Legislative Bulletin

The CPRA has long allowed access to only information held by police but not the actual records. Governor Jerry Brown’s signature on AB 748, by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) changes this by amending the investigatory records exemption to require the disclosure of video or audio footage related to “critical incidents.” The bill has been…

Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill on Sept. 17 that fundamentally changes who can recover attorneys fees under the California Public Records Act. SB 1244 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) amends the law to provide that a “requester” has the right to recover attorneys fees. Current law states that only a “plaintiff” can recover fees.…

Last week, Governor Jerry Brown signed a measure that amends the Political Reform Act to place new duties on “online platforms” that display political advertisements, AB 2188 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco). The law defines “online platform” to mean “a public-facing Internet Web site, web application, or digital application, including a social network,…

Legislation that would allow advisory committees covered by the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act to provide shorter notice as well as several other changes before holding a teleconference meeting was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown over the weekend. AB 2958 by Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), was introduced to “modernize” the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act…

In reaction to the #MeToo movement, the legislature has banned settlement agreements that require an individual to suppress facts about sexual assault, harassment or discrimination with SB 820 by Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino). Under the new law, employers who settle cases will not be able to demand confidentiality from an employee. However, as a protection…

In response to several defects identified in the recently enacted California Data Privacy Protection Act (CDPPA) which raced through the Legislature at lightning speed, the Legislature amended SB 1121 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to address several of the most glaring deficiencies, which the Governor approved last week. Among the clarifications to the CDPPA is…

After vetoing similar legislation last year, Governor Jerry Brown last week, signed a slightly narrower version of a measure that would require police agencies to post all of their current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials that would otherwise be available to the public if a request was made pursuant to…

Last Friday, despite intense opposition and pressure from nearly every law enforcement association in the state, the California legislature passed two historic reforms allowing the public to access information held by law enforcement agencies in California that has been kept from public view. The two measures were co-sponsored by CNPA and the ACLU and would…

Last week, the International Trade Commission (ITC) unanimously voted to terminate the countervailing and anti-dumping duties that have been charged on imported Canadian newsprint since January of this year. While the Commission’s welcome decision was released last week, stakeholders must wait several more weeks to learn the commission’s reasoning for the reversal when the ITC…

An effort to persuade legislators to put a hold on a recent decision of the California Supreme Court, (Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court) that makes it more difficult for businesses to classify their workers as independent contractors fell short before the Legislature adjourned for the year. The move involved a Chamber of Commerce…