Political Elections, Contributions, and Lobbying: What School Leaders Need to Know
Charter leaders face limitations on political activity from several sources: 501(c)3 restrictions, public agency rules, bond restrictions on facility use, and now the recently amended Levine Act affecting campaign contributions to local agency elected officials (i.e., county and district boards). But political speech is the most protected, right? What about legislation versus candidates? "C4" organizations? Our experts will walk through the various laws and discuss guardrails and guidelines as we approach the 2024 election year.
Presented by
Jerry Simmons
Partner/Attorney at Law
Young, Minney & Corr, LLP
Jerry Simmons has represented charter schools in every aspect of their operations for more than fifteen years. Through drafting charter petitions, memorandums of understanding for business and special education services, facilities use agreements, private leases, property purchases, and development of school policies covering every facet of charter school operations. Jerry has also assisted charter schools with employment and labor law matters, board governance and training, zoning and building code compliance, defense of audit findings in annual and extraordinary audits, and compliance with the Brown Act, Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, and Family Educational Records Protection Act.Jerry Simmons has represented charter schools in every aspect of their operations for more than fifteen years. Through drafting charter petitions, memorandums of understanding for business and special education services, facilities use agreements, private leases, property purchases, and development of school policies covering every facet of charter school operations. Jerry has also assisted charter schools with employment and labor law matters, board governance and training, zoning and building code compliance, defense of audit findings in annual and extraordinary audits, and compliance with the Brown Act, Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, and Family Educational Records Protection Act.
John Lemmo
Partner/Attorney
Young, Minney & Corr LLP
John Lemmo has advised and represented charter leaders and schools, government agencies, and nonprofits on operations, facilities, finance, governance, innovation and other legal issues for decades. John is skilled in local advocacy, and has litigated many seminal charter school lawsuits. He regularly handles charter petitions/renewals, material revisions, mergers, authorizer relations, lease/purchase deals, complex regulatory matters, and strategic planning. John is a frequent presenter to CSDC and numerous other professional and academic organizations, covering charter school law and policy, education, and public agency law. He is a partner with Young, Minney & Corr LLP.