Amended  IN  Assembly  March 18, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2575

Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner

February 14, 2024

An act to add Chapter 13.2 (commencing with Section 8890) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to communications.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2575, as amended, Boerner. Broadband internet access service. Office of Broadband and Digital Equity.
Existing law establishes the Department of Technology, which is supervised by the Director of Technology, within the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the department, in consultation with the public, the Public Utilities Commission, and the California Broadband Council, by January 1, 2024, to develop a state digital equity plan that includes specified elements, including the identification of barriers to digital equity faced by covered populations in this state.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would establish requirements related to the provision of broadband internet access service.

This bill would create the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity, to be administered by the Broadband and Digital Equity Board with membership appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, as specified, to be the centralized state office for broadband and digital activities within the state.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 13.2 (commencing with Section 8890) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  13.2. Office of Broadband and Digital Equity

8890.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Board” means the Broadband and Digital Equity Board.
(b) “Office” means the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity.

8891.
 (a) There is in state government the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity.
(b) The office is the centralized state office for broadband and digital activities within the state.
(c) (1) The office shall be administered by the board.
(2) The board shall have the following members:
(A) Five members appointed by the Governor with backgrounds in consumer advocacy, the broadband industry, labor relations, or local government.
(B) One member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(C) One member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would establish requirements related to the provision of broadband internet access service.