Local Information Not Optional

Sacramento, CA – The Associated Press reports the state Assembly has passed legislation cutting one provision of a budget bill that has the potential for hindering the public’s access to local government records.

After public outcry criticizing that part of the bill, the Assembly voted 52-25 Thursday to get rid of that section. The original bill was part of the overall balanced budget that was approved last week and sent to the governor. That bill made it optional for local agencies to comply with the California Public Records Act meaning the state would not have to reimburse the governments for their costs.

Thursday’s legislation includes all the previous budget-related items but withdraws the language giving local governments the option to comply with records requests.
Republicans opposed the bill because of the other items but said they would have supported a single-issue bill preserving the public records requirement.