USC journalism students fighting for death records for swine flu

Many California county health officials are discounting arguments that it is in the public interest to know who died from swine flu and refusing to release the records to journalism students from University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism. In denying the requests, officials cite privacy issues and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability [...]

Newspaper sues community college district for public records

The Contra Costa times is suing the Peralta Community College District under the California Public Records Act for records relating to a lucrative no-bid contract awarded to a developer, an associate of the district chancellor. The newspaper is also seeking records of employees punished for allegedly releasing information about the chancellor’s ties to the developer. [...]

Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes open government, free speech bills

Facing a midnight deadline to sign or veto hundreds of bills, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger relented on threats to impose a mass veto over lack of progress on overhauling the state’s water system and signed at least 168 of the bills into law, but two open government and free speech bills were not among the 168. [...]

Governor’s political game threatens key open government/free speech bills

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is holding over 700 bills hostage to gain approval of a water deal with the legislature. Among the 700 bills are four bills that advance the cause of open government and freedom of speech. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association Commentary October 7, 2009 With the Sunday deadline fast approaching, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger [...]

Citizen sues San Francisco Ethics Commission: Alleges commission withheld public records

Allen Grossman, an open government advocate, has filed suit in San Francisco, charging that the Ethics Commission has suppressed public records regarding their failure to enforce violations of state and local open government laws. -DB Press Release October 6, 2009 In a lawsuit filed Monday in the San Francisco Superior Court, Open Government advocate Allen Grossman [...]

First Amendment advocates criticize draft of new rules granting access to judicial records

Senate Bill X4 13 required that the California Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) adopt new policies to provide public access to nonadjudicative court records, budget and management information. A 19-page draft has now been released for public comment from the present until October 29. So far First Amendment defenders say there should be no [...]

Community college considers firing employee for providing information under public records act

The Peralta Community College district may fire an executive assistant to the vice chancellor over information the assistant is alleged to have provided to the press about payments in a non-bid contract to the chancellor’s longtime business partner. The newspaper involved denied receiving any information. -DB Contra Costa Times September 28, 2009 By Matt Krupnick [...]

Stanislaus retirement board denies requests for pension amounts

The Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association has denied a request under the California Public Records Act for the names of retirees with annual pensions over $100,000. -DB The Modesto Bee August 10, 2009 By Ken Carlson The Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association has refused to release records about public service employees receiving the most lucrative pensions. [...]

Governor signs FAC-sponsored access bill

With encouragement from the California First Amendment Coalition, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 786 that limits the ability of state and local governmental agencies to win fee awards from citizens bringing lawsuits under the state’s open government laws -DB Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law SB 768 on August 6 a measure vital to maintaining the [...]

California governor signs bill protecting citizens seeking open government

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger singed a bill limiting the ability of state and local public agencies to collect attorney’s fees under the anti-SLAPP law. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association August 7, 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 [...]

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