PROPOSED AMENDED JOINT RULES

News Media Rules

32. (a) Any person desiring privileges of an accredited press representative shall make application to the Joint Rules Committee. The application shall constitute compliance with any provisions of the rules of the Assembly or the Senate with respect to registration of news correspondents..

The application shall state in writing the name of ANY PRINT OR ELECTRONIC periodic publication, news association, or radio or television station that employs the press representative, and any other occupations or employment he or she may have. The press representative shall further declare in the application that he or she is not employed, directly or indirectly, to assist in the prosecution of the legislative business of any person, corporation, or association, and will not become so employed while retaining the privilege of an accredited press representative.

(b) The application required by subdivision (a) of this rule shall be authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association, which shall see that occupation of seats and desks in the Senate and the Assembly Chambers is confined to bona fide correspondents of reputable standing in their business, who represent qualified news media as defined in section 32 (a). It shall be the duty of the standing committee, at its discretion, to report any violation of accredited press privileges to the Speaker of the Assembly or the Senate Committee on Rules and, pending action thereon, the offending correspondent may be suspended by the standing committee.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, persons engaged in other occupations whose chief attention is not given to newspaper correspondence or to news associations requiring telegraphic or radio, television OR ELECTRONIC service are not entitled to the privileges accorded accredited press representatives. The press list in the Handbook of the California Legislature and the Senate and Assembly Histories shall be a list of only those persons authenticated by the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association. Accreditation may be granted to any bona fide correspondent of reputable standing employed by a periodic publication of general circulation if the applicant is employed on a regular basis in the capitol area preparing articles dealing with state government and politics and the publication is not an organ or organization involved in legislative advocacy.

(d) The press seats and desks in the Senate and Assembly Chambers shall be under the control of the standing committee of correspondents, subject to the approval and supervision of the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. Press cards shall be issued by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly only to correspondents properly accredited in accordance with the provisions of this rule.

(e) No accredited member of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall, for compensation, perform any service for state constitutional officers or members of their staffs, for the Legislature, for candidates for state office, for a state officeholder, or for any person registered or performing as a legislative advocate.

(f) An accredited member of the association who violates subdivision

(a) or (e) of this rule shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) For the first offense, the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall send a letter of admonition to the offending member, his or her employer, and the Joint Rules Committee. The letter shall state the nature of the member’s rule violation and shall warn of an additional penalty for a second offense.

(2) For a second offense, the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall recommend to the Joint Rules Committee that the member’s accreditation be suspended or revoked and that he or she lose all rights and privileges attached thereto. The Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall also dismiss the member from the association.

Any member of the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association may propose that the committee make an inquiry to determine if an association member has violated subdivision (a) or (e) of this rule. Upon a majority vote of the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association, an inquiry shall be made.

Upon receipt of a signed, written notice from any association member of his or her belief that another association member may have violated subdivision (a) or (e) of this rule, the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall commence an inquiry into the possible violation.

If the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association determines by majority vote that an association member has violated an association rule, it shall inform the member of its finding. Within two weeks of notification, the member may request a meeting of the membership. If the member makes a request, the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall promptly schedule a meeting at the earliest possible time. After hearing the member and the committee review the circumstances of the alleged violation, the membership may, by majority vote, nullify the finding of the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association. If nullification does not occur, the Standing Committee of the Capitol Correspondents Association shall impose immediately the appropriate penalty.

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