(6) Two members of the committee shall be members or officers of a labor organization or union.

(b) The appointments shall be made as follows:

(1) The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles shall appoint the member referenced in Subdivision (a)(5)(A) and one of the two

members referenced in Subdivision (a)(6);

(2) The Mayors of Cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood and South Gate shall collectively appoint the member

referenced in Subdivision (a)(5)(B);

(3) The Mayors of the Cities of Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Moneterey Park, San Fernando and West Hollywood shall collectively

appoint one of the two members referenced in Subdivision (a)(4);

(4) The Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors shall appoint the member referenced in Subdivision (a)(3)(B);

(5) The President of the Los Angeles City Council shall appoint the member referenced in (a)(3)(A) and one of the two members

referenced in Subdivision (a)(6).

All appointments shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Los Angeles City Council. Within 10 days of any vacancy, the appointing authority shall appoint a person to serve the unexpired portion of the term. Within 15 days of the appointment of a member to fill a vacancy, the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Los Angeles City Council.

(c) The appointing authorities shall strive insofar as practicable to provide a balanced representation of the geographic, gender, racial and ethnic and other diversity of the Los Angeles Unified School District in appointing committee members.

(d) Not later than 30 days after the effective date of this Charter section, the appointing authorities shall appoint the committee members. The Council shall approve or disapprove the appointments not later than 15 days after the appointments are received. Every five years, thereafter, beginning on the first Monday following April 1, 2007, a new committee shall be appointed.

(e) Ninety days after the Council confirms the committee members, the committee shall, by a single resolution adopted by a majority of the membership of the committee, establish the annual salary and the medical, dental, insurance and other similar benefits of the Board of Education members. The committee shall be dissolved 60 days after adoption of the resolution.

(f) In establishing the annual salary and other benefits, the committee shall consider all of the following:

(1) The amount of time members of the Board of Education serve, directly or indirectly related to the performance of his or her duties.

(2) The amount of the annual salary and other benefits for other elected and appointed officers and officials in the State of California with comparable responsibilities, the judiciary, and to the extent practicable the private educational sector, recognizing, however, that public officers do not receive, and do not expect to receive, compensation at the same levels as individuals in the private sector with comparable experience and responsibilities.

(g) The annual salary and benefits specified in that resolution shall become effective on the date the committee is dissolved as provided in Subsection (e).

(h) On an annual basis, in years when the committee is not performing a compensation review, the Board of Education may increase the compensation and other benefits of individual or all Board members beyond the amount established by the committee, in an amount not to exceed two percent of the applicable total combined amount of compensation and benefits. Any increase made pursuant to this subsection shall be effective upon approval by the Board of Education.

(i) The salary and benefits for members of the Board of Education shall be payable out of the funds of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

(j) All committee members shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, paid by funds from the Los Angeles Unified School District. The committee members shall receive no other compensation for the performance of their services as committee members.

(k) Public notice shall be given of all meetings of the committee, and the meetings shall be open to the public pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950, et seq., or its successor open meeting legislation.

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Charter Amendment L, approved March 6, 2007, effective April 4, 2007.

Sec. 805. Powers of the Board.

The Board of Education shall have power to control and manage the public schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the state.

Sec. 806. Board of Education Term of Office.

(a) Members of the Board of Education shall hold their office for a term of four years except as provided in subsection (b).

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter, in order to transition to new election dates starting in 2020, Board of Education members elected in 2015 shall be elected for a term expiring in December 2020 and members elected in 2017 shall be elected for a term expiring in December 2022.

(c) The terms of office for those members of the Board of Education from odd-numbered districts shall commence during each fourth anniversary of the year 2020. The terms of office for those members of the Board of Education from even-numbered districts shall commence during each fourth anniversary of the year 2022. The term of a member of the Board of Education shall commence on the second Monday in December next following his or her election.

(d) No person shall serve more than three terms of office as a member of the Board of Education. This limitation on the number of terms of office shall not apply to any unexpired term to which a person is elected or appointed if the remainder of the term is less than one-half of the full term of office. The limitation on the number of terms of office shall apply only to terms of office that begin on or after March 1, 2007. For purposes of this subsection, the term of office of Board of Education members elected in 2015 and 2017 as described in subsection (b) of this section shall count as one term.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment 1, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015 and Charter Amendment 2, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015.

Amended by: Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

Sec. 810. Commission Establishment and Purpose.

(a) There shall be a Los Angeles Unified School District Independent Redistricting Commission (the “Commission”) that shall have the powers, duties, and responsibilities set forth in the City Charter and by ordinance.

(b) The purpose of the Commission is to strengthen the governance of the Los Angeles Unified School District by developing Board of Education district boundaries through a fair, transparent, inclusive, and independent redistricting process that empowers public participation and public access to its proceedings.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 811. Commission Organization, Powers, and Duties.

(a) The Commission shall consist of 14 members and four alternate members.

(b) A new Commission shall be established every ten years after each federal decennial census. The members of the Commission shall be selected no later than April 1 of each year ending in the number zero.

(c) The term of office of each member of the Commission shall begin on the date of that commissioner’s respective selection and shall expire upon the selection of the first member of the succeeding Commission.

(d) The Commission shall have the power and duty to:

(1) adopt the boundaries of the Board of Education districts of the Los Angeles Unified School District following each federal decennial census;

(2) comply with the redistricting criteria and process set forth in the Charter and by ordinance;

(3) act in an impartial manner that ensures the integrity and fairness of the redistricting process;

(4) educate and inform the public about redistricting, solicit and encourage public participation in the redistricting process, and hold public meetings and hearings that are accessible and provide the public the opportunity to participate and provide comment throughout the process;

(5) make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and City Ethics Commission regarding redistricting matters; and

(6) perform other redistricting functions as prescribed by ordinance.

(e) The Commission may provide for youth participation on the Commission with participants selected through a process, and possessing the powers and duties, as provided by ordinance.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 812. Commissioner Qualifications and Restrictions.

(a) Each Commission member shall be at least 18 years old, unless a lower minimum age requirement is established by ordinance. Each Commission member shall be a resident of the Los Angeles Unified School District at the time of selection, and shall have resided in the Los Angeles Unified School District for at least three years immediately preceding the person’s submission of an application. A Commissioner is not required to be a registered voter or a citizen of the United States.

(b) A person shall not be eligible to apply to or serve on the Commission if the person has been an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District or a member of a Los Angeles Unified School District commission at any time in the four years immediately preceding the person’s submission of an application.

(c) A person shall not be eligible to apply to or serve on the Commission if the person or person’s spouse or family has engaged in the prior political and lobbying activities described in the California Elections Code provisions regarding eligibility requirements for independent redistricting commissions. Additional eligibility requirements may be provided by ordinance.

(d) Applicants to the Commission shall demonstrate collaborative skills, experience in civic engagement, and the ability to analyze complex data.

(e) While serving on the Commission, a member of the Commission shall not endorse, work for, volunteer for, or make a campaign contribution to, any member of the Board of Education or candidate for elective Board of Education office, or serve on a redistricting commission for any other governmental body.

(f) A member or former member of the Commission shall not do any of the following:

(1) Be a candidate for an elective Board of Education office unless more than five years have elapsed from the commissioner’s last

date of service on the Commission or ten years have elapsed from the date of the commissioner’s selection to the Commission, whichever is less.

(2) Be a candidate for an elective Board of Education office for any district for which the election will be conducted using district boundaries that were adopted by the Commission on which the member served.

(g) For a period of four years after the last date of service on the Commission or ten years after the date of selection to the Commission, whichever is less, a member or former member of the Commission shall not do any of the following:

(1) Accept appointment to another commission of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

(2) Accept employment as a paid staff member of, or receive compensation as a consultant to, a member of the Board of Education or candidate for elective Board of Education office.

(3) Receive a non-competitively bid contract with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

(4) Act as a registered Los Angeles Unified School District lobbyist.

(5) Accept appointment to a Los Angeles Unified School District office.

(h) Alternate members of the Commission shall be subject to the same eligibility requirements, standards of conduct, and restrictions as other Commission members.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 813. Commissioner Selection and Removal.

(a) An application process to identify prospective commissioners shall commence no later than April 1 of each year ending in the number nine.

(b) The City Clerk shall manage the Commission application process, with the City Ethics Commission providing oversight. The City Clerk and City Ethics Commission may delegate these responsibilities to their staff or consultants.

(c) The City Clerk shall conduct an outreach and education program to ensure that there is publication and awareness of the Commission application process, with efforts to reach underserved communities and with efforts conducted in multiple languages as identified by ordinance. The City Clerk shall monitor and make public the demographic data of application submissions and enhance outreach as reasonably needed to ensure that the applicant pool has a sufficient number of qualified applicants and reasonably reflects the Los Angeles Unified School District’s diversity.

(d) An interested person meeting the eligibility requirements for service on the Commission may submit an application to the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall review the applications and establish an applicant pool consisting of those individuals who meet the objective eligibility requirements specified in subsections (a) through (c) of Section 812.

(e) The City Clerk shall post the names of individuals in the applicant pool for public review and establish a process by which the public may provide information regarding the eligibility of an individual in the applicant pool. The City Ethics Commission shall review the information provided by the public and determine whether any individual shall be removed from the applicant pool.

(f) Following the public review period, the City Ethics Commission shall evaluate the applications of the individuals in the applicant pool to identify individuals who satisfy the eligibility requirements specified in subsections (a) through (d) of Section 812 and who shall be included in the Commission Selection Pool. After the establishment of the Commission Selection Pool, the City Ethics Commission shall have the authority to receive information from the public and make determinations regarding the continuing eligibility of individuals in the Commission Selection Pool.

(g) The City Clerk shall conduct a random drawing at a public meeting to select one person residing in the geographic region of each of the seven Board of Education districts. The result of this selection process shall be the selection of seven members of the Commission, one from the geographic region of each of the seven Board of Education districts.

(h) The seven selected commissioners shall review the applications of all remaining applicants in the Commission Selection Pool to select seven additional members of the Commission. These selections shall be made at a public meeting by a two-thirds vote of the seven initial commissioners based on the applicant’s relevant experiences and backgrounds, familiarity with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s neighborhoods, ability to be impartial, and to ensure that the Commission reflects the Los Angeles Unified School District’s diversity, including racial, ethnic, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, income, professional, and geographic diversity. However, formulas or ratios shall not be applied for this purpose. These selections also shall be made in a manner that ensures that at least four of the 14 members of the Commission are parents or guardians of pupils who attend a school within the Los Angeles Unified School District at the time of selection.

(i) After the 14 commissioners have been selected, the Commission shall select four persons from the remaining applicants in the

Commission Selection Pool to serve as alternate commissioners. The selection of alternate commissioners shall be made in a manner that ensures geographic diversity among the alternate commissioners.

(j) The Commission may remove a commissioner for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the duties of office, failure to comply with the commissioner eligibility requirements and restrictions described in Section 812, unexcused absences, or failure to abide by transparency requirements. Removal under this provision requires a two-thirds vote of the Commission after providing the member notice of a public hearing and an opportunity to respond in writing and at the public hearing. The removed member may appeal the Commission’s decision to the City Ethics Commission.

(k) The Commission may immediately remove a commissioner who has been charged with a felony offense, or who has been charged with a criminal misdemeanor related to a violation of official duties as described in Section 207(c). Removal under this provision requires a two- thirds vote of the Commission. The removed member may appeal the Commission’s decision to the City Ethics Commission.

(l) The position of a member of the Commission shall become vacant if the member pleads guilty to or no contest to or is convicted of a felony.

(m) If a vacancy occurs on the Commission, the Chair of the Commission shall conduct a random drawing at a public meeting to select one of the alternate commissioners to serve as a commissioner.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 814. Redistricting Criteria.

(a) The Commission shall adopt Board of Education district boundaries that comply with the United States Constitution, the California

Constitution, and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Each district shall have a reasonably equal population with other districts, except where deviation is required to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act or as allowable by law.

(b) In addition to following the requirements of subsection (a), the Commission shall adopt Board of Education district boundaries using the following criteria as set forth in the following order of priority:

(1) To the maximum extent practicable, districts shall be geographically contiguous. Areas that meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous. Areas that are separated by water and not connected by a bridge, tunnel, or regular ferry service are not contiguous.

(2) To the maximum extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criterion in this subsection, the geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division. A “community of interest” is a population that shares common social or economic interests that should be included within a single election district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Characteristics of communities of interest may include, but are not limited to, shared public policy concerns such as education, public safety, public health, environment, housing, transportation, and access to social services. Characteristics of communities of interest may also include, but are not limited to, cultural districts, shared socioeconomic characteristics, similar voter registration rates and participation rates, and shared histories. Communities of interest do not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.

(3) To the maximum extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criteria in this subsection, districts shall

be bounded by natural and artificial barriers, by streets, or by the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District. District boundaries should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents.

(4) To the maximum extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criteria in this subsection, districts shall

be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.

(c) The Commission shall not adopt district boundaries for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party, and the place of residence of an incumbent or candidate shall not be considered in the development of district boundaries.

(d) Other additional criteria should be considered by the Commission when adopting district boundaries, including consideration of the community and cultural association with economic and cultural landmarks and resources. All decisions concerning additional criteria shall be considered and approved in public meetings. The Commission’s consideration of additional criteria should be considered in compliance with and subordinate to the applicable requirements of subsections (a) through (c).

(e) After the Commission has adopted district boundaries, the Commission shall number each Board of Education district such that, for as many residents as possible, the number of the Board of Education district they reside in remains the same.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 815. Public Meetings, Outreach, and Accessibility.

(a) The Commission shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act and other applicable open meeting laws.

(b) The Commission shall take steps to encourage residents to participate in the redistricting process, including those in underrepresented communities and non-English speaking communities.

(c) The Commission shall hold public hearings and workshops in a manner that ensures that the public has the opportunity to participate and comment in each phase of the redistricting process.

(d) The Commission shall provide live translation of Commission meetings in English and Spanish and as further provided by ordinance. The Commission shall provide materials in the languages required by federal and state law and as provided by ordinance.

(e) The Commission shall develop and implement an Accessibility Plan to ensure that people with disabilities and seniors are able to access and fully participate in Commission meetings and hearings. The Commission shall develop this plan prior to the initiation of public hearings.

(f) For purposes of providing testimony, members of the Board of Education shall be subject to the same public comment procedures as members of the public.

(g) Ex Parte Communications.

(1) A member of the Commission shall not communicate with any individual or organization regarding redistricting matters outside of a public meeting. This provision does not prohibit communications with another commissioner, Commission staff, legal counsel, or consultants retained by the Commission. This provision does not prohibit communications with City and Los Angeles Unified School District staff to the extent those communications are related to administrative matters or educational presentations made to the public.

(2) The Executive Director of the Commission, any mapping staff member or mapping consultant of the Commission, and other Commission staff as designated by the Commission shall not communicate with any member of the Board of Education or elected City officer, candidate for elective Board of Education or City office, or staff of any such member or candidate, either directly or through an agent, regarding redistricting matters outside of a public meeting. This provision does not prohibit communications with City and Los Angeles Unified School District staff to the extent those communications are related to administrative matters or educational presentations made to the public.

(3) A member or employee of the City Ethics Commission, City Clerk, or other City department involved in the process for

selecting members of the Commission shall not communicate with any member of the Board of Education or elected City officer, candidate for elective Board of Education or City office, or staff of any such officer or candidate, either directly or through an agent, regarding any matter related to the selection process outside of a public meeting before that process has been completed. This provision does not prohibit communications to the extent those communications are related to administrative matters, legal advice, or educational presentations made to the public.

(4) The Commission may adopt other rules regarding communications provided the rules comply with the Brown Act, do not

conflict with the provisions in this subsection, and are adopted in a public meeting of the Commission.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 816. Commission Conduct of Business, Administration, and Personnel.

(a) Each member and alternate member of the Commission shall be a designated employee in the conflict of interest code for the Commission adopted pursuant to the California Political Reform Act, and shall file with the City Ethics Commission a statement of economic interests and other financial disclosure statements as required by law.

(b) The affirmative votes of a majority of the Commission shall be required for any official action, except the following actions which shall require the approval of two-thirds of the Commission:

(1) a vote for the final redistricting plan;

(2) a vote to remove a commissioner;

(3) a vote for the selection of the seven commissioners described in Section 813(h);

(4) a vote to hire the Executive Director, mapping consultant or mapping staff member, and any other position designated as key staff by the Commission; and

(5) a vote to authorize the delegation of hiring or contracting authority, to the extent such authority is delegable under state and City law.

(c) The alternate members of the Commission may fully participate in Commission deliberations but may not vote and may not be counted towards the establishment of a quorum.

(d) The Commission shall select one commissioner to serve as the Chair of the Commission. The Commission may designate other officers from its membership.

(e) Consideration of principles for the development of district boundaries for draft and final redistricting plans shall be conducted in a public meeting and approved by a vote of the Commission.

(f) The Commission shall post proposed map principles and any proposed final map on the Commission’s website for a minimum of seven days before consideration at a Commission hearing or meeting.

(g) The Commission shall hire an Executive Director and redistricting, technology, and outreach staff, whose positions shall be exempt from the civil service provisions of the Charter.

(h) The Commission shall have the authority to hire consultants through a competitive process consistent with the contracting provisions of the Charter and as provided by ordinance.

(i) The City Clerk shall provide support to the Commission in accessing City resources, coordinating with City and Los Angeles Unified School District departments and personnel, and other administrative matters as needed. The executive office of the Board of Education also shall provide support to the Commission.

(j) The Commission may utilize the City Attorney as legal counsel or may request the City Attorney to retain legal counsel for the

Commission.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 817. Adoption of Final Redistricting Plan.

(a) The Commission shall adopt its final redistricting plan establishing new Board of Education district boundaries no later than September 30 of each year ending in the number one.

(b) If the Commission does not adopt a final redistricting plan by the deadline in subsection (a), the City Attorney shall immediately petition the Superior Court for an order prescribing new Board of Education district boundaries in accordance with the redistricting criteria described in Section 814, and those boundaries shall apply to Board of Education elections until the Commission is able to adopt a final redistricting plan.

(c) The Commission shall issue, with the final plan, a report that explains the basis on which the Commission made its decisions in achieving compliance with the redistricting criteria described in Section 814.

(d) Upon adoption of a final redistricting plan, the Commission shall submit the plan, final report, and any other accompanying materials to the City Clerk and publish this material on the Commission’s redistricting website.

(e) The City Clerk shall post the Commission’s final redistricting plan and report on the City’s website. The City Clerk shall publish the final plan and description of the new Board of Education district boundaries in the same manner as an ordinance of the City.

(f) The final redistricting plan establishing new Board of Education districts shall become effective 31 days from its publication as

provided for ordinances in the Charter.

(g) The final redistricting plan shall be subject to referendum in the same manner as a City ordinance.

(h) No change in the boundary or location of any district by redistricting shall operate to abolish or terminate the term of office of any member of the Board of Education prior to the expiration of the term of office for which the member was elected.

(i) District boundaries adopted by the Commission shall not be altered until after the next federal decennial census occurs except to settle a legal claim or in response to an order of a court.

(j) Any territory annexed to or consolidated with the Los Angeles Unified School District shall be added to an adjacent district or districts by the Commission. The addition shall be effective upon the completion of the annexation or consolidation proceedings.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 818. Commission Funding.

(a) The City Council and Mayor shall provide sufficient funds to meet the needs for the formation and operation of the Commission, including to compensate Commission staff, consultants and legal counsel, conduct outreach to solicit broad public participation in the redistricting process, and, if necessary, defend the actions of the Commission in any legal proceeding.

(b) The City Council and Mayor shall provide funds to all City departments involved with the formation of the Commission, providing support to the Commission, and maintaining the records of the Commission.

(c) The Los Angeles Unified School District shall reimburse the City for costs incurred by the City, including City departments, for the formation and operation of the Commission.

(d) Commissioners shall be compensated as provided by ordinance.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 819. Commission Recommendations.

(a) The Commission may recommend changes to the independent redistricting process described in the City Charter and Administrative Code by submitting a report to the City Ethics Commission with findings, analysis, and data that support the Commission’s recommendations.

(b) The City Ethics Commission shall review the Commission’s recommendations and may transmit a report to the City Council containing recommendations for amendments to the City Charter and Administrative Code regarding redistricting. To the extent the recommendations include amendments to the Administrative Code, the Ethics Commission shall also prepare and transmit, with the assistance of the City Attorney, any proposed ordinance that would be required to effectuate the recommended amendments.

(c) Administrative Code Amendments. Within 60 days of submission of an Ethics Commission report and accompanying proposed

ordinance recommending amendments to the Administrative Code regarding redistricting, the City Council shall hold a public hearing concerning the matter and act to approve, without change, or disapprove the proposed ordinance. If the Council fails to disapprove within the 60-day period, the proposed ordinance shall be presented to the Mayor for approval or veto, and to the Council for override of the Mayor’s veto. If approved by the Mayor, or the Mayor fails to act, or approved by the Council on override of the Mayor’s veto, the proposed ordinance shall be deemed approved.

(d) Charter Amendments. An Ethics Commission report recommending an amendment to the City Charter regarding redistricting shall be considered by the City Council in time to allow for submittal of the charter amendment to the voters at the next available election. An amendment to the City Charter requires the approval of the voters of the City.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Charter Amendment LL, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.