The City of Los Angeles (City) Charter (Charter) establishes the process by which Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education (Board) District boundaries are drawn every ten years and adopted by ordinance following the federal census. Subsequently, those Board District boundaries are used for all Board member elections, recalls, and for filling Board vacancies. Currently, an appointed advisory commission recommends to the Council changes to those boundaries during the redistricting process. Final District boundary decisions are made by the Council and Mayor.
This measure would amend the Charter by requiring the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission (Commission) with the powers, duties, and responsibilities to adopt the Board District boundaries every ten years following each federal census. The Commission would be required to draw Board District boundaries in compliance with the United States Constitution, California Constitution, and federal Voting Rights Act, as well as follow the redistricting criteria and process set forth in the Charter and by other City law.
The Commission would be required to act in an impartial manner in the development of Board District boundaries without involvement by elected officials. The final Board District boundaries would be approved solely by the Commission. The Commission would also educate and inform the public about redistricting; conduct public meetings and hearings; receive and consider public input; make recommendations to the City regarding the redistricting process; and perform other redistricting functions as set forth by City law. A Commission member would be prohibited from communicating with an individual or organization regarding redistricting matters outside of a public meeting. The Commission may allow individuals under 18 years of age to participate on the Commission, as authorized by City law.
The Commission would be selected without involvement by elected officials and consist of 14 members and four alternates. The Commission would be established every ten years after each federal census and no later than April 1 of each year ending in the number zero. Each member of the Commission would begin their term on the date of selection and expire upon the selection of the succeeding Commission’s first member. The qualifications and restrictions of Commission members include the following:
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Be at least 18 years old and a resident of the LAUSD at the time of selection;
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Have resided in the LAUSD for at least three years immediately preceding the person’s submission of an application;
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Demonstrate collaborative skills, experience in civic engagement, and the ability to analyze complex data;
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A person is not required to be a registered voter or a citizen of the United States;
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A person cannot be an LAUSD employee or LAUSD commissioner for at least four years preceding the submission of an application;
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A person or person’s spouse or family cannot be engaged in prior political lobbying activities described in the California Elections Code provisions regarding eligibility requirements for independent redistricting commissions;
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Commission members are required to file a statement of economic interests and other financial disclosures;
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While serving on the Commission, a person cannot endorse, work for, volunteer for, or make a campaign contribution to, any elected member of the Board of Education or candidate for elective Board of Education office, or serve on a redistricting commission for any other governing body;
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A Commissioner may be removed for substantial neglect of duty or other misconduct in office by a two-thirds vote of the Commission, which may be appealed to the City Ethics Commission; and
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The City Clerk would manage the Commission application process, with the Ethics Commission providing oversight.
Source: Measure LL Impartial Analysis