Charter schools are public schools and generally are subject to the same laws as other public schools, but a new California bill erases any doubt about whether charter schools must adhere to the state’s open meeting, conflict of interest and financial disclosure laws.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill Tuesday, March 5.

“It’s common sense,” Newsom said in a news release issued by his office. “Taxpayers, parents and ultimately kids deserve to know how schools are using their tax dollars.”

Senate Bill 126, co-authored by Sen. Connie M. Leyva, D-Chino, and Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach, requires that charter schools abide by California’s open meetings laws, either the Ralph M. Brown Act for schools governed locally or the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act for schools that report to a state agency.

“For far too long, charter schools in California have been held to lower accountability and transparency standards than traditional public schools,” Leyva said in a news release issued by her office. “SB 126 will ensure that all publicly funded schools — including charter schools — guarantee fair and open access to information. This measure also empowers parents to keep school leaders responsive and accountable.”

The bill also makes it clear that charter schools are subject to the California Public Records Act, existing state financial disclosure and conflict of interest laws.

“The passage of SB 126 is long overdue,” O’Donnell said in the statement issued by Leyva’s office. “It is a good government bill that will ensure that schools are learning centers, not profit centers. Transparency requirements and common ethical practices will now apply to all public dollars that go to public schools.”

SB 126 carves out one exception for charter schools: Employees are allowed to serve on the school’s governing boards, although they’re required to abstain from voting, or influencing or attempting to influence other board members, on any matter affecting that member’s employment.

“For nearly a decade, CCSA has worked to secure a balanced and comprehensive resolution to this longstanding debate. Governor Newsom’s leadership made all the difference here,” Myrna Castrejón, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association, said in a news release issued by the CCSA on Tuesday. “We are grateful for Governor Newsom’s guidance and we know that he will continue to bring the same skills and commitment to uniting all stakeholders behind a bold vision that embraces accountability and transparency for all public schools.”

The CCSA described SB 126 as a “balanced, fair application” of the state’s transparency laws, while preserving “the core autonomy and flexibility that allows our schools to innovate for students as granted under the Charter Schools Act.” According to the association, most California charter schools already practice the transparency and governance rules made explicit in the new law.

The association noted that similar efforts had stalled out in the past, including one by Assemblymember Jose Medina, D-Riverside, in the last session that passed the Assembly but which was never taken up for a vote by the state Senate.

SB 126 turns a non-binding Dec. 26 opinion issued by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on the issue of transparency laws and charter schools into state law. Becerra’s opinion also covered whether or not grand juries can look over the books and records of a charter school, which is not touched on in SB 126.

“Fixing these laws will put us on the right path to making sure all schools are held to the same standards for the sake of our students,” California Teachers Association President Eric Heins said in a news release. “This is and has always been about kids, not profits, and we’re glad this bill gets us closer to ending the waste, fraud and abuse that has taken millions in much-needed funding and resources from our students.”

SB 126 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.