CNPA Legislative Bulletin
CNPA keeps members up to date on how the association is working for them and what is happening in the legal and legislative arena through the Legislative Bulletin.
LA Dependency Court to consider opening proceedings
Jan 30, 2012
The presiding
judge of Los Angeles County’s juvenile court is preparing to open proceedings
for the dependency court in an effort to improve accountability and transparency
for a branch of the legal system that handles child abuse, child neglect and
foster care placements.
Read More
New bills introduced in 2nd year of legislative session
Jan 30, 2012
Bill to restore access to prison inmates clears Assembly
Jan 30, 2012
Independent Contractor Bill signed by Governor
Oct 10, 2011
Legislation
that would make it easier for state agencies and employees to go after
businesses that willfully misclassify employees as independent contractors was
signed into law by Governor Brown.
Read More
Governor Signs Bill to Limit Employer Use of Credit Report Information
Oct 10, 2011
Brown vetoes cell phone search bill
Oct 10, 2011
Cell phone search bill faces uphill battle in governor’s office
Sep 12, 2011
Legislation
placed on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk last Friday, to require law enforcement
authorities to obtain a warrant before searching the contents of a person’s cell
phone when the individual is under custodial arrest, faces the threat of a
veto.
Read More
Gut-and-amend would consolidate ballot measures
Sep 12, 2011
Legislation
conceived and pushed through in the last days of the 2011 session, could have a
major impact on the politics surrounding the initiative process. SB 202 by Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) would require all initiatives to be
placed on a general-election ballot. The bill was rammed through the process on
the last day of session on a party line vote.
Read More
Legislature sends independent contractor, credit report bills to governor
Sep 12, 2011
Governor signs the Richard McKee Transparency Act of 2011
Sep 12, 2011
Legislature to consider bills affecting workplace
Sep 02, 2011
Cell phone privacy bill goes to governor
Sep 02, 2011
Why the Brown Act needs a constitutional fix
Aug 26, 2011
As reported
in many Legislative Bulletin stories this last year, the Brown Act’s agenda
posting and reporting out requirements are “state mandated local programs” that,
pursuant to the state constitution, require the state to reimburse local
government agencies for the costs of performing the duties. Although CNPA has
long argued the costs to post a single copy of an agenda in a publicly
accessible place and to publicly report actions taken in closed session are
minimal, the Commission on State Mandates has authorized a level of
reimbursement that costs the state over $20 million
annually.
Read More
Cell phone privacy bill overwhelmingly passed by Assembly
Aug 26, 2011
On Monday,
the Assembly unanimously passed legislation co-sponsored by CNPA that would
protect cell phone privacy on a bi-partisan 70-0 vote. It heads back to the Senate for a concurrence
vote.
Read More
Assembly Appropriations Committee Blocks Brown Act fix
Aug 26, 2011
The Assembly Appropriations Committee yesterday held in committee
legislation to propose to the voters an amendment to the constitution that would
guarantee notice of public meetings of local legislative bodies pursuant to the
Ralph M. Brown Act and public reports of action taken. The
committee took the action without explanation or public testimony as it disposed
of dozens of bills on the committee’s suspense file.
Read More
Auxiliary bill headed to Governor’s Desk
Aug 19, 2011
With the hope
that the third time is the charm, legislation sponsored by CNPA that would
require quasi-public organizations operating on community college, California
State University or University of California campuses to disclose information
about how they operate, is on its way to the Governor.
Read More
Newspapers Sue Assembly over Denial of Access to Budget Information
Aug 12, 2011
Legislature Returns from Summer Recess; Several CNPA Bills Still in the Mix
Aug 12, 2011
Governor Vetoes Card-Check Bill
Jul 01, 2011
Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a
measure that would have essentially eliminated a secret ballot election for
agricultural employees and replaced it with a process allowing the submission of
representation cards signed by more than 50% of the employees.
Read More
Independent Contractor Bill to be Amended
Jul 01, 2011
Assembly to hear key bills
Jul 01, 2011
Cell phone privacy bill passed by Assembly Public Safety Committee
Jun 24, 2011
Independent contractor bill approved despite business opposition
Jun 24, 2011
Minor public notice clean-up bill on Gov’s desk
Jun 24, 2011
Auxiliary bill gets nod from Assembly committee
Jun 24, 2011
Auxiliary bill sails out of Senate
Jun 08, 2011
The Senate
overwhelmingly approved last week legislation to require quasi-public
organizations operating on public campuses to disclose to the public information
about their operations. The Senate voted 38-1 to send SB 8 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to the Assembly. The lone no
vote was cast by Senator Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo).
Read More
Bad Provision in Public Notice Bill Removed
Jun 08, 2011
CNPA staff
recently identified SB 948, by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee, that would give
counties authority to adopt an ordinance to, among other things, allow counties
to post notices of tax sales on delinquent properties on their websites instead
of publishing the notices in an adjudicated newspaper.
Read More
Senate Passes Bill To Increase Penalties For Misclassifying Independent Contractors
Jun 08, 2011
Senate approves two key bills, holds one
Jun 08, 2011
The Senate
last week approved two key bills before the June 3 deadline to move bills out of
the house of origin. SCA 7 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), moving it to the Assembly. The bill
would, if it obtains a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, present the voters
with a chance to amend the state Constitution to prevent the continual
suspension of the Ralph M. Brown Act in the budget process. SCA 7 has already
received unanimous approval of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate
Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments. CNPA is the sponsor of
the bill.
Read More
Card-Check Bill on its way to the Governor’s Desk
May 27, 2011
Over 100 CNPA Member Newspapers File Amicus in Brown Act Case
May 27, 2011
Workplace Bills Held by Assembly Appropriations Committee
May 27, 2011
Cell phone privacy bill ready for floor vote
May 27, 2011
CNPA and
proponents of legislation to protect cell phone privacy have been able move the
bill to the Senate floor, by passing a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 914 by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) would overturn a recent California
Supreme Court decision and require law enforcement officers to obtain a search
warrant before searching a cellular telephone taken from someone under custodial
arrest. The Senate is likely to vote on whether to move SB 914 to the Assembly
early next week.
Read More
Appropriations committee releases sunshine bills
May 27, 2011
CSU, UC reach compromise on auxiliary organization bill, pull opposition
May 27, 2011
Senator
Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has reached an agreement with California
State University, the University of California, the California Faculty
Association, Californians Aware and CNPA on his bill that would require
quasi-public organizations operating on community college, California State
University or University of California campuses to disclose information about
how they operate.
Read More
Dependency Court Access Bill Held after Being Strong-armed by Opponents
Apr 27, 2011
After unanimous approval by the Assembly Judiciary Committee just weeks earlier, legislation
supported by CNPA that would make dependency court hearings presumptively open
was held by the author before it would have likely been voted down by the Assembly Human Services Committee.
Read More
Committee approves major Bell bill
Apr 27, 2011
The Senate Governance and Finance Committee today
approved legislation that would require certain public officials to annually
file a compensation disclosure form that provides compensation information from
the prior year.
Read More
Mandatory Sick Leave Bill Approved By Assembly Judiciary Committee
Apr 27, 2011
AB 400, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), a bill that would increase employers’
costs for a paid sick leave for employees, was passed by the Assembly Judiciary
Committee on a 6-3 vote on Tuesday. The Judiciary Committee’s action follows
approval by the Labor and Employment Committee two weeks ago on a 5-1 vote.
Read More
Cell phone privacy bill moves
Apr 27, 2011
The Senate Public Safety Committee emphatically rejected a recent California Supreme Court decision yesterday and voted to approve legislation that would require law enforcement officers to obtain a search warrant before searching a cellular telephone taken from someone under custodial arrest.
Read More
Senate Judiciary supports Brown Act fix
Apr 08, 2011
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation to
propose a change to the constitution to guarantee notice of public meetings of
local legislative bodies and public reports of action taken. The committee had
heard SCA 7 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) the week before, but a vote on the
measure was delayed because of the absence of a key member. The bill would, if
it obtains a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, present the voters with a
chance to amend the state Constitution to prevent the now annual suspension of
the Ralph M. Brown Act in the budget process. SCA 7 will next be
heard by the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments. No
hearing date has been set.
Read More
Dependency Court Access Bill Sails through Committee
Apr 08, 2011
The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed
legislation that would make dependency court hearings presumptively open in a
pilot project. The bill, AB 73 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), was passed unanimously on a 10-0 vote.
CNPA supports the bill.
Read More
Bill would protect cell phones from warrantless search
Apr 08, 2011
Card-Check Bill Clears Assembly Committee
Apr 08, 2011
A measure introduced by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that would end the use of a private
secret ballot by agricultural employees to decide whether to unionize was passed
by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee just a week after it was approved
by the Senate.
Read More
Auxiliary organization bill passed by Senate committee
Apr 01, 2011
Following the governor’s veto of his previous two attempts to require
quasi-public organizations operating on community college, California State
University or University of California campuses to comply with the California Public Record Act, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), reintroduced the CNPA sponsored bill
this session and the Senate Judiciary Committee passed it last
Wednesday.
Read More
Senate Approves Card-Check Bill
Apr 01, 2011
Committee airs proposed Brown Act fix
Apr 01, 2011
Assembly Judiciary Committee to Hear Dependency Court Access Bill
Apr 01, 2011
The Assembly Judiciary Committee on April 5 will consider
legislation supported by CNPA that would make dependency court hearings
presumptively open. AB 73 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) would allow the court to close a hearing
if it determines that it is in the best interest of the child to do
so.?
Read More
In Brief
Apr 01, 2011
Brown Act appeal moves forward
Apr 01, 2011
Rich Mckee, the Visalia Times-Delta and CNPA have appealed a decision by a
Tulare Superior Court judge to grant the county’s motion for summary judgment in
a case involving the routine closed lunch meetings of the board of supervisors
paid for by the taxpayers. Here is a press release about the case issued by the plaintiffs and
delivered to California newspapers this morning through the CNPA Press Release
Service.
Read More
Card-check bill gets senate committee nod
Mar 11, 2011
Bell official compensation bill set for hearing
Mar 11, 2011
Bill to limit employer use of credit report information slated for hearing
Mar 11, 2011
Assembly Judiciary Committee holds hearing on dependency court access
Mar 09, 2011
Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), Chairman of the Assembly Judiciary
Committee, conducted a three-hour hearing Wednesday on whether juvenile
dependency court proceedings should be presumptively open to the
public.
Read More
Flurry of pension reform bills introduced
Mar 09, 2011
As California newspapers continue to aggressively litigate, investigate and
report on excessive public pensions, rampant pension-spiking and the apparent
insolvency of various state and local pension systems, the Legislature may be
warming up to reform.
Read More
Brown Act fix now part of Governor’s budget
Mar 09, 2011
It appears a component of Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget will address
the chronic problem of the Legislature de-funding the Ralph M. Brown Act, making compliance with its key provisions
optional for thousands of local public legislative bodies. CNPA has been working
for some time now to fix the Act’s funding problem by amending the state
Constitution to make notice of meetings a constitutional requirement for local
government, not subject to state reimbursement. Lack of funding in last year’s
budget has jeopardized the Act’s agenda posting and reporting requirements by
making them optional (i.e., an unfunded mandate).
Read More
In Brief
Mar 09, 2011
Here are a few recently introduced bills of interest to publishers:
SB 530 by Sen. Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles) would impose a 6 percent tax on the
gross revenues of “direct broadcast satellite television service
providers.”
Read More
Senator Yee Introduces Court Access Bill
Feb 23, 2011
Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced legislation that would
require courts to provide the public with same-day access to electronic court
filings. CNPA’s Board of Directors at its February meeting voted to support SB 326, which is co-sponsored by Courthouse News and
Californians Aware.
Read More
Coalition seeks to overturn cell phone case
Feb 23, 2011
In Brief
Feb 23, 2011
Legislature introduces new bills
Jan 28, 2011
Dependency court access bill introduced
Jan 28, 2011
Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) has introduced a
spot bill, AB 73, to declare the legislature's intent to make dependency court
hearings presumptively open to the public unless the court finds that admitting
the public would not be in a child's best interest.
Read More
Senator Yee reintroduces auxiliary organization bill
Jan 07, 2011
Constitutional Amendment proposed to fix Brown Act
Jan 07, 2011
Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has proposed a Senate Constitutional
Amendment to guarantee, once and for all, the public’s right under the Ralph M. Brown Act to reasonable notice of meetings and
reporting out of closed session decisions. The measure was introduced today and
assigned the number SCA 7 (Yee). CNPA’s board of directors decided last year to
make the introduction of SCA 7 a top priority.
Read More
Constitutional Amendment proposed to fix Brown Act
Jan 07, 2011
Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has proposed a Senate Constitutional
Amendment to guarantee, once and for all, the public’s right under the Ralph M. Brown Act to reasonable notice of meetings and
reporting out of closed session decisions. The measure was introduced today and
assigned the number SCA 7 (Yee). CNPA’s board of directors decided last year to
make the introduction of SCA 7 a top priority.
Read More
Newspapers comment on Statewide Bench-Bar-Media report
Nov 01, 2010
The newspaper industry has filed comments with the
Judicial Council on the draft report of the statewide Bench-Bar-Media Committee, which recommends changes in court
rules and policies to improve relations among the bench, bar and news media.
Read More
CNPA testifies at Bell hearings
Nov 01, 2010
CNPA has been asked to testify at two special
legislative hearings in Southern California to gather information about the
level of public corruption in local government and the state of current
transparency laws intended to curb it.
Read More
Late Night Budget Negotiations Preserve Key Brown Act Provisions
Oct 08, 2010
Just before 11 p.m. Thursday, the Assembly took
action to excise language in a budget trailer bill that would have suspended the notice and reporting
provisions of the Brown Act.
Read More
Governor vetoes anti-pension spiking bill
Oct 06, 2010
Reform legislation introduced in response to newspaper
reports of rampant public employee pension spiking was vetoed last week by Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger. CNPA had briefly opposed a provision of AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) that would have made confidential the
"books, papers, any data, or records, including but not limited to personnel and
payroll records . . ." gathered by a retirement board from the county or
district as part of an audit. CNPA’s opposition caused that provision to be
removed from the bill before it was approved by the Assembly.
Read More
Governor vetoes auxiliary bill
Oct 06, 2010
In one of the last actions taken before the deadline to
sign or veto bills, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 330 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). Sponsored by CNPA, SB 330 would have
required quasi-public organizations operating on community college, California
State University or University of California campuses to comply with the
California Public Record Act.
Read More
Anti-paparazzi bill signed
Oct 06, 2010
A victim of reckless-driving paparazzi himself, Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to create criminal punishment of
photojournalists that violate traffic laws with the intent to capture an image
of a person for a commercial purpose. Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) made a late amendment to her AB 2479 that added the vehicle code sections. In the last
week of session, CNPA and the California Broadcasters Association testified in
opposition to the late amendments in hastily convened hearings of the Senate
Public Safety and Assembly Judiciary committees. The Senate voted 21-13 and Assembly voted 54-21 to finally approve the bill.
Read More
Governor signs autopsy bill
Oct 06, 2010
Government posting bill vetoed
Oct 06, 2010
Statewide Bench-Bar-Media Committee recommends sweeping changes
Sep 17, 2010
The Judicial Council released Sept. 10th a draft report of the statewide
Bench-Bar-Media Committee for public comment. The BBM Committee,
created by Chief Justice Ronald M. George at the request of CNPA in
2008, is recommending nearly a dozen sweeping changes in court rules and
policies to improve relations among the bench, bar and news media,
including updating or creating new rules for use of cameras and
recording devices in the courts, the issuance of gag orders and
increasing public notice of applications to seal court records.
Read More
California Newspapers Editorialize in Support of Auxiliary Bill
Sep 17, 2010
Newspapers across the state have published editorials urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign SB 330 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). Sponsored by CNPA, the measure would require quasi-public entities that are designated as auxiliary organizations on campuses of the University of California, the California State Universities, the California Community Colleges and the statewide foundation of the California Community Colleges to comply with the California Public Records Act.
Read More
Governor gets autopsy bill
Sep 01, 2010
The legislature has approved legislation that would
allow family members of a child that is killed as a result of crime to request
the child’s autopsy report be “sealed” from the public under the public records
act. CNPA opposes SB 5 by Senate Majority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta), an urgency measure brought forward
in reaction to the tragic murder of Chelsea King in San Diego County. The bill
has been substantially narrowed as a result of CNPA’s efforts. The Assembly
approved the bill 71-1 and the Senate sent the bill to the governor on a 33-1 vote. The “No on SB 5” caucus included Sen. Leland Yee
and Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, both Democrats from San Francisco.
Read More
Anti-paparazzi bill reaches Governor
Sep 01, 2010
The legislature yesterday approved legislation
to address Los Angeles County's paparazzi problem by creating severe criminal
punishment of photojournalists that violate traffic laws with the intent to
capture an image of a person for a commercial purpose. CNPA filed a new letter
in opposition to AB 2479 Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) in reaction to the late amendments that
added the vehicle code sections and testified this week in hastily convened
hearings of the Senate Public Safety and Assembly Judiciary committees. The
Senate voted 21-13 and Assembly voted 54-21 to finally approve the bill. The California
Broadcasters Association also opposes AB 2479.
Read More
End of session ugly, unproductive
Sep 01, 2010
We could try, but we simply would not be able to
describe the last few hours of the biennial legislative session better than the
folks at Capitol Weekly, in this morning’s Roundup: “The 2009-10 legislative
session sputtered to a close with Republican filibusters, Democratic scrambling,
plenty of bipartisan yelling and a whole lot of legislative carnage left in its
wake.”
Read More
The incredible shrinking bill
Aug 27, 2010
Late amendment would criminalize normal newsgathering
Aug 27, 2010
Budget bill axes Brown Act
Aug 27, 2010
Late amendment would criminalize normal newsgathering
Aug 26, 2010
Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has amended her
bill to rein in the paparazzi to allow for severe criminal punishment
of photojournalists that violate traffic laws. CNPA has filed a new
letter in opposition to AB 2479.
Read More
Auxiliary bill sails out of Assembly, squeaks out of Senate
Aug 25, 2010
SB 330 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), which would require
quasi-public
organizations operating on community college, California State
University or
University of California campuses to comply with the California Public Record Act,was unanimously passed
last week
by the Assembly on a 71-0 vote. After receiving only 14 votes initially,
the Senate
finally gave its approval 22-10.
Read More
Governor signs charter school student speech protection bill
Aug 19, 2010
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Aug. 17 signed SB 438, a bill sponsored by CNPA that will clarify that California
charter schools are required to obey existing law that protects student
speech and press activities in all public and private high schools.
Read More
Compensation disclosure bill approved
Aug 19, 2010
Legislation to require local officials to disclose their salaries,
benefits, reimbursement payments, and other perquisites was approved Aug. 18 by the Assembly Local Government Committee on an 8-0 vote.
Read More
Bell bill moves
Aug 19, 2010
Reacting to the Bell public official compensation scandal, the Senate
Local Government Committee approved on a 3-1 vote
last week legislation to rein in excessive compensation of city council
members.
Read More
Secrecy compounded by illegal secrecy?
Aug 19, 2010
Here are three links to stories detailing the Los Angeles Times'
battle to report about children who die under the care of county child
protective services using a relatively new law requiring access and the
Board of Supervisors' attempts to ferret out leakers of information, in
apparent violation of the Brown Act.
Read More
Industry supports Time’s fight against prior restraint
Aug 11, 2010
On Monday CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Committee authorized staff to organize and
participate in an amicus brief in support of the Los Angeles Time’s
appeal of a trial court order prohibiting its publication of images lawfully
gathered in an open court proceeding. The letter brief – authored by Karl
Olson, Ram & Olson – will be filed with the court tomorrow.
?
Read More
Auxiliary bill set for Assembly vote tomorrow, Senate next week
Aug 11, 2010
Time’s City of Bell reporting spawns two bills
Aug 11, 2010
Revelation of obscene Bell public official salaries in
the Los Angeles Times, echoed in media nationwide, has caused the
introduction of two reform bills.
Read More
Brown Act still in budget play
Aug 11, 2010
Revelation of obscene Bell public official salaries in
the Los Angeles Times, echoed in media nationwide, has caused the
introduction of two reform bills.
Read More
Brown Act still in budget play
Aug 11, 2010
Assembly passes charter school student speech protection bill
Aug 11, 2010
Autopsy bill to be heard tomorrow
Jul 19, 2010
Conference committee approves defunding of Brown Act
Jul 19, 2010
The Joint Legislative Budget
Conference Committee approved a provision of a yet-to-be-drafted budget trailer
bill last week to suspend the reimbursable state mandate that requires local
governmental bodies under the Brown Act to post a descriptive meeting agenda 72 hours before
a regular meeting and stick to it. The proposal – suggested by the Legislative
Analysts Office (LAO) -- would also suspend state reimbursement of the costs
associated with reporting to the public decisions made by a local legislative
body in closed session. The move, if enacted as part of the budget, would save
the state approximately $20 million a year.
Read More
Governor has concerns about auxiliary bill
Jul 19, 2010
CNPA and Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) recently met with Governor
Schwarzenegger’s staff to discuss concerns the governor has with SB 330, which would require quasi-public organizations
operating on community college, California State University or University of
California campuses to comply with the California Public Record Act.
Read More
CNPA continues to work on Sunshine Amendment
Jul 02, 2010
CNPA governmental affairs staff is continuing to work
with Senate leadership to cause the introduction of a Senate Constitutional
Amendment to permanently ensure compliance with the agenda posting requirement
of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Read More
CNPA narrows anti-cyber-hacking bill
Jul 02, 2010
CNPA governmental affairs staff has been able to
substantially narrow legislation sponsored by the Office of the Chief
Information Officer to create a broad new public records exemption for records
associated with information technology that, if disclosed, would make government
computer systems vulnerable to hackers. AB 2091 by Assemblywoman Connie Conway (R-Visalia), as introduced, would have exempted
“records relating to information security,” including, “but not limited to,”
security plans, risk assessments, audit and evaluation reports, incident
reports, disaster recovery plans and all records associated with the state’s
master information technology plan.
Read More
Bill would turn executive order into law
Jul 02, 2010
Anti-pension spiking bill moves
Jul 02, 2010
Legislation introduced in response to newspaper reports
of rampant pension spiking by retiring public employees is moving without a
provision to make pension records confidential. AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), which generally attempts to eliminate
the practice of pension spiking, was approved by the Senate Public Employee and
Retirement Committee June 23 on a 5-0 vote. A provision that would have made confidential the
"books, papers, any data, or records, including but not limited to personnel and
payroll records . . ." gathered by a retirement board from the county or
district as part of an audit was removed from the bill at CNPA’s request before
the bill was moved to the Senate. Governmental Affairs staff will continue to
monitor this bill, which will next be heard by the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Read More
Anti-pension spiking bill moves
Jul 02, 2010
Legislation introduced in response to newspaper reports
of rampant pension spiking by retiring public employees is moving without a
provision to make pension records confidential. AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), which generally attempts to eliminate
the practice of pension spiking, was approved by the Senate Public Employee and
Retirement Committee June 23 on a 5-0 vote. A provision that would have made confidential the
"books, papers, any data, or records, including but not limited to personnel and
payroll records . . ." gathered by a retirement board from the county or
district as part of an audit was removed from the bill at CNPA’s request before
the bill was moved to the Senate. Governmental Affairs staff will continue to
monitor this bill, which will next be heard by the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Read More
Key committee approves anti-paparazzi bill
Jul 02, 2010
Auxiliary bill poised for Assembly floor vote after summer recess
Jul 02, 2010
Charter school student speech protection bill gets fiscal committee approval
Jul 02, 2010
Senate, Assembly adopt measure to apply CPRA to CIF
Jul 02, 2010
Whistleblower protection bill heads to governor
Jul 02, 2010
Federal shield law resolution moves
Jul 02, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved
without comment Assembly Joint Resolution 16 by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) to urge the United States Congress to
enact a federal shield law for America’s journalists. This will be the 4th time
the California Legislature has resolved in support of federal shield law
legislation, which continues to be bogged down in Congress. CNPA is the sponsor
of the resolution.
Read More
Whistleblower protection bill gets Assembly committee approval
Jun 18, 2010
Senate committee passes bill that would apply public records act to CIF
Jun 18, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday
unanimously passed AB 352 by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) which declares the
legislature’s
intent that the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the
governing body
that oversees high school sports, comply with the California Public
Records Act.
The vote was 5-0.
Read More
Bill that would protect student speech at charter schools advances
Jun 18, 2010
he Assembly Judiciary Committee, in a
unanimous 10-0
vote, passed SB 438 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), a CNPA sponsored bill that
would
clarify that a California charter school is required to obey existing
law that
protects student speech and press activities on public and private high
school
campuses.
Read More
Assembly committee overwhelmingly passes auxiliary bill
Jun 18, 2010
The Assembly Governmental Organization
Committee unanimously passed legislation
that would require quasi-public organizations operating on community
college,
California State University or University of California campuses to
comply with
the California Public Record Act. The vote was 19-0.
Read More
CNPA asks senate leader to author Constitutional Amendment
Jun 18, 2010
CNPA has formally asked the Senate President pro Tem to introduce a Senate Constitutional Amendment to permanently ensure compliance with the agenda posting requirement of the Brown Act. Prompting CNPA’s request is a proposal by the governor and legislature to suspend the reimbursable state mandate that requires local governmental bodies under the Brown Act to post a descriptive meeting agenda 72 hours before a regular meeting and stick to it. The Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 with jurisdiction over general government recently informally decided to suspend the agenda posting requirement and adopted a Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) plan (yet to be drafted) that would make agenda posting a non-reimbursable “best practice.”
Here is CNPA’s letter:
Read More
Budget crisis again threatens heart of Brown Act
Jun 04, 2010
Like budget crises past, the governor and legislature
are again considering suspension of the reimbursable state mandate that requires
local governmental bodies under the Brown Act to post a descriptive meeting
agenda 72 hours before a regular meeting and stick to it.
Read More
CNPA fixes anti-pension spiking bill
Jun 04, 2010
Legislation introduced in response to
newspaper reports
of rampant pension spiking by retiring public employees that contained a
provision to make pension records confidential has been amended at
CNPA’s
request. AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), which would generally attempt
to
eliminate the practice of pension spiking, contained a provision that
would make
confidential the "books, papers, any data, or records, including but
not
limited to personnel and payroll records . . ." gathered by a retirement
board
from the county or district as part of an audit. The amendments delete
the
offending language and protect the ability of newspapers to gather and
report
the details of individual retirement awards.
Read More
Assembly move anti-paparazzi bill to Senate
Jun 04, 2010
“Gut and amend” bills would threaten newsgathering
Jun 04, 2010
CNPA opposes anti-pension spiking bill
May 19, 2010
?The CNPA Governmental Affairs Committee has decided to oppose a single provision of a recently amended anti-pension spiking bill that would make personnel and payroll data gathered by a public retirement board as part of a retirement board audit confidential.
Read More
In Brief
Apr 28, 2010
CNPA newsroom seminars set for SLO and Santa Barbara
Apr 28, 2010
CNPA legal staff will present free newsroom rights and
risks seminars May 6 at The Tribune in San Luis Obispo and May 7 at the Santa Barbara
News-Press.
Read More
Victim address bill nixed by Assembly Public Safety Committee
Apr 23, 2010
Legislation that would allow cities and counties to establish their own policies for protecting victims' address and identities as well as a wide range of other information about victims was overwhelmingly approved by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee on Wednesday, only to be rejected by the Public Safety Committee on Thursday. The seven-member Public Safety Committee, led by Chairman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), rejected AB 1682 by Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) on a 2-5 vote.
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Deceased personality bill resurrected
Apr 23, 2010
Foundered legislation introduced last year by disgraced former Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Brea) to expand the law protecting the commercial value of the name and likeness of deceased personalities has been amended to add a new author and is slated for a Senate floor vote as early as Monday, April 26.
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Torres bill would set dangerous precedent
Apr 19, 2010
CNPA seeks member support in opposition to
AB 1682 (Torres), which would abdicate the Legislature’s responsibility to set public records policy and
instead authorize the creation of a mishmash of hundreds of local public
records policies -- the very ill the Legislature remedied when it created the
California Public Records Act in 1968. Please register your opposition before this Wednesday.
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GA Committee has big agenda
Apr 09, 2010
CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Committee will meet on
April 15, the opening day of the CNPA 2010 Press Summit at the Monterey Plaza
Hotel, to discuss and take action on myriad issues affecting the newspaper
industry. CNPA members are welcome to join the committee for the 9:00 – 9:55
a.m. meeting in the Carmel Room.
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Court Orders Opinion Denying Class Certification to Be Published
Apr 09, 2010
The California Supreme Court this week affirmed the
decision of an appellate court that denied the certification of the class in a
class-action lawsuit involving restaurant managers challenging the restaurant’s
classification of some managers as exempt employees.
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Victim and arrestee address bill slowed
Apr 09, 2010
Legislation to eliminate journalist access to arrestee
and victim address information has been slowed by the author. Facing continued
opposition from CNPA, AB 1682 by Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) was pulled from its policy committee hearing
on Monday, April 12, before the Assembly Committee on Governmental
Organization. If that committee ultimately hears and approves the measure, the
Assembly Public Safety Committee will then hear it. Here is CNPA’s letter in opposition to the bill. Californian’s Aware
has also registered its opposition.
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Visalia Times-Delta and CNPA join Brown Act suit
Apr 09, 2010
The Visalia Times-Delta and CNPA
today, have joined a lawsuit filed by Pasadena City College chemistry professor
Rich McKee against the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. As set forth in this
Times-Delta story, the
suit alleges the board’s habitual private lunch meetings on the public’s dime
violate the Ralph M. Brown Act’s requirement that meetings of local
multi-member bodies of local government agencies be noticed, open and public.
At the request of the Times-Delta, CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Committee voted
last week to join the suit.
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Public records commercial requests bill won’t be pursued
Apr 09, 2010
Sen. Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino) will likely not pursue her
legislation to allow public agencies to charge commercial requesters of copies
of public records the full costs of providing the copies. SB 1324 would exempt professional journalists from its
provisions. Although her staff has not ruled out a yet-to-be identified
game-saving amendment, the bill will likely not be heard by Senate Judiciary
Committee.
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In brief
Mar 26, 2010
AB 2727 by Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) would prohibit an employer from denying
an application for employment for the reason that the applicant has previously
been convicted of a criminal offense unless the employer determines that there
is a direct relationship between the prior conviction and the employment sought
or the granting of employment would involve an unreasonable risk to property or
persons. Existing law provides that an employer may not ask an applicant for
employment to disclose, and an employer may not utilize in an employment-related
decision, information concerning an arrest or detention that did not result in a
conviction.
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Senate creates public access committee
Mar 26, 2010
The Senate Rules Committee this week approved a request
by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to establish a Select Committee on
California’s Public Records and Open Meeting Laws. The committee’s mission is to examine ways
to increase public access to public records and meetings of government bodies,
and to protect tax dollars by fostering greater accountability of scarce public
resources. Here is Yee’s press release.
CNPA seeks nominees for FOI Award
Mar 26, 2010
CNPA is seeking nominees for its 2010 Freedom of Information Award to be given
at the CNPA Press Summit, April 15-17 at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Nominees from
member newspapers should possess a continuing commitment to the public's right
to know and may be honored for a recent effort or a lifetime's work. CNPA
presented its most recent award to Margie Lundstrom and the Sacramento Bee. CNPA
also honored Senator Leland Yee. The 2010 winner will be chosen by the CNPA
Executive Committee and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairperson Karlene
Goller, Sr. V.P., and Associate General Counsel of the Los Angeles Times. To
nominate someone for this award, contact CNPA General Counsel Tom Newton at
(916) 288-6015 or tom@cnpa.com.
Victim and arrestee address bill set for hearing
Mar 26, 2010
Legislation to eliminate journalist access to arrestee
and victim address information has been referred to two policy committees. AB 1682 by Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) will be first heard by the Assembly
Committee on Governmental Organization on April 7. If that committee
approves the measure, the Assembly Public Safety Committee will then hear it.
Here is CNPA’s letter in opposition to the bill. Californians Aware
has also registered its opposition, found here.
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Bass files two new anti-paparazzi bills
Mar 26, 2010
Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has filed two new bills to address the
continuing threat to celebrities and their families posed by the paparazzi.
Following her successful bill last year to make it easier to sue publishers and
posters of illicit images and recordings, one of her new bills – AB 2479 – would expand the existing anti-paparazzi law to
impose liability and the extreme damages authorized by the law when a paparazzo
falsely imprisons a person with the intent to capture any type of visual image
or sound recording. The bill would also amend the existing anti-stalking law to
create a civil cause of action for a pattern of conduct intended to place a
person “under surveillance.”
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Bill would allow cost recovery for commercial requests
Mar 26, 2010
Legislation introduced by Sen. Gloria
Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino) would allow public agencies to charge
commercial requesters of copies of public records the full costs of providing
the copies. Sponsored by the City of Ontario, SB 1324 would exempt professional journalists from its
provisions.
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Bill would turn executive order into law
Mar 26, 2010
Legislation sponsored by Californians Aware and SEIU Local 1000 to make a state
law out of the provisions of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent executive order
requiring the Department of General Services to routinely post agency audits and
contracts on line, was approved this week by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. Supported by CNPA, the party line vote on AB 1899 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) was 7 to 3
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McKee sues Tulare County Board of Supervisors
Mar 12, 2010
As chronicled in the Visalia Times-Delta today, Pasadena City College chemistry
professor Rich McKee has filed suit against the Tulare County Board of
Supervisors, alleging the board’s habitual private lunch meetings on the
public’s dime violate the Ralph M. Brown Act’s requirement that meetings of
local multi-member bodies of local government agencies be noticed, open and
public. McKee is President Emeritus of Californians Aware.
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Capitol Watch
Mar 12, 2010
With the bill introduction deadline long passed, the state’s print shop
continues to churn out hard copies. Stacks big enough to hide behind arrive at
CNPA’s offices each day. Here are a few of the many bills CNPA governmental
affairs staff is reviewing and describing for consideration by the Governmental
Affairs Committee at the April 15 Summit in Monterey.
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CNPA seeks nominees for FOI Award
Mar 12, 2010
Torres access bill remains in holding pattern
Mar 12, 2010
CNPA participates in meeting to safeguard college newspaper
Feb 22, 2010
Yesterday CNPA staff participated in
a meeting between administrators at the College of San Mateo and the staff and
adviser of the student newspaper to discuss the fate of the newspaper, which has
been threatened with potential elimination due to budget cuts and department
restructuring.
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Public frustrated by lack of info on kids who die under government protection
Feb 22, 2010
There is a growing trend among the state and at least
one county child welfare agency to withhold information about kids who die on
their watch, despite a new law requiring this information to be provided to the
public. CNPA staff is exploring the possibility of resolving
the problem legislatively.
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Torres says she will narrow her victim and arrestee address bill
Feb 22, 2010
According to her staff, Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) will likely narrow her bill to restrict
public access to law enforcement records. AB 1682, sponsored by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca,
would prevent journalists and others from obtaining arrestee and victim address
information from incident and arrest reports. See the February 5 Legislative
Bulletin story for
detailed information about AB 1682 and CNPA’s arguments against
it.
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Controversial Plan to Withhold Taxes from Independent Contractors on Hold – For Now
Feb 22, 2010
Yesterday, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee announced it was
halting a proposal that would mandate California businesses withhold and remit
to the Franchise Tax Board 3% of all payments made to independent contractors
working in California.
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OK Press Association view of public notices a worthy read
Feb 12, 2010
Oklahoma Press Association Executive Director Mark
Thomas is a master of using humor to make a serious point, or several of them.
Here are Mark’s arguments for
keeping public notices in print.
Victim and arrestee address bill intended to protect victim privacy
Feb 12, 2010
CNPA governmental affairs staff had an opportunity to
sit down with staff for Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and an advocate for Los Angeles County
Sheriff Lee Baca to discuss her legislation that would restrict public access to
law enforcement records. AB 1682, sponsored by Baca, would amend a longstanding law (SB
1059 Peace, Ch. 1995, effective Oct. 12, 1995), that, while restricting general
public access to address information about arrestees and crime victims, allows
access to those seeking address information for a “scholarly, journalistic,
political, or governmental purpose. . . .” AB 1682 would allow access for these
purposes only to the “city of residence” of the person arrested or victimized by
crime. CNPA negotiated the current law with Sen. Peace in 1995 and has worked
to protect journalist access to address information since then.
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Legislature again considers requiring employers to withhold taxes from independent contractors
Feb 05, 2010
Independent contractor withholding, a proposal that was vetoed during last year’s budget discussions, has re-emerged in the last few weeks as the legislature begins budget discussions to close the $19 billion gap for the current fiscal year.
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Senate passes whistleblower protection bill
Feb 05, 2010
The Senate last week voted 23-15 in favor of a measure that would protect California
State University and University of California employees who report wrongdoing
from employer retaliation.
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Student speech protection at charter schools gets Senate nod
Feb 05, 2010
Legislation by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to clarify that California charter
schools are required to obey existing law that protects student speech and press
activities on public and private high school campuses was unanimously passed by
the Senate last week. The vote to approve SB 438 was 31-0.
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Senate overwhelmingly approves auxiliary organization bill
Feb 05, 2010
In a rare display of bi-partisanship last week, the Senate voted 37-1 to pass legislation that would require quasi-public
organizations operating on community college, California State University or
University of California campuses to comply with the California Public Record Act. The
single no vote was cast by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana).
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Bill would restrict newspaper access to victim and arrestee addresses
Feb 05, 2010
Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) has introduced legislation that would amend
the California Public Records Act to restrict public access to law
enforcement records. AB 1682, sponsored by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca,
would amend a longstanding law (SB 1059 Peace, Ch. 1995, effective Oct. 12,
1995), that, while restricting general public access to address information
about arrestees and crime victims, allows access to those seeking address
information for a “scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purpose.
. . .” AB 1682 would allow access for these purposes only to the “city of
residence” of the person arrested or victimized by crime. CNPA negotiated the
current law with Sen. Peace in 1995 and has worked to protect journalist access
to address information since then.
Read More
Legislature again considers requiring employers to withhold taxes from independent contractors
Feb 05, 2010
CSU, UC whistleblower protection bill clears first committee
Jan 18, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed a measure that would protect California State University and University of California employees who report wrongdoing from employer retaliation. The vote was 3-2.
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Auxiliary organization bill reintroduced; passed by Senate committee
Jan 18, 2010
Following the governor’s veto of SB 218 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), a CNPA sponsored bill that would have required quasi-public organizations operating on community college, California State University or University of California campuses to comply with the California Public Record Act, the senator reintroduced the bill this session.
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Measure to protect charter school students sails out of Senate committee
Jan 18, 2010
On a 5-0 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week overwhelmingly passed CNPA sponsored SB 438 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), that would clarify that a California charter school is required to obey existing law that protects student speech and press activities on public and private high school campuses.
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New laws affecting newspapers
Jan 04, 2010
In 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed 652 bills and
vetoed 241. Here is a roundup of laws that will affect the newspaper industry.
Unless otherwise indicated, the laws became effective January 1,
2010.
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Judicial Council approves historic public access rule
Dec 16, 2009
At its meeting in San Francisco yesterday, the California Judicial Council approved on a voice vote a new Rule of Court to provide the public with a right of access to the administrative records of Superior and Appellate courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The rule, which becomes effective January 1, 2010, is modeled after the California Public Records Act.
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Senator concerned about student press
Oct 07, 2009
Earlier today State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) sent a letter to Los Angeles Community College President Jamilah Moore urging her to comply with the state’s student speech laws.
“These statutes rightfully protect students and employees from unfair retaliation and foster a community that respects the First Amendment and an open discourse of ideas,” said Yee.
Here is Yee's press release.
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Governor’s game of chicken threatens good and bad bills
Oct 07, 2009
With the Sunday deadline fast approaching, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger has signed only 3 of the over 700 bills on his desk. While a bit
coy regarding his intentions on the fate of the Legislature’s entire work
product from the 2009 session, the threat of a blanket veto may prove an
effective lever on the water deal that alluded Schwarzenegger and legislators in
the waning days of the legislative session. In the meantime, several bills of
importance to the newspaper industry gather dust on the governor’s
desk.
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Judicial Council puts access rule out for public comment
Oct 07, 2009
The Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the
state’s courts, has published for public comment a proposed rule of court that would provide the public a right
of access to administrative court records. The deadline for comments is 5:00
p.m. on October 29.
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CNPA bills caught up in end of session wrangling
Sep 16, 2009
Three CNPA supported bills passed by the legislature
and sent to the Governor have been requested to be returned to the Senate. The
request for the return of the bills come on the heels of a threatened veto by
the governor of any bill submitted to him before the legislature took action on
prison reform and renewable energy.
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Bill would require live transmission of meetings
Sep 16, 2009
Legislation to require the live transmission of state
bodies dealing with public education has reached the governor. SB 312 by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-San Francisco) would require the State Board of
Education and the State Allocation Board to provide live transmission of
meetings by web cast or television. The Legislature approved the bill on its
consent calendar. Romero says the bill promotes transparent government and will
save local school districts thousands of dollars in travel costs currently spent
traveling to Sacramento to monitor meetings.
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Legislature passes, Governor vetoes “Card Check” bill
Sep 16, 2009
In two sharply divided bi-partisan votes, the
legislature earlier this month passed SB 789 by Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), which would have made it easier for
a union – in this case the United Farm Workers – to sign up new members. The
vote in the Assembly was 47-29 with the Senate giving its approval by a 23-14 margin.
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Negotiations begin on new Rule of Court
Sep 16, 2009
CNPA, the First Amendment Coalition and Californians
Aware all lodged informal written comments last week on an initial draft of a
Rule of Court that would give the public a right of access to the administrative
records of the courts. The Judicial Council – the administrative arm of the
courts – is required by recent legislation to adopt a new rule before January 1,
2010. The comments were reviewed yesterday at a stakeholders drafting meeting
hosted by the Judicial Council in Sacramento.
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Bass anti-paparazzi bill reaches governor’s desk
Sep 16, 2009
The Assembly last week sent legislation to Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger to amend the state’s anti-paparazzi law. AB 524 by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) rewrites the decade-old anti-paparazzi
law to make it easier for victims of ill-gotten images to sue the publisher or
broadcaster of an ill-gotten image as well as the photographer. CNPA remains
opposed to the bill.
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University auxiliary bill headed to Governor
Sep 16, 2009
The Assembly voted 76-0 last week to approve a measure
that would require quasi-public organizations that operate on community college,
California State University or University of California campuses to be subject
to the California Public Record Act. The Senate followed suit,
voting 33-1 to concur in Assembly amendments and send the bill to the
governor.
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Bass focuses on paparazzi in last week of session
Sep 04, 2009
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has again amended her Anti-Paparazzi bill
and appears ready to move it to the governor during the last week of the 2009
legislative session. The Legislature adjourns its regular session September
11. AB 524 rewrites the decade-old anti-paparazzi law to make it
easier for victims of ill-gotten images to sue publishers of images as well as
photographers. CNPA is opposed to the bill.
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Assembly wants more sunshine on higher ed
Sep 04, 2009
With a strong bipartisan vote yesterday, the Assembly
gave its resounding approval to legislation that would require quasi-public
organizations that support state colleges and universities to open their records
to the public. SB 218 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would require auxiliary organizations
and foundations of the University of California, California State University and
Community Colleges to comply with the California Public Records Act. The vote
was 76-0.
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Assembly approves CPRA index bill
Aug 28, 2009
The Assembly this week approved legislation sponsored
by CNPA to update sections of the California Public Records Act that attempt to identify,
alphabetically and descriptively, every law that purports to exempt public
records from disclosure. The vote was 77-0. The Senate will likely move SB 359 by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) to the governor’s desk on Monday. SB
359 would update the index sections of the public records act CNPA helped enact
as part of a major reform effort in the late 1990s. Requesters and custodians
of public records alike use the exemption index to quickly determine if an
exemption may impact a particular records request.
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Protection for UC whistleblowers goes to governor
Aug 28, 2009
On a vote of 22-14 the Senate this week sent legislation to the governor to
protect University of California employees who report wrongdoing from employer
retaliation. SB 219 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would overturn a recent California
Supreme Court ruling that said UC employees cannot sue for damages under the
state’s whistleblower protection laws, so long as the university itself reviews
the complaints in a timely fashion. SB 219 will give UC employees the same
rights as other state employees. Yee has described the current situation as one
in which the “fox is guarding the henhouse.” The UC opposes SB 219. It is
unclear at this point whether the governor intends to sign the
bill.
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Anti-libel tourism bill to governor
Aug 28, 2009
The Senate sent legislation to combat libel tourism to
the governor this week on a 39-0 vote. The Assembly last week approved the bill
on a 75-0 vote. Sponsored by CNPA and authored by Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairwoman Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), SB 320 would prohibit state courts from recognizing a
defamation judgment obtained in a foreign jurisdiction, unless the court
determines the defamation law applied in the case provided at least as much
protection for freedom of expression as offered by the First Amendment and
California Constitution. Here is CNPA’s letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urging his
signature approval of the bill.
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Judicial Council meets with CNPA to discuss new access rule
Aug 28, 2009
Staff for the Judicial Council, the policymaking body
of the state’s courts, met on Monday with representatives from CNPA,
Californians Aware and the California First Amendment Coalition to begin
crafting a new rule of court that will provide the public a right of access to
administrative court records. Judicial Council staff intends to draft a rule,
put it through an accelerated public vetting process, and then before the
Judicial Council for adoption before the end of the year.
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Judicial Council to fast-track new Rule of Court
Aug 21, 2009
The Judicial Council – the administrative arm of the
courts – has asked for CNPA’s help, as well as that of the larger access
community, to craft a new Rule of Court that will allow the public to access
court administrative records. An initial meeting with CNPA, CFAC, CalAware and
media law attorneys will occur Monday, August 24, at the Council’s Sacramento
office.
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California Anti-Libel Tourism gets key vote
Aug 21, 2009
Legislation to combat libel tourism won easy approval
from the Assembly this week and is one procedural vote from Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s desk. The vote was 75-0. Sponsored by CNPA and authored by
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), SB 320 would prohibit state courts from recognizing a
defamation judgment obtained in a foreign jurisdiction unless the court
determines the defamation law applied in the case provided at least as much
protection for freedom of expression as offered by the First Amendment and
California Constitution. A Senate vote concurring on amendments taken in the
Assembly should occur next week. The amendments addressed were sought by
the Judicial Council to address procedural issues.
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Auxiliary organization sunshine bill jumps big hurdle
Aug 21, 2009
The Assembly Appropriations committee on Wednesday voted 16-0 to pass
legislation to require quasi-public organizations that operate on community
college, California State University or University of California campuses to be
subject to the California Public Record Act.
Read More
Serial meeting bill signed
Aug 07, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday placed his
signature on legislation to update the open meeting law for state boards and
commissions to tighten its prohibition against the use of serial meetings. AB 1494 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) amends the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting law to address a recent court
decision affecting serial meetings of public bodies. CNPA sponsored the
bill.
Read More
Gov signs bill to protect enforcement of access laws
Aug 07, 2009
A barrier to citizen enforcement of the state’s public
records and open meeting laws was eliminated yesterday when Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed SB 786 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). Pushed by CNPA, the California First
Amendment Coalition and Californians Aware, the new law limits the ability of
cities, counties and state agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the
anti-SLAPP law.
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Serial meeting bill on Governor’s desk
Jul 31, 2009
The Legislature has finally approved legislation to
update the open meeting law for state boards and commissions to tighten its
prohibition against the use of serial meetings. CNPA is the sponsor of AB 1494 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), which would amend the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting law to address a recent court
decision affecting serial meetings of public bodies. The Senate Governmental
Organization recently approved the bill on a 9-0 vote after the Assembly
approved it 73-0.
Read More
Gov gets Anti-SLAPP bill
Jul 31, 2009
The Legislature has finally approved legislation pushed
by CNPA, CFAC and Cal Aware to limit the ability of cities, counties and state
agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the California anti-SLAPP law. SB 786 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would provide that the attorney fee
award against plaintiffs that is generally available to prevailing defendants in
a case dismissed on a motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP law is not available
for causes of action filed to enforce the state’s open meeting laws or the
public’s right to government information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Budget trailer bill puts some sunshine on court administrative records
Jul 31, 2009
Legislation enacted as part of the state budget gives
“any person” a new right of access administrative records of the court system,
but not everyone is totally happy about it. Court employee unions pushed the
sunshine language into AB4X 13, introduced in the 4th extraordinary legislative
session, by Assembly Budget Chairwoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa). A trailer bill that is part of the
recently signed budget package, AB4X 13 makes several changes in the law
governing the courts and Department of Corrections.
Read More
Bill would have DA’s sue on behalf of rich and famous
Jul 10, 2009
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has amended her Anti-Paparazzi bill to allow district attorneys and city attorneys to pursue, at taxpayer expense, civil claims on behalf of a celebrities victimized by the paparazzi. The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider AB 524 at its Tuesday meeting. The bill would also make newspaper publishers liable in tort under the existing anti-paparazzi law if they sell, transmit, publish or use an image with “actual knowledge the image was obtained illegally“ A previous amendment taken in the Assembly Judiciary Committee added the requirement the plaintiff prove the publisher had paid for the image.
Read More
Brown Act Training in Loomis
Jul 10, 2009
CNPA governmental affairs staff and an official from the League of California Cities will provide training on the Ralph M. Brown Act for the Loomis Town Council, its subordinate bodies and members of the public on Monday July 13 at 6:00 PM at the Loomis Depot, 5775 Horseshoe Bar Road (at the intersection of Taylor and Horseshoe Bar Road by the railroad tracks). All are welcome.
Read More
Assembly committees endorse more sunshine for campus hybrids
Jul 10, 2009
Legislation to open to public view the non-profit organizations that perform essential college and university operations on behalf of the community college, California State University and University of California systems jumped two big hurdles this week on its way to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk. On Tuesday, the Assembly Higher Education Committee approved SB 218 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) on a vote of 8-0. The next day the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization approved the bill 18-0. The unanimity belies the intense lobbying and negotiations in which the sponsors CNPA and the California Faculty Association have engaged to move the bill in spite of the stiff opposition of the CSU, UC, and, until recently, community colleges.
Read More
CPRA index bill up next week
Jun 26, 2009
Legislation sponsored by CNPA to
update the sections of the California Public Records Act that attempt to
identify, alphabetically and descriptively, every law that purports to exempt
public records from disclosure is moving quickly toward the governor’s desk.
Read More
Serial meeting bill set for hearing
Jun 26, 2009
The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider on Monday
legislation that would update the open meeting law for state boards and
commissions to tighten its prohibition against the use of serial meetings. CNPA
is the sponsor of AB 1494 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), which would amend the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting law to address a recent court
decision affecting serial meetings of public bodies. The Senate Governmental Organization recently approved the bill on
a 9-0 vote after the Assembly approved it 73-0.
Read More
UC whistleblower protection bill advances
Jun 26, 2009
Legislation that would provide University of California employees who are
retaliated against because they report wrongdoing with the same legal
protections as other state employees was passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday on an 8-2 vote.
Read More
Libel Tourism bill moves
Jun 26, 2009
Legislation to combat libel tourism was approved this week by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 10-0 vote. SB 320 by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), would prohibit state courts from
recognizing a defamation judgment obtained in a foreign jurisdiction, unless the
court determines the defamation law applied in the case provided at least as
much protection for freedom of expression as offered by the First Amendment and
California Constitution.
Read More
Auxiliary organization bill set for back-to-back hearings in Assembly
Jun 26, 2009
Legislation that would require quasi-public organizations that operate on
community college, California State University or University of California
campuses to be subject to the California Public Record Act has been set for hearing in the
Assembly Higher Education Committee on July 7 and the Assembly Government Organization Committee on July
8.
Read More
Deceased personality bill set
Jun 26, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation on June
30 that would expand the law protecting the commercial value of the name and
likeness of deceased personalities. CNPA opposes AB 585 by Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Brea), which would amend this law to, in addition to
protecting the intellectual property rights of those whose “name, voice,
signature, photo, or likeness has commercial value at the time of death,” to
also include those, whose name, etc., has commercial value “because of his or
her death.”
Read More
Mandatory sick leave bill held in Appropriations Committee
Jun 26, 2009
Legislation that would require employers’ to provide paid sick leave for
employees became a two year bill when it was held last week in the Assembly
Appropriations Committee. Opposed by CNPA and many employer organizations, AB 1000 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) would have required that all employers
provide paid sick leave to an employee after seven days of work in a calendar
year to care for the employee’s own illness, or to provide care to a sick child,
spouse, domestic partner or other relative. The mandate would extend to all
employers and all employees with no exceptions.
Read More
Assembly committee approves Anti-SLAPP bill
Jun 26, 2009
The Assembly Judiciary Committee approved on a 9-1 vote legislation to limit the ability of cities, counties
and state agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the California anti-SLAPP
law. SB 786 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would provide that the attorney fee
award against plaintiffs that is generally available to prevailing defendants in
a case dismissed on a motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP law is not available
for causes of action filed to enforce the state’s open meeting laws or the
public’s right to government information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Legislature considers independent contractor withholding
Jun 26, 2009
Last week, the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget passed a series of tax proposals that would mandate
California employers withhold and remit to the Franchise Tax Board 3% of all
payments made to independent contractors. Independent contractors that have
experienced problems with taxpayer identification number verification would be
subject to an additional 7% withholding for a total of 10%. The proposal was
supported by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. CNPA
is working with a broad coalition of business and employer organizations to
oppose the withholding proposal.
Read More
PPIC study says Internet use up, but digital divide persists
Jun 26, 2009
The Public Policy Institute of
California reports that while a new survey of Californians’ Internet usage shows
a steady increase of access and broadband connection, the digital divide
persists, especially in rural areas and minority communities. Here’s PPIC’s press release.
Read More
Anti-Paparazzi amendment set for July 7
Jun 26, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation by
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) on July 7 to make newspaper publishers
liable in tort under the existing anti-paparazzi law if they sell, transmit,
publish or use an image with "actual knowledge the image was obtained
illegally." An amendment taken in the Assembly Judiciary Committee added the
requirement the plaintiff prove the publisher had also paid for the image.
Read More
Stunning victory on public notice bill
Jun 19, 2009
The many letters and personal communications between CNPA members and
the 5 Senators on the Senate Local Government Committee paid huge
dividends today as the committee unanimously decided to hold AB 715 by
Assemblywoman Anna Marie Caballero (D-Salinas). AB 715
would give city and county clerks the discretion to post newly enacted
ordinances on the agency’s government web site instead of publishing a
summary of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation.
Read More
Public Notice Survey
Jun 19, 2009
CNPA is seeking to gather information from member newspapers regarding
the presence of public notice advertising on the Internet via newspaper
websites. Your response will assist CNPA’s work to protect and secure
public notice adverting in newspapers of general circulation. To
participate in this survey, please review the questions below and
e-mail your response to chris@cnpa.com. CNPA thanks you in advance for your participation.
1. Does your newspaper have a web presence?
2. Do you post public notice advertisements on the newspaper’s website?
3. How long does a public notice advertisement remain on the newspaper’s website?
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Stunning victory on public notice bill
Jun 17, 2009
The many letters and personal communications between CNPA members and the five senators on the Senate Local Government Committee paid huge dividends Wednesday (June 17) as the committee unanimously decided to hold AB 715 by Assemblywoman Anna Marie Caballero (D-Salinas).
Read More
Public notice survey
Jun 17, 2009
CNPA is seeking to gather information from member newspapers regarding the presence of public notice advertising on the Internet via newspaper websites. Your response will assist CNPA's work to protect and secure public notice adverting in newspapers of general circulation.
Read More
Publishers leap to action on Public notice bill
Jun 05, 2009
Following CNPA's June 3 Legislative Bulletin highlighting the threat posed by AB 715 by Assemblywoman Anna Marie Caballero (D-Salinas), several publishers have sent letters to the Senate Local Government Committee and their own Senator.
Read More
The time to contact senators is now!
Jun 04, 2009
Legislation to kill the required publication in newspapers of a key public notice advertisement is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee
on June 17. Dozens of cities and counties have written letters urging
the committee to approve the bill. Now is the time for the committee
to receive a different point of view from CNPA members.
Read More
Public notice bill held by committee
Jun 03, 2009
Legislation that would have automatically repealed on January 1, 2015 a law requiring public schools to notice contract bid solicitations in newspapers has been held by the Assembly Appropriations Assemblyman Committee, effectively killing it for the year.
Read More
Senate overwhelmingly passes auxiliary organization bill
Jun 03, 2009
Legislation that would require quasi-public organizations that operate on community college, California State University or University of California campuses to be subject to the California Public Record Act was approved by the Senate in a bi-partisan 32-1 vote. Four senators who previously expressed support for SB 218 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) were not on the floor for the vote because they were attending the Budget Conference Committee. They are expected to add their aye votes to the tally by the end of the day. The lone no vote was cast by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana).
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Senate approves Yee Anti-SLAPP bill
May 29, 2009
The Senate yesterday voted 34-0 to approve legislation to limit the
ability of cities, counties and state agencies to collect attorney’s
fees under the California anti-SLAPP law.
Read More
Auxiliary organization bill amended, set for floor vote next week.
May 29, 2009
Legislation that would require quasi-public organizations that operate
on community college, California State University or University of
California campuses to be subject to the California Public Record Act was amended late last week and is slated for a vote on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Read More
Cities, counties attack newspaper public notice of new laws
May 29, 2009
Assembly Local Government Committee Chairwoman Anna Marie Caballero
(D-Salinas) has introduced legislation to allow cities to post newly
enacted ordinances on a government web site instead of publishing a
summary of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation.
Read More
Anti-Paparazzi amendment moves
May 20, 2009
Legislation by Assembly Speaker
Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) to make newspaper publishers liable
in tort under the existing anti-paparazzi law if they sell, transmit,
publish or use an image with “actual knowledge the image was obtained
illegally“ was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee Tuesday over CNPA’s
principled objections. The vote was 8-2, with every Democrat on the committee
voting in support of the Speaker’s bill, joined by Republican Jim Nielsen
(R-Biggs). Vice Chairman Van Tran (R-Costa Mesa) and Assemblyman
Stephen Knight (R-Palmdale) voted no. CNPA was the sole opponent at
the hearing.
Read More
Public notice bill gets unfixed
May 20, 2009
Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Mountain View) has recently amended his bill on
public school contract bid solicitations to automatically repeal a key
newspaper notice on January 1, 2015. As introduced, Fong’s AB 701 simply repealed the requirement that school
districts publish contract bid notices in newspapers of general
circulation in favor of posting that information on the district’s web
site. After CNPA expressed its concerns, Fong amended the bill to
reinstate the publication requirement. That amendment didn’t
stick. The bill was amended again on April 14 to automatically
repeal the newspaper publication requirement on January 1,
2015.
Anti-SLAPP limiter moves from committee
May 20, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation
sponsored by the California First Amendment Coalition and supported by
CNPA, Cal Aware and the ACLU to limit the ability of cities, counties and
state agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the anti-SLAPP law.
The vote was a unanimous 5-0. SB 786 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would provide that the attorney
fee award against plaintiffs that is generally available to prevailing
defendants in a case dismissed on a motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP
law is not available for causes of action filed to enforce the state’s
open meeting laws or the public’s right to government information under
the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Measure to apply CPRA to auxiliary organizations moves
May 20, 2009
Legislation to make quasi-public organizations that operate on community college, California State University or University of California campuses subject to the California Public Record Act was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 4-1 vote.
Read More
Committee approves bill to update CPRA exemption index
May 15, 2009
Legislation sponsored by CNPA to update the sections of the California Public Records Act that attempt to identify, alphabetically and descriptively, every law that purports to exempt public records from disclosure was approved by the Senate Judiciary Tuesday on a 5-0 vote. SB 359 by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) would update the index CNPA helped enact as part of a major CPRA reform effort in the late 1990s. Requesters and custodians of public records use the exemption index to quickly determine if an exemption may impact a particular records request.
Bill to apply CPRA to auxiliary organizations will be heard next week.
May 08, 2009
Legislation that
would require quasi-public organizations that operate on community
college, California State University or University of California campuses
to be subject to the California Public Record Act will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, May
12.
Read More
CNPA, CFAC and Cal Aware team up on bill
May 08, 2009
Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has agreed to author legislation
sponsored by the California First Amendment Coalition and supported by
CNPA and Cal Aware to limit the ability of cities, counties and state
agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the anti-SLAPP law. SB 786, a bill formerly authored by Senate President pro
Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that would have amended the Unruh
Civil Rights Act, was gutted and amended on May 6 to provide that the
attorney fee award against plaintiffs that is generally available to
prevailing defendants in a case dismissed on a motion to strike under the
anti-SLAPP law is not available for causes of action filed to enforce the
state’s open meeting laws or the public’s right to government information under
the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Vexatious requester bill may be dead
May 01, 2009
Opposition from CNPA, Cal Aware, CFAC and the California Anti-SLAPP project has
likely killed legislation to allow a court to adjudge an individual a vexatious
requester of public records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Sponsored by Attorney
General Jerry Brown, AB 520 by Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) would require a public agency to pursue the
designation in court. If a court finds the requester has made a request for “an
improper purpose,” it could limit or eliminate an agency’s duty to respond to
requests in the future.
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CNPA opposes deceased personality bill
May 01, 2009
CNPA’s board of directors met last
week in Palm Springs and decided to oppose AB 585 by Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Brea), which would amend the law protecting the
commercial value of the name and likeness of deceased personalities. AB 585
would amend this law to, in addition to protecting the intellectual property
rights of those whose “name, voice, signature, photo, or likeness has commercial
value at the time of death,” to also include those, whose name, etc., has
commercial value “because of his or her death.”
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Blurred image bill slowed
May 01, 2009
Legislation that would require an operator of a commercial Internet web site
that makes a virtual globe browser available to the public to blur images of
California schools, churches, hospitals and government buildings has been made a
two-year bill. CNPA opposes AB 255 by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-La Mesa), which is intended to force providers of
satellite imagery like Google Earth to alter their practices to protect against the
use of images by terrorists. The bill would also require an Internet web site
to blur street view photographs of the buildings and facilities deemed
sensitive.
Read More
Bagley-Keene serial meeting bill sails
May 01, 2009
The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee approved on a 16-0 vote last week legislation that would update the open
meeting law for state boards and commissions to tighten its prohibition against
the use of serial meetings. CNPA is the sponsor of AB 1494 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), which would amend the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting law to address a recent court
decision affecting serial meetings of public bodies.
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Meal period relief pushed away from table
May 01, 2009
Legislation that would provide clarity and guidance for compliance enforcement
of meal period laws was pulled by the author, Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), prior to being heard by the Senate Industrial Relations Committee on Wednesday. CNPA is a
co-sponsor of the bill.
Read More
Flexible scheduling bill killed by Senate committee
May 01, 2009
Legislation that would help employees and employers achieve greater flexibility
in work schedules by allowing workers to request and employers to mutually agree
to a four-day compressed workweek was defeated in the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on Wednesday
by a 2-4 partisan vote.
Read More
Speaker Bass targets publishers of celebrity photos
May 01, 2009
Two days ago Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), co-opted, gutted, and amended a
colleague’s bill in an attempt to make publishers liable under the
anti-paparazzi law for publishing ill-gotten photos or recordings. AB 524, formerly authored by Assemblyman Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles) and formerly a bill regulating acting
schools, would make newspaper publishers liable in tort under the existing
anti-paparazzi law if they sell, transmit, publish or use an image “with actual
knowledge the image was obtained illegally.”
Read More
Brown Act bill amended for another purpose
Apr 17, 2009
Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino (D-Pasadena) has amended his legislation to repeal the Ralph M.
Brown Act’s requirement that at least a majority of members of a body
participate in teleconferenced meetings from within the agency's jurisdictional
boundaries.
Read More
Brown Act labor bill slowed
Apr 17, 2009
Legislation sponsored by CNPA to limit
the secrecy associated with labor negotiations between a local public agency and
public employees under the Ralph M. Brown open meeting law has been slowed
because of enduring opposition from labor organizations and local government
agencies.
Vexatious requester bill up next week
Apr 17, 2009
The Assembly
Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear on Tuesday, April 21, legislation
to allow a court to adjudge an individual a vexatious requester of public
records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Mandatory sick leave bill set for hearing next week
Apr 17, 2009
Legislation that would increase employers’ costs for a new protected and paid
sick leave for employees is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly
Labor and Employment committee on April 22.
Read More
Another public notice bill fixed
Apr 17, 2009
Assemblyman Jim Beall
(D-San Jose) will amend his bill to eliminate a key public notice at CNPA’s
request. AB
116 would make several changes to the bid solicitation process for Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit
District, and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
Read More
Committee preserves newspaper public notices
Apr 17, 2009
The Assembly
Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday, April 14, approved
legislation that would clean up the Self-Service Storage Facilities Act, but not
before amending the bill to reinstate the existing requirement that a lien sale
of personal property for nonpayment of rent be noticed in a newspaper of general
circulation.
Read More
Opposition building on Calderon libel bill
Apr 03, 2009
The American Civil
Liberties Union and the California Civil Justice Association have
joined CNPA to oppose legislation that would extend the statute of
limitations for filing a libel or slander lawsuit from 1 year to 3
years.
Read More
Ant-Libel Tourism bill set for hearing
Apr 03, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation to combat libel tourism on April 14. Sponsored by CNPA, SB 320 by Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Ellen Corbett
(D-San Leandro) would prohibit state courts from recognizing a
defamation judgment obtained in a foreign jurisdiction, unless the
court determines the defamation law applied in the case provided at
least as much protection for freedom of expression as offered by the
First Amendment and California Constitution.
Read More
Meal period reform bill set for hearing
Apr 03, 2009
Legislation introduced by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) to clarify California’s frequently litigated meal period law, has been set for it’s first hearing in the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on April 22.
Read More
State Ad ban bill stalled for the year
Apr 03, 2009
Legislation
that would have eliminated state advertising in newspapers has become a
“two-year bill,” meaning it will not be considered by the Legislature
until 2010, if at all.
Read More
One public notice bill fixed
Apr 03, 2009
Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Mountain View) has amended his AB 701
at CNPA’s request. As introduced the bill would have repealed the
requirement that school districts publish bid notices for public
projects in favor of the notices being posted solely on the district’s
web site.
Read More
Public notice repealer up on the 14th
Apr 03, 2009
Legislation that would repeal newspaper public notices of public storage lien sales is set to be heard by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee
on Wednesday, April 15. CNPA governmental affairs staff urges members
to contact committee members urging a NO vote on the bill unless it is
amended to reinstate the publication requirement. Here is CNPA’s opposition letter to AB 655 by Assemblyman Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands). Contact information for the B & P Committee is set forth below.
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Calderon libel bill set for hearing
Mar 13, 2009
Legislation to extend the statute of limitations for
filing a libel or slander lawsuit from 1 year to 3 years has been set for
hearing in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March
31.
Read More
CSU Trustees to consider opposing CPRA bill
Mar 13, 2009
The California State University Board of Trustees
will meet on Wednesday, March 25th, to consider positions on several bills
introduced this legislative session, one of which is SB 218 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco).
Read More
CNPA IDs five public notice bills so far
Mar 13, 2009
CNPA governmental affairs staff continues
to review all of the 2388 regular session bills introduced by the
legislature before its February 27 deadline. So far, staff has
identified these 5 bills that would affect public notice advertising laws,
all introduced in the Assembly:
Read More
Bill introduced to apply CPRA to CIF
Mar 09, 2009
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) has introduced AB 352 which declares it is the legislature’s intent that the
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body that oversees
the state high school sports, comply with the California Public Records Act
Read More
Bill would alter Brown Act teleconference law
Mar 09, 2009
Calderon bill would extend libel court filing deadlines
Mar 09, 2009
Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) has introduced
legislation to extend the statute of limitations for filing a libel or slander
lawsuit from 1 year to 3 years. His AB 353 seems to buck the trend in California that has made
actions for defamation a disfavored tort.
Senator takes another bite at meal period reform
Mar 02, 2009
Sen. Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), for the second
year in a row, has introduced legislation intended to clarify
California’s oft-litigated meal period law.
Read More
CPRA: auxiliary bill introduced
Mar 02, 2009
Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced
legislation that would require auxiliary organizations that receive
public funds or perform government functions on University of
California, California State University and California Community
College campuses to comply with the California Public Records Act
(CPRA). Sponsored by CNPA, SB 218 was introduced in response to a CPRA
request that was denied by auxiliary organizations operating at
Sacramento State and Fresno State Universities.
Read More
Bill would update CPRA exemption index
Mar 02, 2009
Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) has introduced
legislation to update the sections of the California Public Records
Act that attempt to identify, alphabetically and descriptively,
every law that purports to exempt public records from
disclosure. SB 359 would update laws CNPA helped put on the
books as part of a major CPRA reform effort in the late 1990s.
Read More
Carter introduces vexatious requester bill
Mar 02, 2009
Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D- Rialto) has
introduced legislation on behalf of Attorney General Jerry Brown to
allow a court to adjudge an individual a vexatious requester of
public records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
Read More
Corbett introduces anti-Libel Tourism bill
Mar 02, 2009
Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairwoman Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) this week introduced
legislation to combat libel tourism. Sponsored by CNPA, her SB 320 would prohibit state courts from
recognizing a defamation judgment obtained in a foreign
jurisdiction, unless the court determines the defamation law applied
in the case provided at least as much protection for freedom of
expression as offered by the First Amendment and California
Constitution.
Read More
Leno files major Brown Act bill
Mar 02, 2009
Sen. Mark Leno (D-San
Francisco) filed legislation late last week to limit secrecy associated
labor negotiations between a local public agency and public employees
under the Ralph M. Brown open meeting law.
Read More
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