Bill backed by media workers would open California state prisons to journalists

A media access bill allowing journalists into California state prisons stands a chance to become law. Eight previous versions of the law were vetoed by three governors. The bill would not only allow journalists to talk with inmates but also prohibit officials from punishing inmates for doing so. -db From the Fog City Journal, February [...]

California: Hanford City Council may be correct in withholding packet of allegations

The Hanford City Council has so far not released an anonymous packet of documents to the public and may never. The documents make allegations against city leaders which the council discussed in closed meetings. Jim Ewert, legal counsel for the California Newspaper Publisher Association, said the council may be on safe ground in denying public [...]

California: San Mateo college board on shaky ground in involvement in campaign for bond measure

According to one former county counsel, it is legal for school board members to participate in campaigns for bond measures so long as public funds are not involved, but questions arose when all trustees for the San Mateo County Community College District served on a committee that met in private to plan a bond measure [...]

Tulare supervisor lunch lawsuit goes to California Supreme Court

The lawsuit over closed lunch meetings of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors is going to the California Supreme Court. The suit centered on 30 closed lunch meetings in 2009 during which at least a majority of the supervisors were present. The supervisors claimed they never discussed county business during the lunches. -db From the [...]

California: Frequent closed meetings by Stockton City Council raise questions

The increasing numbers of closed door sessions conducted by the Stockton City Council has prompted open government advocates to protest the practice. Under a threat of bankruptcy, the council has met in closed meetings three times for every two open meetings. The council may meet in closed session to discuss certain financial matters, but in [...]

California: Allegations that Patterson City Council violated state open meeting law

Jim Ewert of the California Newspaper Publisher Association said that the Patterson City Council violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting act, when it failed to provide the identity of those who voted in a closed session for an interim city attorney. Ewert said it did not matter that the rankings of candidates occurred [...]

California public universities agree to transparency for foundations

California state universities have opened the door to transparency for campus foundations with a compromise with state Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. The agreement will protect the privacy of most donors but allow disclosure of other financial details. The foundations and operations such as campus bookstores would operate under the California Public Records Act. The agreement [...]

California: St. Helena council accused of holding illegal ‘serial meeting’

The California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) is claiming that the St. Helena City Council violated the Brown Act, California’s open meeting act, when a town administrator sent a memo to council members of instructions to its Housing Subcommittee. In a series of e-mails, council members suggested changes to the instructions and approved them. Jesse Duarte [...]

California open government: Law to limit closed sessions on real estate deals introduced in state assembly

A state assemblywoman has introduced a bill to prohibit local government agencies from discussing certain real estate issues in closed sessions. The only permissible topics would be the price and payment terms of the real estate transaction. The assemblywoman has been concerned about the possibility of recent violations of the Brown Act, California’s open meeting [...]

California: Court transparency bill introduced in state senate

The California Newspaper Publisher Asssociation and a number of other press groups are backing a bill introduced by Senator Leland Yee requiring timely court transparency. Yee is introducing the bill to address delays the media endures in receiving court documents. The media is concerned that weeks may go by before court administrators release documents. -db [...]

District Attorney looking into alleged open meeting violation by Rose Bowl officials

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office is investigating a compaint that the Rose Bowl Operating Company violated the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, in failing to list an agenda item concerning  the financing of a $152 million stadium renovation. -db Pasadena Star-News October 22, 2010 By Brenda Gazzar Prosecutors said Friday they’ve opened a [...]

Los Angeles County postpones release of salary information of highest-paid employees

A Los Angeles County lawyer said they are delaying the release of the names and salaries of its highest paid employees out of concern for the workers’ safety. -db Los Angeles Times September 27, 2010 By Rong-Gong Lin II Los Angeles County officials are taking steps to keep secret the names and salaries of some [...]

Tulare County Supervisors seek legal expenses in open government suit

After a superior court judge ruled that open meeting activist and newspaper interests overreached in suing the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, the supervisors stuck back with a countersuit seeking court costs. The supervisors had been conducting taxpayer financed lunch meetings without public participation. -db The Porterville Reporter September 7, 2010 By Jenna Chandler The [...]

Concerns arise about California Assembly bill to control paparazzi

The California Newspaper Publisher Association argues that a California Assembly bill aimed at limiting Hollywood paparazzi would hamper journalists and photojournalists in transit to emergency scenes or breaking news locations by criminalizing driving infractions. -db The California Newspaper Publisher Association Commentary August 27, 2010 Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) recently amended her bill [...]

Tulare County: Editorial says judge’s ruling blow to open meetings

On the heels of a Superior Court judge’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Brown Act violations by the county Board of Supervisors, the Visalia Times-Delta argues that the judge should have recognized the overriding importance of the public’s right to know how elected officials conduct public business. -db Visalia Times-Delta Editorial August 26, 2010 [...]

Los Angeles County investigates improper release of information on child death and neglect cases

Los Angeles County have asked departments to investigate inappropriate disclosure of child welfare information, but in making the request in a closed meeting, according to legal experts, have violated the California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act. -db Los Angeles Times August 15, 2010 By Lisa Girion Los Angeles County officials are investigating information released [...]

Brown Act: Editorial opposes change to open meeting law

To save government agencies money, the Senate Budget Committee wants to suspend the requirement that agendas be posted 72 hours in advance. -db Merced Sun-Star Editorial June. 11, 2010 The same money problems that saw 2009 become the newspaper industry’s worst financial year in history now threaten a key part of the public’s right to [...]

Central Valley: Firing of Patterson city manager may have happened without proper public notice

The Patterson City Council posted a closed session as “City Manager Evaluation” but ended up firing him, raising the question of whether the session was conducted in compliance with California’s public meeting law. -db Patterson Irrigator Apr 28, 2010 By Amanda Matthews The Patterson City Council might have violated the Ralph M. Brown Act, a [...]

Marin news staff wins Freedom of Information award in CNPA contest

A team of journalists on the staff of Marin’s Independent Journal won first place for Freedom of Information reporting in the 2009 California Newsaper Publisher Association contest. The staff members won for their work in getting the county to release payroll details that shed light on budget problems. -db Marin Independent Journal April 20, 2010 [...]

Tulare County: Newspaper and association join in lawsuit to stop county supervisors’ lunch meetings

To ensure that the Tulare County Board of Supervisors complies with California’s open meeting law, the local newspaper and the California Newspaper Pulbishers Association are joining a lawsuit to block the board from holding regular closed lunch meetings paid by the taxpayers and often attended by a board quorum. -db Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register April 12, [...]

California: Child welfare agencies stonewalling on children who died on their watch

The California Newspaper Publishers Association may sponsor revisions to current law requiring disclosure of children’s deaths to address the growing trend among state and county child welfare agencies to withhold information. -db California Newspaper Publishers Association February 22, 2010 There is a growing trend among the state and at least one county child welfare agency [...]

Hayward schools: Open government advocate says public comment needed before renewing charter

The Alameda County Board of Education may have violated California’s open meeting law when it refused to hear public comments before a vote to conditionally renew a charter for the FAME Public Charter School. -DB Oakland Tribune January 17, 2010 By Linh Tat HAYWARD, Calif. — The president of the Alameda County Board of Education [...]

Big Bear services district errs in conducting secret ballot

The president of the Big Bear Community Service District admitted it was a violation of California’s open government law, the Brown Act, to elect the new president of the board by secret ballot. -DB Big Bear Grizzly January 7, 2010 By Katie Onheiber and Judi Bowers The Big Bear City Community Services District board has [...]

New rule allows public access to administrative records of California courts

The California Judicial Council approved a new Rule of Court this week giving the public a right of access to administrative records of Superior and Appellate courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The rule will be in effect January of next year and is modeled after the California Public Records Act. -DB Legislative [...]

California: Private water board dinners now open to public

The Castaic Lake Water Agency has invited the public to its dinners before board meetings. Despite assurances that no water business was on the table, the dinners could lead to violations of the Brown Act, the state’s open government law. -DB The Signal Santa Clarita Valley November 12, 2009 By Brian Charles For years, Castaic Lake [...]

Access rule governing state court records out for public comment

The policy body of the state’s courts has published for public comment a rule providing right of access to administrative court records. The deadline for comment is October 29. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association October 7, 2009 The Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the state’s courts, has published for public comment a proposed rule [...]