Solano Community College District Policies

Human Resources Policies
Series 4000

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POLITICAL ACTIVITY 4210

POLICY:
District employees may exercise all rights of citizenship, including campaigning for or against a candidate or ballot measure, on their own time, provided the following conditions are met: (1) Campaign activities may be undertaken only at times when the employee is not scheduled to work or required to perform duties for the District; and (2) District funds, services, supplies or equipment (includes use of e-mail) may not be used to campaign for or against a candidate or issue; and (3) Reasonable steps must be taken to clarify that the District employee is acting in an individual capacity and does not represent the District; and (4) All other restrictions imposed by the Political Reform Act of 1976 and other provisions of law are followed.

District resources may be used to provide information to the public about the possible effects of a bond issue or other ballot measure if both the following conditions are met:

• The informational activities are otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the State of California; and
• The information provided constitutes a fair and impartial presentation of relevant facts to aid the electorate in reaching an informed judgment regarding the bond issue or ballot measure.

Any administrator or board member may appear before a citizens’ group that requests the appearance to discuss the reasons why the Board called an election to submit to the voters a proposition for the issuance of bonds, and to respond to inquiries from the citizens’ group.

An officer or employee of the District may solicit or receive political funds or contributions to promote the support or defeat of a ballot measure that would affect the rate of pay, hours of work, retirement, civil service, or other working conditions of officers or employees of the district. Such activities are prohibited during working hours, but are permitted during nonworking time. “Nonworking time” means time outside an employees’ working hours, whether before or after the work day or during the employees’ lunch period or other breaks during the day.

Candidates for office may be invited to address a class provided the following conditions are met: (1) All candidates for a particular office are offered the same opportunity to address the class, although not necessarily at the same time. (2) The discussion or debate of the candidates is related to the course matter being taught.

District employees, employee organizations, or student organizations are encouraged to invite declared candidates for office to address groups on campus provided the following conditions are met: (1) The presentation does not interfere with the educational programs or processes of the District. (2) All candidates for a particular office are offered the same opportunity to address groups on campus, although not necessarily at the same time.


REFERENCES/
AUTHORITY:
Political Reform Act of 1976
California Education Code, Sections 7054, 7056
California Government Code, Section 8314


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BP 4210


ADOPTED: December 2, 1987
January 21, 2004