California Government Code – GOV

Original is here.

TITLE 1. GENERAL [100 – 7914]

( Title 1 enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134. )

DIVISION 7. MISCELLANEOUS [6000 – 7599.2]

( Division 7 enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134. )

CHAPTER 3.5. Inspection of Public Records [6250 – 6276.48]

( Chapter 3.5 added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1473. )

ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [6250 – 6270.5]

( Article 1 heading added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. )

§ 6250.
In enacting this chapter, the Legislature, mindful of the right of individuals to privacy, finds and declares that access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. (Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 575.)

§ 6251.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Public Records Act.

(Added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1473.)

§ 6253.
As used in this chapter:

(a) “Local agency” includes a county; city, whether general law or chartered; city and county; school district; municipal corporation; district; political subdivision; or any board, commission or agency thereof; other local public agency; or entities that are legislative bodies of a local agency pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 54952.

(b) “Member of the public” means any person, except a member, agent, officer, or employee of a federal, state, or local agency acting within the scope of his or her membership, agency, office, or employment.

(d) “Public agency” means any state or local agency.

(e) “Public records” includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. “Public records” in the custody of, or maintained by, the Governor’s office means any writing prepared on or after January 6, 1975.

(f)

(1) “State agency” means every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission or other state body or agency, except those agencies provided for in Article IV (except Section 20 thereof) or Article VI of the California Constitution.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, “state agency” shall also mean the State Bar of California, as described in Section 6001 of the Business and Professions Code.

(g) “Writing” means any handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, photocopying, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combinations thereof, and any record thereby created, regardless of the manner in which the record has been stored.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 537, Sec. 20. (SB 387) Effective January 1, 2016.)

§ 6252.5.

Notwithstanding the definition of “member of the public” in Section 6252, an elected member or officer of any state or local agency is entitled to access to public records of that agency on the same basis as any other person. Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of elected members or officers to access public records permitted by law in the administration of their duties.

This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 620, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.)

§ 6252.6.

Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 827 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, after the death of a foster child who is a minor, the name, date of birth, and date of death of the child shall be subject to disclosure by the county child welfare agency pursuant to this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 847, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)

§ 6252.7.
Notwithstanding Section 6252.5 or any other provision of law, when the members of a legislative body of a local agency are authorized to access a writing of the body or of the agency as permitted by law in the administration of their duties, the local agency, as defined in Section 54951, shall not discriminate between or among any of those members as to which writing or portion thereof is made available or when it is made available.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 63, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)

§ 6253.
(a) Public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, except as hereafter provided. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be available for inspection by any person requesting the record after deletion of the portions that are exempted by law.

(b) Except with respect to public records exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law, each state or local agency, upon a request for a copy of records that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, shall make the records promptly available to any person upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if applicable. Upon request, an exact copy shall be provided unless impracticable to do so.

(c) Each agency, upon a request for a copy of records, shall, within 10 days from receipt of the request, determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the agency and shall promptly notify the person making the request of the determination and the reasons therefor. In unusual circumstances, the time limit prescribed in this section may be extended by written notice by the head of the agency or his or her designee to the person making the request, setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched. No notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension for more than 14 days. When the agency dispatches the determination, and if the agency determines that the request seeks disclosable public records, the agency shall state the estimated date and time when the records will be made available. As used in this section, “unusual circumstances” means the following, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular request:

(1) The need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request.

(2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records that are demanded in a single request.

(3) The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject matter interest therein.

(4) The need to compile data, to write programming language or a computer program, or to construct a computer report to extract data.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit an agency to delay or obstruct the inspection or copying of public records. The notification of denial of any request for records required by Section 6255 shall set forth the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial.

(e) Except as otherwise prohibited by law, a state or local agency may adopt requirements for itself that allow for faster, more efficient, or greater access to records than prescribed by the minimum standards set forth in this chapter.

(f) In addition to maintaining public records for public inspection during the office hours of the public agency, a public agency may comply with subdivision (a) by posting any public record on its Internet Web site and, in response to a request for a public record posted on the Internet Web site, directing a member of the public to the location on the Internet Web site where the public record is posted. However, if after the public agency directs a member of the public to the Internet Web site, the member of the public requesting the public record requests a copy of the public record due to an inability to access or reproduce the public record from the Internet Web site, the public agency shall promptly provide a copy of the public record pursuant to subdivision (b).

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 275, Sec. 1. (AB 2853) Effective January 1, 2017.)

§ 6253.1.
(a) When a member of the public requests to inspect a public record or obtain a copy of a public record, the public agency, in order to assist the member of the public make a focused and effective request that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, shall do all of the following, to the extent reasonable under the circumstances:

(1) Assist the member of the public to identify records and information that are responsive to the request or to the purpose of the request, if stated.

(2) Describe the information technology and physical location in which the records exist.

(3) Provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or information sought.

(b) The requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the public agency is unable to identify the requested information after making a reasonable effort to elicit additional clarifying information from the requester that will help identify the record or records.

(d) This section shall not apply to a request for public records if any of the following applies:

(1) The public agency makes available the requested records pursuant to Section 6253.

(2) The public agency determines that the request should be denied and bases that determination solely on an exemption listed in Section 6254.

(3) The public agency makes available an index of its records.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 355, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002.)

§ 6253.2.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, information regarding persons paid by the state to provide in-home supportive services pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or personal care services pursuant to Section 14132.95 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is not subject to public disclosure pursuant to this chapter, except as provided in subdivision (b).

(b) Copies of names, addresses, home telephone numbers, personal cellular telephone numbers, and personal email addresses of persons described in subdivision (a) shall be made available, upon request, to an exclusive bargaining agent and to any labor organization seeking representation rights pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 12301.6 or Section 12302.25 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1. This information shall not be used by the receiving entity for any purpose other than the employee organizing, representation, and assistance activities of the labor organization.

(c) This section applies solely to individuals who provide services under the In-Home Supportive Services Program (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) or the Personal Care Services Program pursuant to Section 14132.95 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) Nothing in this section is intended to alter or shall be interpreted to alter the rights of parties under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4) or any other labor relations law.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 25, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2017, Ch. 51, Sec. 2. (SB 88) Effective July 10, 2017.)

§ 6253.3.
A state or local agency may not allow another party to control the disclosure of information that is otherwise subject to disclosure pursuant to this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 62, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)

§ 6253.31.
Notwithstanding any contract term to the contrary, a contract entered into by a state or local agency subject to this chapter, including the University of California, that requires a private entity to review, audit, or report on any aspect of that agency shall be public to the extent the contract is otherwise subject to disclosure under this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 62, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)

§ 6253.4.
(a) Every agency may adopt regulations stating the procedures to be followed when making its records available in accordance with this section.

The following state and local bodies shall establish written guidelines for accessibility of records. A copy of these guidelines shall be posted in a conspicuous public place at the offices of these bodies, and a copy of the guidelines shall be available upon request free of charge to any person requesting that body’s records:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Consumer Affairs
Transportation Agency
Bureau of Real Estate
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Division of Juvenile Justice
Department of Justice
Department of Insurance
Department of Business Oversight
Department of Managed Health Care
Secretary of State
State Air Resources Board
Department of Water Resources
Department of Parks and Recreation
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
State Board of Equalization
State Department of Health Care Services
Employment Development Department
State Department of Public Health
State Department of Social Services
State Department of State Hospitals
State Department of Developmental Services
Public Employees’ Retirement System
Teachers’ Retirement Board
Department of Industrial Relations
Department of General Services
Department of Veterans Affairs
Public Utilities Commission
California Coastal Commission
State Water Resources Control Board
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
All regional water quality control boards
Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District
Bay Area Air Pollution Control District
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Department of Toxic Substances Control
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

(b) Guidelines and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be consistent with all other sections of this chapter and shall reflect the intention of the Legislature to make the records accessible to the public. The guidelines and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall not operate to limit the hours public records are open for inspection as prescribed in Section 6253.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 22, Sec. 7. (AB 75) Effective June 27, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 110 of Ch. 22.)

§ 6253.5.
(a) Notwithstanding Sections 6252 and 6253, statewide, county, city, and district initiative, referendum, and recall petitions, petitions circulated pursuant to Section 5091 of the Education Code, petitions for the reorganization of school districts submitted pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35700) of Chapter 4 of Part 21 of the Education Code, petitions for the reorganization of community college districts submitted pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 74000) of the Education Code and all memoranda prepared by the county elections officials in the examination of the petitions indicating which registered voters have signed particular petitions shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be open to inspection except by the public officer or public employees who have the duty of receiving, examining or preserving the petitions or who are responsible for the preparation of that memoranda and, if the petition is found to be insufficient, by the proponents of the petition and the representatives of the proponents as may be designated by the proponents in writing in order to determine which signatures were disqualified and the reasons therefor. However, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Fair Political Practices Commission, a district attorney, a school district or a community college district attorney, and a city attorney shall be permitted to examine the material upon approval of the appropriate superior court.

(b) If the proponents of a petition are permitted to examine the petition and memoranda pursuant to subdivision (a), the examination shall commence not later than 21 days after certification of insufficiency, and the county elections officials shall retain the documents as prescribed in Section 17200 of the Elections Code.

(c) As used in this section, “petition” shall mean any petition to which a registered voter has affixed his or her signature.

(d) As used in this section, “proponents of the petition” means the following:

(1) For statewide initiative and referendum measures, the person or persons who submit a draft of a petition proposing the measure to the Attorney General with a request that he or she prepare a title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure.

(2) For other initiative and referenda on measures, the person or persons who publish a notice of intention to circulate petitions, or, where publication is not required, who file petitions with the elections official.

(3) For recall measures, the person or persons defined in Section 343 of the Elections Code.

(4) For petitions circulated pursuant to Section 5091 of the Education Code, the person or persons having charge of the petition who submit the petition to the county superintendent of schools.

(5) For petitions circulated pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35700) of Chapter 4 of Part 21 of the Education Code, the person or persons designated as chief petitioners under Section 35701 of the Education Code.

(6) For petitions circulated pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 74000) of the Education Code, the person or persons designated as chief petitioners under Sections 74102, 74133, and 74152 of the Education Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 354, Sec. 2. (AB 1729) Effective January 1, 2018.)

§ 6253.6.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6252 and 6253, information compiled by public officers or public employees revealing the identity of persons who have requested bilingual ballots or ballot pamphlets, made in accordance with any federal or state law, or other data that would reveal the identity of the requester, shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be provided to any person other than public officers or public employees who are responsible for receiving those requests and processing the same.

(b) Nothing contained in subdivision (a) shall be construed as prohibiting any person who is otherwise authorized by law from examining election materials, including, but not limited to, affidavits of registration, provided that requests for bilingual ballots or ballot pamphlets shall be subject to the restrictions contained in subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1129, Sec. 1.)

§ 6253.8.
(a) Every final enforcement order issued by an agency listed in subdivision (b) under any provision of law that is administered by an entity listed in subdivision (b), shall be displayed on the entity’s Internet website, if the final enforcement order is a public record that is not exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter.

(b) This section applies to the California Environmental Protection Agency and to all of the following entities within the agency:

(1) The State Air Resources Board.

(2) The California Integrated Waste Management Board.

(3) The State Water Resources Control Board, and each California regional water quality control board.

(4) The Department of Pesticide Regulation.

(5) The Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(c)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, an enforcement order is final when the time for judicial review has expired on or after January 1, 2001, or when all means of judicial review have been exhausted on or after January 1, 2001.

(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), with regard to a final enforcement order issued by the State Water Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality control board, this section shall apply only to a final enforcement order adopted by that board or a regional board at a public meeting.

(d) An order posted pursuant to this section shall be posted for not less than one year.

(e) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall oversee the implementation of this section.

(f) This section shall become operative April 1, 2001.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 783, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001. Section operative April 1, 2001, by its own provisions.)

§ 6253.9.
(a) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, any agency that has information that constitutes an identifiable public record not exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter that is in an electronic format shall make that information available in an electronic format when requested by any person and, when applicable, shall comply with the following:

(1) The agency shall make the information available in any electronic format in which it holds the information.

(2) Each agency shall provide a copy of an electronic record in the format requested if the requested format is one that has been used by the agency to create copies for its own use or for provision to other agencies. The cost of duplication shall be limited to the direct cost of producing a copy of a record in an electronic format.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the requester shall bear the cost of producing a copy of the record, including the cost to construct a record, and the cost of programming and computer services necessary to produce a copy of the record when either of the following applies:

(1) In order to comply with the provisions of subdivision (a), the public agency would be required to produce a copy of an electronic record and the record is one that is produced only at otherwise regularly scheduled intervals.

(2) The request would require data compilation, extraction, or programming to produce the record.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the public agency to reconstruct a record in an electronic format if the agency no longer has the record available in an electronic format.

(d) If the request is for information in other than electronic format, and the information also is in electronic format, the agency may inform the requester that the information is available in electronic format.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an agency to make information available only in an electronic format.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the public agency to release an electronic record in the electronic form in which it is held by the agency if its release would jeopardize or compromise the security or integrity of the original record or of any proprietary software in which it is maintained.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit public access to records held by any agency to which access is otherwise restricted by statute.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 982, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)

§ 6253.10.
If a local agency, except a school district, maintains an Internet Resource, including, but not limited to, an Internet Web site, Internet Web page, or Internet Web portal, which the local agency describes or titles as “open data,” and the local agency voluntarily posts a public record on that Internet Resource, the local agency shall post the public record in an open format that meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Retrievable, downloadable, indexable, and electronically searchable by commonly used Internet search applications.

(b) Platform independent and machine readable.

(c) Available to the public free of charge and without any restriction that would impede the reuse or redistribution of the public record.

(d) Retains the data definitions and structure present when the data was compiled, if applicable.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 737, Sec. 1. (AB 169) Effective January 1, 2016.)

§ 6254.
Except as provided in Sections 6254.7 and 6254.13, this chapter does not require the disclosure of any of the following records:

(a) Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency memoranda that are not retained by the public agency in the ordinary course of business, if the public interest in withholding those records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

(b) Records pertaining to pending litigation to which the public agency is a party, or to claims made pursuant to Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810), until the pending litigation or claim has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.

(c) Personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

(d) Records contained in or related to any of the following:

(1) Applications filed with any state agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of the issuance of securities or of financial institutions, including, but not limited to, banks, savings and loan associations, industrial loan companies, credit unions, and insurance companies.

(2) Examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of, any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency communications prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of, any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(4) Information received in confidence by any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(e) Geological and geophysical data, plant production data, and similar information relating to utility systems development, or market or crop reports, that are obtained in confidence from any person.

(f) Records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or records of intelligence information or security procedures of, the office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, the Office of Emergency Services and any state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes. However, state and local law enforcement agencies shall disclose the names and addresses of persons involved in, or witnesses other than confidential informants to, the incident, the description of any property involved, the date, time, and location of the incident, all diagrams, statements of the parties involved in the incident, the statements of all witnesses, other than confidential informants, to the victims of an incident, or an authorized representative thereof, an insurance carrier against which a claim has been or might be made, and any person suffering bodily injury or property damage or loss, as the result of the incident caused by arson, burglary, fire, explosion, larceny, robbery, carjacking, vandalism, vehicle theft, or a crime as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 13951, unless the disclosure would endanger the safety of a witness or other person involved in the investigation, or unless disclosure would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation. However, this subdivision does not require the disclosure of that portion of those investigative files that reflects the analysis or conclusions of the investigating officer.

Customer lists provided to a state or local police agency by an alarm or security company at the request of the agency shall be construed to be records subject to this subdivision.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, state and local law enforcement agencies shall make public the following information, except to the extent that disclosure of a particular item of information would endanger the safety of a person involved in an investigation or would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation:

(1) The full name and occupation of every individual arrested by the agency, the individual’s physical description including date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height and weight, the time and date of arrest, the time and date of booking, the location of the arrest, the factual circumstances surrounding the arrest, the amount of bail set, the time and manner of release or the location where the individual is currently being held, and all charges the individual is being held upon, including any outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions and parole or probation holds.

(2)

(A) Subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 841.5 of the Penal Code, the time, substance, and location of all complaints or requests for assistance received by the agency and the time and nature of the response thereto, including, to the extent the information regarding crimes alleged or committed or any other incident investigated is recorded, the time, date, and location of occurrence, the time and date of the report, the name and age of the victim, the factual circumstances surrounding the crime or incident, and a general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved. The name of a victim of any crime defined by Section 220, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266e, 266f, 266j, 267, 269, 273a, 273d, 273.5, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 288.3, 288.4, 288.5, 288.7, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, 646.9, or 647.6 of the Penal Code may be withheld at the victim’s request, or at the request of the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor. When a person is the victim of more than one crime, information disclosing that the person is a victim of a crime defined in any of the sections of the Penal Code set forth in this subdivision may be deleted at the request of the victim, or the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, in making the report of the crime, or of any crime or incident accompanying the crime, available to the public in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

(B) Subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 841.5 of the Penal Code, the names and images of a victim of human trafficking, as defined in Section 236.1 of the Penal Code, and of that victim’s immediate family, other than a family member who is charged with a criminal offense arising from the same incident, may be withheld at the victim’s request until the investigation or any subsequent prosecution is complete. For purposes of this subdivision, “immediate family” shall have the same meaning as that provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 422.4 of the Penal Code.

(3) Subject to the restrictions of Section 841.5 of the Penal Code and this subdivision, the current address of every individual arrested by the agency and the current address of the victim of a crime, if the requester declares under penalty of perjury that the request is made for a scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purpose, or that the request is made for investigation purposes by a licensed private investigator as described in Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code. However, the address of the victim of any crime defined by Section 220, 236.1, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266e, 266f, 266j, 267, 269, 273a, 273d, 273.5, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 288.3, 288.4, 288.5, 288.7, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, 646.9, or 647.6 of the Penal Code shall remain confidential. Address information obtained pursuant to this paragraph shall not be used directly or indirectly, or furnished to another, to sell a product or service to any individual or group of individuals, and the requester shall execute a declaration to that effect under penalty of perjury. This paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit or limit a scholarly, journalistic, political, or government use of address information obtained pursuant to this paragraph.

(g) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a licensing examination, examination for employment, or academic examination, except as provided for in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99150) of Part 65 of Division 14 of Title 3 of the Education Code.

(h) The contents of real estate appraisals or engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by the state or local agency relative to the acquisition of property, or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until all of the property has been acquired or all of the contract agreement obtained. However, the law of eminent domain shall not be affected by this provision.

(i) Information required from any taxpayer in connection with the collection of local taxes that is received in confidence and the disclosure of the information to other persons would result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the person supplying the information.

(j) Library circulation records kept for the purpose of identifying the borrower of items available in libraries, and library and museum materials made or acquired and presented solely for reference or exhibition purposes. The exemption in this subdivision shall not apply to records of fines imposed on the borrowers.

(k) Records, the disclosure of which is exempted or prohibited pursuant to federal or state law, including, but not limited to, provisions of the Evidence Code relating to privilege.

(l) Correspondence of and to the Governor or employees of the Governor’s office or in the custody of or maintained by the Governor’s Legal Affairs Secretary. However, public records shall not be transferred to the custody of the Governor’s Legal Affairs Secretary to evade the disclosure provisions of this chapter.

(m) In the custody of or maintained by the Legislative Counsel, except those records in the public database maintained by the Legislative Counsel that are described in Section 10248.

(n) Statements of personal worth or personal financial data required by a licensing agency and filed by an applicant with the licensing agency to establish his or her personal qualification for the license, certificate, or permit applied for.

(o) Financial data contained in applications for financing under Division 27 (commencing with Section 44500) of the Health and Safety Code, if an authorized officer of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority determines that disclosure of the financial data would be competitively injurious to the applicant and the data is required in order to obtain guarantees from the United States Small Business Administration. The California Pollution Control Financing Authority shall adopt rules for review of individual requests for confidentiality under this section and for making available to the public those portions of an application that are subject to disclosure under this chapter.

(p)

(1) Records of state agencies related to activities governed by Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512), Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 3525), and Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4, that reveal a state agency’s deliberative processes, impressions, evaluations, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work products, theories, or strategy, or that provide instruction, advice, or training to employees who do not have full collective bargaining and representation rights under these chapters. This paragraph shall not be construed to limit the disclosure duties of a state agency with respect to any other records relating to the activities governed by the employee relations acts referred to in this paragraph.

(2) Records of local agencies related to activities governed by Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4, that reveal a local agency’s deliberative processes, impressions, evaluations, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work products, theories, or strategy, or that provide instruction, advice, or training to employees who do not have full collective bargaining and representation rights under that chapter. This paragraph shall not be construed to limit the disclosure duties of a local agency with respect to any other records relating to the activities governed by the employee relations act referred to in this paragraph.

(q)

(1) Records of state agencies related to activities governed by Article 2.6 (commencing with Section 14081), Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), and Article 2.91 (commencing with Section 14089) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, that reveal the special negotiator’s deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with providers of health care services, impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy, or that provide instruction, advice, or training to employees.

(2) Except for the portion of a contract containing the rates of payment, contracts for inpatient services entered into pursuant to these articles, on or after April 1, 1984, shall be open to inspection one year after they are fully executed. If a contract for inpatient services that is entered into prior to April 1, 1984, is amended on or after April 1, 1984, the amendment, except for any portion containing the rates of payment, shall be open to inspection one year after it is fully executed. If the California Medical Assistance Commission enters into contracts with health care providers for other than inpatient hospital services, those contracts shall be open to inspection one year after they are fully executed.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection under this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the entire contract or amendment shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The committee and that office shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments until the time a contract or amendment is fully open to inspection by the public.

(r) Records of Native American graves, cemeteries, and sacred places and records of Native American places, features, and objects described in Sections 5097.9 and 5097.993 of the Public Resources Code maintained by, or in the possession of, the Native American Heritage Commission, another state agency, or a local agency.

(s) A final accreditation report of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals that has been transmitted to the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1282 of the Health and Safety Code.

(t) Records of a local hospital district, formed pursuant to Division 23 (commencing with Section 32000) of the Health and Safety Code, or the records of a municipal hospital, formed pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 37600) or Article 8 (commencing with Section 37650) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 4 of this code, that relate to any contract with an insurer or nonprofit hospital service plan for inpatient or outpatient services for alternative rates pursuant to Section 10133 of the Insurance Code. However, the record shall be open to inspection within one year after the contract is fully executed.

(u)

(1) Information contained in applications for licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 26150, 26155, 26170, or 26215 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department that indicates when or where the applicant is vulnerable to attack or that concerns the applicant’s medical or psychological history or that of members of his or her family.

(2) The home address and telephone number of prosecutors, public defenders, peace officers, judges, court commissioners, and magistrates that are set forth in applications for licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 26150, 26155, 26170, or 26215 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department.

(3) The home address and telephone number of prosecutors, public defenders, peace officers, judges, court commissioners, and magistrates that are set forth in licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 26150, 26155, 26170, or 26215 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department.

(v)

(1) Records of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the State Department of Health Care Services related to activities governed by Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695), Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700), Part 6.6 (commencing with Section 12739.5), or Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 12739.70) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15870) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and that reveal any of the following:

(A) The deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with entities contracting or seeking to contract with the board or the department, entities with which the board or the department is considering a contract, or entities with which the board or department is considering or enters into any other arrangement under which the board or the department provides, receives, or arranges services or reimbursement.

(B) The impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff or the department or its staff, or records that provide instructions, advice, or training to their employees.

(2)

(A) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts entered into pursuant to Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695), Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700), Part 6.6 (commencing with Section 12739.5), or Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 12739.70) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15870) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, on or after July 1, 1991, shall be open to inspection one year after their effective dates.

(B) If a contract that is entered into prior to July 1, 1991, is amended on or after July 1, 1991, the amendment, except for any portion containing the rates of payment, shall be open to inspection one year after the effective date of the amendment.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection pursuant to this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto, until the contracts or amendments to the contracts are open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (3).

(w)

(1) Records of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board related to activities governed by Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10700) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and that reveal the deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with health plans, or the impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or records that provide instructions, advice, or training to employees.

(2) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts for health coverage entered into pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10700) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, on or after January 1, 1993, shall be open to inspection one year after they have been fully executed.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto, until the contracts or amendments to the contracts are open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (2).

(x) Financial data contained in applications for registration, or registration renewal, as a service contractor filed with the Director of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Chapter 20 (commencing with Section 9800) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, for the purpose of establishing the service contractor’s net worth, or financial data regarding the funded accounts held in escrow for service contracts held in force in this state by a service contractor.

(y)

(1) Records of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the State Department of Health Care Services related to activities governed by Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) or Part 6.4 (commencing with Section 12699.50) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code or Sections 14005.26 and 14005.27 of, or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15850) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, if the records reveal any of the following:

(A) The deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with entities contracting or seeking to contract with the board or the department, entities with which the board or department is considering a contract, or entities with which the board or department is considering or enters into any other arrangement under which the board or department provides, receives, or arranges services or reimbursement.

(B) The impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or the department or its staff, or records that provide instructions, advice, or training to employees.

(2)

(A) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts entered into pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) or Part 6.4 (commencing with Section 12699.50) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, on or after January 1, 1998, or Sections 14005.26 and 14005.27 of, or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15850) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be open to inspection one year after their effective dates.

(B) If a contract entered into pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) or Part 6.4 (commencing with Section 12699.50) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code or Sections 14005.26 and 14005.27 of, or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15850) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, is amended, the amendment shall be open to inspection one year after the effective date of the amendment.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection pursuant to this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto until the contract or amendments to a contract are open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3).

(5) The exemption from disclosure provided pursuant to this subdivision for the contracts, deliberative processes, discussions, communications, negotiations, impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or the department or its staff, shall also apply to the contracts, deliberative processes, discussions, communications, negotiations, impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of applicants pursuant to Part 6.4 (commencing with Section 12699.50) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15850) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(z) Records obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 2891.1 of the Public Utilities Code.

(aa) A document prepared by or for a state or local agency that assesses its vulnerability to terrorist attack or other criminal acts intended to disrupt the public agency’s operations and that is for distribution or consideration in a closed session.

(ab) Critical infrastructure information, as defined in Section 131(3) of Title 6 of the United States Code, that is voluntarily submitted to the Office of Emergency Services for use by that office, including the identity of the person who or entity that voluntarily submitted the information. As used in this subdivision, “voluntarily submitted” means submitted in the absence of the office exercising any legal authority to compel access to or submission of critical infrastructure information. This subdivision shall not affect the status of information in the possession of any other state or local governmental agency.

(ac) All information provided to the Secretary of State by a person for the purpose of registration in the Advance Health Care Directive Registry, except that those records shall be released at the request of a health care provider, a public guardian, or the registrant’s legal representative.

(ad) The following records of the State Compensation Insurance Fund:

(1) Records related to claims pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 3200) of Division 4 of the Labor Code, to the extent that confidential medical information or other individually identifiable information would be disclosed.

(2) Records related to the discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with entities contracting or seeking to contract with the fund, and any related deliberations.

(3) Records related to the impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes of meetings or sessions that are lawfully closed to the public, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the fund or its staff, on the development of rates, contracting strategy, underwriting, or competitive strategy pursuant to the powers granted to the fund in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11770) of Part 3 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code.

(4) Records obtained to provide workers’ compensation insurance under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11770) of Part 3 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, including, but not limited to, any medical claims information, policyholder information provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to prevent an insurance agent or broker from obtaining proprietary information or other information authorized by law to be obtained by the agent or broker, and information on rates, pricing, and claims handling received from brokers.

(5)

(A) Records that are trade secrets pursuant to Section 6276.44, or Article 11 (commencing with Section 1060) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code, including without limitation, instructions, advice, or training provided by the State Compensation Insurance Fund to its board members, officers, and employees regarding the fund’s special investigation unit, internal audit unit, and informational security, marketing, rating, pricing, underwriting, claims handling, audits, and collections.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the portions of records containing trade secrets shall be available for review by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, California State Auditor’s Office, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and the Department of Insurance to ensure compliance with applicable law.

(6)

(A) Internal audits containing proprietary information and the following records that are related to an internal audit:

(i) Personal papers and correspondence of any person providing assistance to the fund when that person has requested in writing that his or her papers and correspondence be kept private and confidential. Those papers and correspondence shall become public records if the written request is withdrawn, or upon order of the fund.

(ii) Papers, correspondence, memoranda, or any substantive information pertaining to any audit not completed or an internal audit that contains proprietary information.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the portions of records containing proprietary information, or any information specified in subparagraph (A) shall be available for review by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, California State Auditor’s Office, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and the Department of Insurance to ensure compliance with applicable law.

(7)

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), contracts entered into pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11770) of Part 3 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code shall be open to inspection one year after the contract has been fully executed.

(B) If a contract entered into pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11770) of Part 3 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code is amended, the amendment shall be open to inspection one year after the amendment has been fully executed.

(C) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection pursuant to this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(D) Notwithstanding any other law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto until the contract or amendments to a contract are open to inspection pursuant to this paragraph.

(E) This paragraph is not intended to apply to documents related to contracts with public entities that are not otherwise expressly confidential as to that public entity.

(F) For purposes of this paragraph, “fully executed” means the point in time when all of the necessary parties to the contract have signed the contract.

This section does not prevent any agency from opening its records concerning the administration of the agency to public inspection, unless disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law.

This section does not prevent any health facility from disclosing to a certified bargaining agent relevant financing information pursuant to Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Sec. 158).

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 560, Sec. 1. (AB 1455) Effective January 1, 2018.)

§ 6254.1.
(a) Except as provided in Section 6254.7, nothing in this chapter requires disclosure of records that are the residence address of any person contained in the records of the Department of Housing and Community Development, if the person has requested confidentiality of that information, in accordance with Section 18081 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of the residence or mailing address of any person in any record of the Department of Motor Vehicles except in accordance with Section 1808.21 of the Vehicle Code.

(c) Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of the results of a test undertaken pursuant to Section 12804.8 of the Vehicle Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 546, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)

§ 6254.2.

(a) Nothing in this chapter exempts from public disclosure the same categories of pesticide safety and efficacy information that are disclosable under paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136h(d)(1)), if the individual requesting the information is not an officer, employee, or agent specified in subdivision (h) and signs the affirmation specified in subdivision (h).

(b) The Director of Pesticide Regulation, upon his or her initiative, or upon receipt of a request pursuant to this chapter for the release of data submitted and designated as a trade secret by a registrant or applicant, shall determine whether any or all of the data so submitted is a properly designated trade secret. In order to assure that the interested public has an opportunity to obtain and review pesticide safety and efficacy data and to comment prior to the expiration of the public comment period on a proposed pesticide registration, the director shall provide notice to interested persons when an application for registration enters the registration evaluation process.

(c) If the director determines that the data is not a trade secret, the director shall notify the registrant or applicant by certified mail.

(d) The registrant or applicant shall have 30 days after receipt of this notification to provide the director with a complete justification and statement of the grounds on which the trade secret privilege is claimed. This justification and statement shall be submitted by certified mail.

(e) The director shall determine whether the data is protected as a trade secret within 15 days after receipt of the justification and statement or, if no justification and statement is filed, within 45 days of the original notice. The director shall notify the registrant or applicant and any party who has requested the data pursuant to this chapter of that determination by certified mail. If the director determines that the data is not protected as a trade secret, the final notice shall also specify a date, not sooner than 15 days after the date of mailing of the final notice, when the data shall be available to any person requesting information pursuant to subdivision (a).

(f) “Trade secret” means data that is nondisclosable under paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

(g) This section shall be operative only so long as, and to the extent that, enforcement of paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act has not been enjoined by federal court order, and shall become inoperative if an unappealable federal court judgment or decision becomes final that holds that paragraph invalid, to the extent of the invalidity.

(h) The director shall not knowingly disclose information submitted to the state by an applicant or registrant pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 12811) of Chapter 2 of Division 7 of the Food and Agricultural Code to any officer, employee, or agent of any business or other entity engaged in the production, sale, or distribution of pesticides in countries other than the United States or in countries in addition to the United States, or to any other person who intends to deliver this information to any foreign or multi-national business or entity, unless the applicant or registrant consents to the disclosure. To implement this subdivision, the director shall require the following affirmation to be signed by the person who requests such information:

AFFIRMATION OF STATUS

This affirmation is required by Section 6254.2 of the Government Code.

I have requested access to information submitted to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (or previously submitted to the Department of Food and Agriculture) by a pesticide applicant or registrant pursuant to the California Food and Agricultural Code. I hereby affirm all of the following statements:

(1) I do not seek access to the information for purposes of delivering it or offering it for sale to any business or other entity, including the business or entity of which I am an officer, employee, or agent engaged in the production, sale, or distribution of pesticides in countries other than the United States or in countries in addition to the United States, or to the officers, employees, or agents of such a business or entity.

(2) I will not purposefully deliver or negligently cause the data to be delivered to a business or entity specified in paragraph (1) or its officers, employees, or agents.

I am aware that I may be subject to criminal penalties under Section 118 of the Penal Code if I make any statement of material facts knowing that the statement is false or if I willfully conceal any material fact.

Name of Requester

Name of Requester’s Organization

Signature of Requester

Address of Requester

Date

Request No.

Telephone Number of Requester

Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Requester’s Client, if the requester has requested access to the information on behalf of someone other than the requester or the requester’s organization listed above.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the director may disclose information submitted by an applicant or registrant to any person in connection with a public proceeding conducted under law or regulation, if the director determines that the information is needed to determine whether a pesticide, or any ingredient of any pesticide, causes unreasonable adverse effects on health or the environment.

(j) The director shall maintain records of the names of persons to whom data is disclosed pursuant to this section and the persons or organizations they represent and shall inform the applicant or registrant of the names and the affiliation of these persons.

(k) Section 118 of the Penal Code applies to any affirmation made pursuant to this section.

(l) Any officer or employee of the state or former officer or employee of the state who, because of this employment or official position, obtains possession of, or has access to, material which is prohibited from disclosure by this section, and who, knowing that disclosure of this material is prohibited by this section, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person not entitled to receive it, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.

For purposes of this subdivision, any contractor with the state who is furnished information pursuant to this section, or any employee of any contractor, shall be considered an employee of the state.

(m) This section does not prohibit any person from maintaining a civil action for wrongful disclosure of trade secrets.

(n) The director may limit an individual to one request per month pursuant to this section if the director determines that a person has made a frivolous request within the past 12-month period.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 435, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1997. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (g).)

§ 6254.3.

(a) The home addresses, home telephone numbers, personal cellular telephone numbers, and birth dates of all employees of a public agency shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be open to public inspection, except that disclosure of that information may be made as follows:

(1) To an agent, or a family member of the individual to whom the information pertains.

(2) To an officer or employee of another public agency when necessary for the performance of its official duties.

(3) To an employee organization pursuant to regulations and decisions of the Public Employment Relations Board, except that the home addresses and any phone numbers on file with the employer of employees performing law enforcement-related functions, and the birth date of any employee, shall not be disclosed.

(4) To an agent or employee of a health benefit plan providing health services or administering claims for health services to public agencies and their enrolled dependents, for the purpose of providing the health services or administering claims for employees and their enrolled dependents.

(b)

(1) Unless used by the employee to conduct public business, or necessary to identify a person in an otherwise discloseable communication, the personal email addresses of all employees of a public agency shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be open to public inspection, except that disclosure of that information may be made as specified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a).

(2) This subdivision shall not be construed to limit the public’s right to access the content of an employee’s personal email that is used to conduct public business, as decided by the California Supreme Court in City of San Jose v. Superior Court (2017) 2 Cal.5th 608.

(c) Upon written request of any employee, a public agency shall not disclose the employee’s home address, home telephone number, personal cellular telephone number, personal email address, or birth date pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and an agency shall remove the employee’s home address, home telephone number, and personal cellular telephone number from any mailing list maintained by the agency, except if the list is used exclusively by the agency to contact the employee.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 21, Sec. 5. (AB 119) Effective June 27, 2017.)

§ 6254.4.

(a) The home address, telephone number, email address, precinct number, or other number specified by the Secretary of State for voter registration purposes, and prior registration information shown on the affidavit of registration, is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, except pursuant to Section 2194 of the Elections Code.

(b) For purposes of this section, “home address” means street address only, and does not include an individual’s city or post office address.

(c) The California driver’s license number, the California identification card number, the social security number, and any other unique identifier used by the State of California for purposes of voter identification shown on an affidavit of registration, or added to the voter registration records to comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 15301 et seq.), are confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.

(d) The signature of the voter that is shown on the affidavit of registration is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 593, Sec. 10. (AB 1446) Effective January 1, 2015.)

§ 6254.4.5

(a) This chapter does not require disclosure of a video or audio recording that was created during the commission or investigation of the crime of rape, incest, sexual assault, domestic violence, or child abuse that depicts the face, intimate body part, or voice of a victim of the incident depicted in the recording. An agency shall justify withholding such a video or audio recording by demonstrating, pursuant to Section 6255, that on the facts of the particular case, the public interest served by not disclosing the recording clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the recording.

(b) When balancing the public interests as required by this section, an agency shall consider both of the following:

(1) The constitutional right to privacy of the person or persons depicted in the recording.

(2) Whether the potential harm to the victim caused by disclosing the recording may be mitigated by redacting the recording to obscure images showing intimate body parts and personally identifying characteristics of the victim or by distorting portions of the recording containing the victim’s voice, provided that the redaction does not prevent a viewer from being able to fully and accurately perceive the events captured on the recording. The recording shall not otherwise be edited or altered.

(c) A victim of a crime described in subdivision (a) who is a subject of a recording, the parent or legal guardian of a minor subject, a deceased subject’s next of kin, or a subject’s legally authorized designee, shall be permitted to inspect the recording and to obtain a copy of the recording. Disclosure under this subdivision does not require that the record be made available to the public pursuant to Section 6254.5.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any other exemption provided by this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 291, Sec. 1. (AB 459) Effective January 1, 2018.)

§ 6254.5.

Notwithstanding any other law, if a state or local agency discloses a public record that is otherwise exempt from this chapter, to a member of the public, this disclosure shall constitute a waiver of the exemptions specified in Section 6254 or 6254.7, or other similar provisions of law. For purposes of this section, “agency” includes a member, agent, officer, or employee of the agency acting within the scope of his or her membership, agency, office, or employment.

This section, however, shall not apply to disclosures:

(a) Made pursuant to the Information Practices Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code) or discovery proceedings.

(b) Made through other legal proceedings or as otherwise required by law.

(d) Not required by law, and prohibited by formal action of an elected legislative body of the local agency that retains the writings.

(e) Made to a governmental agency that agrees to treat the disclosed material as confidential. Only persons authorized in writing by the person in charge of the agency shall be permitted to obtain the information. Any information obtained by the agency shall only be used for purposes that are consistent with existing law.

(f) Of records relating to a financial institution or an affiliate thereof, if the disclosures are made to the financial institution or affiliate by a state agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of the financial institution or affiliate.

(g) Of records relating to a person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Business Oversight, if the disclosures are made to the person who is the subject of the records for the purpose of corrective action by that person, or, if a corporation, to an officer, director, or other key personnel of the corporation for the purpose of corrective action, or to any other person to the extent necessary to obtain information from that person for the purpose of an investigation by the Department of Business Oversight.

(h) Made by the Commissioner of Business Oversight under Section 450, 452, 8009, or 18396 of the Financial Code.

(i) Of records relating to a person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Managed Health Care, if the disclosures are made to the person who is the subject of the records for the purpose of corrective action by that person, or, if a corporation, to an officer, director, or other key personnel of the corporation for the purpose of corrective action, or to any other person to the extent necessary to obtain information from that person for the purpose of an investigation by the Department of Managed Health Care.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 151. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

§ 6254.6.

Whenever a city and county or a joint powers agency, pursuant to a mandatory statute or charter provision to collect private industry wage data for salary setting purposes, or a contract entered to implement that mandate, is provided this data by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics on the basis that the identity of private industry employers shall remain confidential, the identity of the employers shall not be open to the public or be admitted as evidence in any action or special proceeding.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1478, Sec. 1.)

§ 6254.7.

(a) All information, analyses, plans, or specifications that disclose the nature, extent, quantity, or degree of air contaminants or other pollution which any article, machine, equipment, or other contrivance will produce, which any air pollution control district or air quality management district, or any other state or local agency or district, requires any applicant to provide before the applicant builds, erects, alters, replaces, operates, sells, rents, or uses the article, machine, equipment, or other contrivance, are public records.

(b) All air or other pollution monitoring data, including data compiled from stationary sources, are public records.

(c) All records of notices and orders directed to the owner of any building of violations of housing or building codes, ordinances, statutes, or regulations which constitute violations of standards provided in Section 1941.1 of the Civil Code, and records of subsequent action with respect to those notices and orders, are public records.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99150) of Part 65 of the Education Code, trade secrets are not public records under this section. “Trade secrets,” as used in this section, may include, but are not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information which is not patented, which is known only to certain individuals within a commercial concern who are using it to fabricate, produce, or compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value and which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all air pollution emission data, including those emission data which constitute trade secrets as defined in subdivision (d), are public records. Data used to calculate emission data are not emission data for the purposes of this subdivision and data which constitute trade secrets and which are used to calculate emission data are not public records.

(f) Data used to calculate the costs of obtaining emissions offsets are not public records. At the time that an air pollution control district or air quality management district issues a permit to construct to an applicant who is required to obtain offsets pursuant to district rules and regulations, data obtained from the applicant consisting of the year the offset transaction occurred, the amount of offsets purchased, by pollutant, and the total cost, by pollutant, of the offsets purchased is a public record. If an application is denied, the data shall not be a public record.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 612, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)

§ 6254.8.

Every employment contract between a state or local agency and any public official or public employee is a public record which is not subject to the provisions of Sections 6254 and 6255.

(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1198.)

§ 6254.9.

(a) Computer software developed by a state or local agency is not itself a public record under this chapter. The agency may sell, lease, or license the software for commercial or noncommercial use.

(b) As used in this section, “computer software” includes computer mapping systems, computer programs, and computer graphics systems.

(c) This section shall not be construed to create an implied warranty on the part of the State of California or any local agency for errors, omissions, or other defects in any computer software as provided pursuant to this section.

(d) Nothing in this section is intended to affect the public record status of information merely because it is stored in a computer. Public records stored in a computer shall be disclosed as required by this chapter.

(e) Nothing in this section is intended to limit any copyright protections.

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 447, Sec. 1.)

§ 6254.10.

Nothing in this chapter requires disclosure of records that relate to archaeological site information and reports maintained by, or in the possession of, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Historical Resources Commission, the State Lands Commission, the Native American Heritage Commission, another state agency, or a local agency, including the records that the agency obtains through a consultation process between a California Native American tribe and a state or local agency.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 670, Sec. 2. Effective October 7, 2005.)

§ 6254.11.

Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of records that relate to volatile organic compounds or chemical substances information received or compiled by an air pollution control officer pursuant to Section 42303.2 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 902, Sec. 1.)

§ 6254.12.

Any information reported to the North American Securities Administrators Association/Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and compiled as disciplinary records which are made available to the Department of Business Oversight through a computer system, shall constitute a public record. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Business Oversight may disclose that information and the current license status and the year of issuance of the license of a broker-dealer upon written or oral request pursuant to Section 25247 of the Corporations Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 190, Sec. 60. (AB 1517) Effective January 1, 2016.)

§ 6254.13.

Notwithstanding Section 6254, upon the request of any Member of the Legislature or upon request of the Governor or his or her designee, test questions or materials that would be used to administer an examination and are provided by the State Department of Education and administered as part of a statewide testing program of pupils enrolled in the public schools shall be disclosed to the requester. These questions or materials may not include an individual examination that has been administered to a pupil and scored. The requester may not take physical possession of the questions or materials, but may view the questions or materials at a location selected by the department. Upon viewing this information, the requester shall keep the materials that he or she has seen confidential.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 777, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1996.)

§ 6254.14.
(a)

(1) Except as provided in Sections 6254 and 6254.7, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that relate to health care services contract negotiations, and that reveal the deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations, including, but not limited to, records related to those negotiations such as meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the department, or its staff, or members of the California Medical Assistance Commission, or its staff, who act in consultation with, or on behalf of, the department.

(2) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts for health services entered into by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or the California Medical Assistance Commission on or after July 1, 1993, shall be open to inspection one year after they are fully executed. In the event that a contract for health services that is entered into prior to July 1, 1993, is amended on or after July 1, 1993, the amendment, except for any portion containing rates of payment, shall be open to inspection one year after it is fully executed.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection under this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Section 1060 of the Evidence Code, the entire contract or amendment shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the California State Auditor’s Office, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the California State Auditor’s Office, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments until the contract or amendment is fully open to inspection by the public.

(5) It is the intent of the Legislature that confidentiality of health care provider contracts, and of the contracting process as provided in this subdivision, is intended to protect the competitive nature of the negotiation process, and shall not affect public access to other information relating to the delivery of health care services.

(b) The inspection authority and confidentiality requirements established in subdivisions (q), (v), and (y) of Section 6254 for the Legislative Audit Committee shall also apply to the California State Auditor’s Office and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 281, Sec. 3. (SB 1395) Effective January 1, 2013.)

§ 6254.15.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of records that are any of the following: corporate financial records, corporate proprietary information including trade secrets, and information relating to siting within the state furnished to a government agency by a private company for the purpose of permitting the agency to work with the company in retaining, locating, or expanding a facility within California. Except as provided below, incentives offered by state or local government agencies, if any, shall be disclosed upon communication to the agency or the public of a decision to stay, locate, relocate, or expand, by a company, or upon application by that company to a governmental agency for a general plan amendment, rezone, use permit, building permit, or any other permit, whichever occurs first.

The agency shall delete, prior to disclosure to the public, information that is exempt pursuant to this section from any record describing state or local incentives offered by an agency to a private business to retain, locate, relocate, or expand the business within California.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 732, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)

§ 6254.16.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of the name, credit history, utility usage data, home address, or telephone number of utility customers of local agencies, except that disclosure of name, utility usage data, and the home address of utility customers of local agencies shall be made available upon request as follows:

(a) To an agent or authorized family member of the person to whom the information pertains.

(b) To an officer or employee of another governmental agency when necessary for the performance of its official duties.

(d) Upon determination by the local agency that the utility customer who is the subject of the request has used utility services in a manner inconsistent with applicable local utility usage policies.

(e) Upon determination by the local agency that the utility customer who is the subject of the request is an elected or appointed official with authority to determine the utility usage policies of the local agency, provided that the home address of an appointed official shall not be disclosed without his or her consent.

(f) Upon determination by the local agency that the public interest in disclosure of the information clearly outweighs the public interest in nondisclosure.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 276, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998.)

§ 6254.17.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records of the California Victim Compensation Board that relate to a request for assistance under Article 1 (commencing with Section 13950) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2.

(b) This section shall not apply to a disclosure of the following information, if no information is disclosed that connects the information to a specific victim, derivative victim, or applicant under Article 1 (commencing with Section 13950) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2:

(1) The amount of money paid to a specific provider of services.

(2) Summary data concerning the types of crimes for which assistance is provided.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 60. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.)

§ 6254.18.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of any personal information received, collected, or compiled by a public agency regarding the employees, volunteers, board members, owners, partners, officers, or contractors of a reproductive health services facility who have notified the public agency pursuant to subdivision (d) if the personal information is contained in a document that relates to the facility.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Contractor” means an individual or entity that contracts with a reproductive health services facility for services related to patient care.

(2) “Personal information” means the following information related to an individual that is maintained by a public agency: social security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, statements of personal worth or personal financial data filed pursuant to subdivision (n) of Section 6254, personal medical history, employment history, electronic mail address, and information that reveals any electronic network location or identity.

(3) “Public agency” means all of the following:

(A) The State Department of Health Care Services.

(B) The Department of Consumer Affairs.

(D) The State Department of Public Health.

(4) “Reproductive health services facility” means the office of a licensed physician and surgeon whose specialty is family practice, obstetrics, or gynecology, or a licensed clinic, where at least 50 percent of the patients of the physician or the clinic are provided with family planning or abortion services.

(c) Any person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declarative relief or writ of mandate in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain access to employment history information pursuant to Sections 6258 and 6259. If the court finds, based on the facts of a particular case, that the public interest served by disclosure of employment history information clearly outweighs the public interest served by not disclosing the information, the court shall order the officer or person charged with withholding the information to disclose employment history information or show cause why he or she should not do so pursuant to Section 6259.

(d) In order for this section to apply to an individual who is an employee, volunteer, board member, officer, or contractor of a reproductive health services facility, the individual shall notify the public agency to which his or her personal information is being submitted or has been submitted that he or she falls within the application of this section. The reproductive health services facility shall retain a copy of all notifications submitted pursuant to this section. This notification shall be valid if it complies with all of the following:

(1) Is on the official letterhead of the facility.

(2) Is clearly separate from any other language present on the same page and is executed by a signature that serves no other purpose than to execute the notification.

(3) Is signed and dated by both of the following:

(A) The individual whose information is being submitted.

(B) The executive officer or his or her designee of the reproductive health services facility.

(e) The privacy protections for personal information authorized pursuant to this section shall be effective from the time of notification pursuant to subdivision (d) until either one of the following occurs:

(1) Six months after the date of separation from a reproductive health services facility for an individual who has served for not more than one year as an employee, contractor, volunteer, board member, or officer of the reproductive health services facility.

(2) One year after the date of separation from a reproductive health services facility for an individual who has served for more than one year as an employee, contractor, volunteer, board member, or officer of the reproductive health services facility.

(f) Within 90 days of separation of an employee, contractor, volunteer, board member, or officer of the reproductive health services facility who has provided notice to a public agency pursuant to subdivision (c), the facility shall provide notice of the separation to the relevant agency or agencies.

(g) Nothing in this section shall prevent the disclosure by a government agency of data regarding age, race, ethnicity, national origin, or gender of individuals whose personal information is protected pursuant to this section, so long as the data contains no individually identifiable information.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 241, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2007. Operative July 1, 2007, by Sec. 37 of Ch. 241.)

§ 6254.19.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of an information security record of a public agency, if, on the facts of the particular case, disclosure of that record would reveal vulnerabilities to, or otherwise increase the potential for an attack on, an information technology system of a public agency. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit public disclosure of records stored within an information technology system of a public agency that are not otherwise exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter or any other provision of law.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 205, Sec. 1. (AB 2091) Effective January 1, 2011.)

§ 6254.20.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of records that relate to electronically collected personal information, as defined by Section 11015.5, received, collected, or compiled by a state agency.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 429, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.)

§ 6254.21.
(a) No state or local agency shall post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official on the Internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.

(b) No person shall knowingly post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official, or of the official’s residing spouse or child, on the Internet knowing that person is an elected or appointed official and intending to cause imminent great bodily harm that is likely to occur or threatening to cause imminent great bodily harm to that individual. A violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor. A violation of this subdivision that leads to the bodily injury of the official, or his or her residing spouse or child, is a misdemeanor or a felony.

(c)

(1)

(A) No person, business, or association shall publicly post or publicly display on the Internet the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official if that official has, either directly or through an agent designated under paragraph (3), made a written demand of that person, business, or association to not disclose his or her home address or telephone number.

(B) A written demand made under this paragraph by a state constitutional officer, a mayor, or a Member of the Legislature, a city council, or a board of supervisors shall include a statement describing a threat or fear for the safety of that official or of any person residing at the official’s home address.

(C) A written demand made under this paragraph by an elected official shall be effective for four years, regardless of whether or not the official’s term has expired prior to the end of the four-year period.

(D)

(i) A person, business, or association that receives the written demand of an elected or appointed official pursuant to this paragraph shall remove the official’s home address or telephone number from public display on the Internet, including information provided to cellular telephone applications, within 48 hours of delivery of the written demand, and shall continue to ensure that this information is not reposted on the same Internet Web site, subsidiary site, or any other Internet Web site maintained by the recipient of the written demand.

(ii) After receiving the elected or appointed official’s written demand, the person, business, or association shall not transfer the appointed or elected official’s home address or telephone number to any other person, business, or association through any other medium.

(iii) Clause (ii) shall not be deemed to prohibit a telephone corporation, as defined in Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, or its affiliate, from transferring the elected or appointed official’s home address or telephone number to any person, business, or association, if the transfer is authorized by federal or state law, regulation, order, or tariff, or necessary in the event of an emergency, or to collect a debt owed by the elected or appointed official to the telephone corporation or its affiliate.

(E) For purposes of this paragraph, “publicly post” or “publicly display” means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public.

(2) An official whose home address or telephone number is made public as a result of a violation of paragraph (1) may bring an action seeking injunctive or declarative relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. If a court finds that a violation has occurred, it may grant injunctive or declarative relief and shall award the official court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) may be imposed for a violation of the court’s order for an injunction or declarative relief obtained pursuant to this paragraph.

(3) An elected or appointed official may designate in writing the official’s employer, a related governmental entity, or any voluntary professional association of similar officials to act, on behalf of that official, as that official’s agent with regard to making a written demand pursuant to this section. In the case of an appointed official who is a peace officer, as defined in Sections 830 to 830.65, inclusive, of the Penal Code, a District Attorney, or a Deputy District Attorney, that official may also designate his or her recognized collective bargaining representative to make a written demand on his or her behalf pursuant to this section. A written demand made by an agent pursuant to this paragraph shall include a statement describing a threat or fear for the safety of that official or of any person residing at the official’s home address.

(d)

(1) No person, business, or association shall solicit, sell, or trade on the Internet the home address or telephone number of an elected or appointed official with the intent to cause imminent great bodily harm to the official or to any person residing at the official’s home address.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, an official whose home address or telephone number is solicited, sold, or traded in violation of paragraph (1) may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction. If a jury or court finds that a violation has occurred, it shall award damages to that official in an amount up to a maximum of three times the actual damages but in no case less than four thousand dollars ($4,000).

(e) An interactive computer service or access software provider, as defined in Section 230(f) of Title 47 of the United States Code, shall not be liable under this section unless the service or provider intends to abet or cause imminent great bodily harm that is likely to occur or threatens to cause imminent great bodily harm to an elected or appointed official.

(f) For purposes of this section, “elected or appointed official” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) State constitutional officers.

(2) Members of the Legislature.

(3) Judges and court commissioners.

(4) District attorneys.

(5) Public defenders.

(6) Members of a city council.

(7) Members of a board of supervisors.

(8) Appointees of the Governor.

(9) Appointees of the Legislature.

(10) Mayors.

(11) City attorneys.

(12) Police chiefs and sheriffs.

(13) A public safety official, as defined in Section 6254.24.

(14) State administrative law judges.

(15) Federal judges and federal defenders.

(16) Members of the United States Congress and appointees of the President.

(g) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude punishment instead under Sections 69, 76, or 422 of the Penal Code, or any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 791, Sec. 1. (AB 634) Effective January 1, 2015.)

§ 6254.22.
Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law shall require the disclosure of records of a health plan that is licensed pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code) and that is governed by a county board of supervisors, whether paper records, records maintained in the management information system, or records in any other form, that relate to provider rate or payment determinations, allocation or distribution methodologies for provider payments, formulae or calculations for these payments, and contract negotiations with providers of health care for alternative rates for a period of three years after the contract is fully executed. The transmission of the records, or the information contained therein in an alternative form, to the board of supervisors shall not constitute a waiver of exemption from disclosure, and the records and information once transmitted to the board of supervisors shall be subject to this same exemption. The provisions of this section shall not prevent access to any records by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in the exercise of its powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10500) of Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 2. The provisions of this section also shall not prevent access to any records by the Department of Managed Health Care in the exercise of its powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1340) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 190, Sec. 61. (AB 1517) Effective January 1, 2016.)

§ 6254.23.
Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law shall require the disclosure of a risk assessment or railroad infrastructure protection program filed with the Public Utilities Commission, the Director of Homeland Security, and the Office of Emergency Services pursuant to Article 7.3 (commencing with Section 7665) of Chapter 1 of Division 4 of the Public Utilities Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 107. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)

§ 6254.24.
As used in this chapter, “public safety official” means the following parties, whether active or retired:

(a) A peace officer as defined in Sections 830 to 830.65, inclusive, of the Penal Code, or a person who is not a peace officer, but may exercise the powers of arrest during the course and within the scope of their employment pursuant to Section 830.7 of the Penal Code.

(b) A public officer or other person listed in Sections 1808.2 and 1808.6 of the Vehicle Code.

(d) An attorney employed by the Department of Justice, the State Public Defender, or a county office of the district attorney or public defender, the United States Attorney, or the Federal Public Defender.

(e) A city attorney and an attorney who represent cities in criminal matters.

(f) An employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation who supervises inmates or is required to have a prisoner in his or her care or custody.

(g) A sworn or nonsworn employee who supervises inmates in a city police department, a county sheriff’s office, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, federal, state, or a local detention facility, and a local juvenile hall, camp, ranch, or home, and a probation officer as defined in Section 830.5 of the Penal Code.

(h) A federal prosecutor, a federal criminal investigator, and a National Park Service Ranger working in California.

(i) The surviving spouse or child of a peace officer defined in Section 830 of the Penal Code, if the peace officer died in the line of duty.

(j) State and federal judges and court commissioners.

(k) An employee of the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a public defender who submits verification from the Attorney General, district attorney, or public defender that the employee represents the Attorney General, district attorney, or public defender in matters that routinely place that employee in personal contact with persons under investigation for, charged with, or convicted of, committing criminal acts.

(l) A nonsworn employee of the Department of Justice or a police department or sheriff’s office that, in the course of his or her employment, is responsible for collecting, documenting, and preserving physical evidence at crime scenes, testifying in court as an expert witness, and other technical duties, and a nonsworn employee that, in the course of his or her employment, performs a variety of standardized and advanced laboratory procedures in the examination of physical crime evidence, determines their results, and provides expert testimony in court.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 194, Sec. 2. (AB 1813) Effective January 1, 2011.)

§ 6254.25.
Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law shall require the disclosure of a memorandum submitted to a state body or to the legislative body of a local agency by its legal counsel pursuant to subdivision (q) of Section 11126 or Section 54956.9 until the pending litigation has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled. The memorandum shall be protected by the attorney work-product privilege until the pending litigation has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.

(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1320, Sec. 1.)

§ 6254.26.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other law, the following records regarding alternative investments in which public investment funds invest shall not be subject to disclosure pursuant to this chapter, unless the information has already been publicly released by the keeper of the information:

(1) Due diligence materials that are proprietary to the public investment fund or the alternative investment vehicle.

(2) Quarterly and annual financial statements of alternative investment vehicles.

(3) Meeting materials of alternative investment vehicles.

(4) Records containing information regarding the portfolio positions in which alternative investment funds invest.

(5) Capital call and distribution notices.

(6) Alternative investment agreements and all related documents.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the following information contained in records described in subdivision (a) regarding alternative investments in which public investment funds invest shall be subject to disclosure pursuant to this chapter and shall not be considered a trade secret exempt from disclosure:

(1) The name, address, and vintage year of each alternative investment vehicle.

(2) The dollar amount of the commitment made to each alternative investment vehicle by the public investment fund since inception.

(3) The dollar amount of cash contributions made by the public investment fund to each alternative investment vehicle since inception.

(4) The dollar amount, on a fiscal yearend basis, of cash distributions received by the public investment fund from each alternative investment vehicle.

(5) The dollar amount, on a fiscal yearend basis, of cash distributions received by the public investment fund plus remaining value of partnership assets attributable to the public investment fund’s investment in each alternative investment vehicle.

(6) The net internal rate of return of each alternative investment vehicle since inception.

(7) The investment multiple of each alternative investment vehicle since inception.

(8) The dollar amount of the total management fees and costs paid on an annual fiscal yearend basis, by the public investment fund to each alternative investment vehicle.

(9) The dollar amount of cash profit received by public investment funds from each alternative investment vehicle on a fiscal year-end basis.

(1) “Alternative investment” means an investment in a private equity fund, venture fund, hedge fund, or absolute return fund.

(2) “Alternative investment vehicle” means the limited partnership, limited liability company, or similar legal structure through which the public investment fund invests in portfolio companies.

(3) “Portfolio positions” means individual portfolio investments made by the alternative investment vehicles.

(4) “Public investment fund” means any public pension or retirement system, and any public endowment or foundation.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 233. Effective January 1, 2007.)

§ 6254.27.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure by a county recorder of any “official record” if a “public record” version of that record is available pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 27300) of Chapter 6 of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 3.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 627, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2008.)

§ 6254.28.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure by a filing office of any “official record” if a “public record” version of that record is available pursuant to Section 9526.5 of the Commercial Code.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 627, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2008.)

§ 6254.29.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, in order to protect against the risk of identity theft, local agencies shall redact social security numbers from records before disclosing them to the public pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a local agency to disclose a social security number.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 627, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2008.)

§ 6254.30.
A state or local law enforcement agency shall not require a victim of an incident, or an authorized representative thereof, to show proof of the victim’s legal presence in the United States in order to obtain the information required to be disclosed by that law enforcement agency pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 6254. However, if, for identification purposes, a state or local law enforcement agency requires identification in order for a victim of an incident, or an authorized representative thereof, to obtain that information, the agency shall, at a minimum, accept a current driver’s license or identification card issued by any state in the United States, a current passport issued by the United States or a foreign government with which the United States has a diplomatic relationship, or a current Matricula Consular card.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 272, Sec. 1. (AB 1195) Effective January 1, 2014.)

§ 6254.33.
Nothing in this chapter shall require the disclosure of an identification number, alphanumeric character, or other unique identifying code that a public agency uses to identify a vendor or contractor, or an affiliate of a vendor or contractor, unless the identification number, alphanumeric character, or other unique identifying code is used in a public bidding or an audit involving the public agency.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 477, Sec. 1. (SB 441) Effective January 1, 2017.)

§ 6255.
(a) The agency shall justify withholding any record by demonstrating that the record in question is exempt under express provisions of this chapter or that on the facts of the particular case the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record.

(b) A response to a written request for inspection or copies of public records that includes a determination that the request is denied, in whole or in part, shall be in writing.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 982, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)

§ 6257.5.
This chapter does not allow limitations on access to a public record based upon the purpose for which the record is being requested, if the record is otherwise subject to disclosure.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1049, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)

§ 6258.
Any person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declarative relief or writ of mandate in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce his or her right to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record or class of public records under this chapter. The times for responsive pleadings and for hearings in these proceedings shall be set by the judge of the court with the object of securing a decision as to these matters at the earliest possible time.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 908, Sec. 1.)

§ 6259.
(a) Whenever it is made to appear by verified petition to the superior court of the county where the records or some part thereof are situated that certain public records are being improperly withheld from a member of the public, the court shall order the officer or person charged with withholding the records to disclose the public record or show cause why he or she should not do so. The court shall decide the case after examining the record in camera, if permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 915 of the Evidence Code, papers filed by the parties and any oral argument and additional evidence as the court may allow.

(b) If the court finds that the public official’s decision to refuse disclosure is not justified under Section 6254 or 6255, he or she shall order the public official to make the record public. If the judge determines that the public official was justified in refusing to make the record public, he or she shall return the item to the public official without disclosing its content with an order supporting the decision refusing disclosure.

(c) In an action filed on or after January 1, 1991, an order of the court, either directing disclosure by a public official or supporting the decision of the public official refusing disclosure, is not a final judgment or order within the meaning of Section 904.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure from which an appeal may be taken, but shall be immediately reviewable by petition to the appellate court for the issuance of an extraordinary writ. Upon entry of any order pursuant to this section, a party shall, in order to obtain review of the order, file a petition within 20 days after service upon him or her of a written notice of entry of the order, or within such further time not exceeding an additional 20 days as the trial court may for good cause allow. If the notice is served by mail, the period within which to file the petition shall be increased by five days. A stay of an order or judgment shall not be granted unless the petitioning party demonstrates it will otherwise sustain irreparable damage and probable success on the merits. Any person who fails to obey the order of the court shall be cited to show cause why he or she is not in contempt of court.

(d) The court shall award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the plaintiff should the plaintiff prevail in litigation filed pursuant to this section. The costs and fees shall be paid by the public agency of which the public official is a member or employee and shall not become a personal liability of the public official. If the court finds that the plaintiff’s case is clearly frivolous, it shall award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the public agency.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 926, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1994.)

§ 6260.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed in any manner to affect the status of judicial records as it existed immediately prior to the effective date of this section, nor to affect the rights of litigants, including parties to administrative proceedings, under the laws of discovery of this state, nor to limit or impair any rights of discovery in a criminal case.

(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 314.)

§ 6261.
Notwithstanding Section 6252, an itemized statement of the total expenditures and disbursement of any agency provided for in Article VI of the California Constitution shall be open for inspection.

(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1246.)

§ 6262.
The exemption of records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, any state or local agency for licensing purposes under subdivision (f) of Section 6254 shall not apply when a request for inspection of such records is made by a district attorney.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 601.)

§ 6263.
A state or local agency shall allow an inspection or copying of any public record or class of public records not exempted by this chapter when requested by a district attorney.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 601.)

§ 6264.
The district attorney may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to require a state or local agency to allow him to inspect or receive a copy of any public record or class of public records not exempted by this chapter when the agency fails or refuses to allow inspection or copying within 10 working days of a request. The court may require a public agency to permit inspection or copying by the district attorney unless the public interest or good cause in withholding such records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 601.)

§ 6265.
Disclosure of records to a district attorney under the provisions of this chapter shall effect no change in the status of the records under any other provision of law.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 601.)

§ 6267.
All patron use records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed by a public agency, or private actor that maintains or stores patron use records on behalf of a public agency, to any person, local agency, or state agency except as follows:

(a) By a person acting within the scope of his or her duties within the administration of the library.

(b) By a person authorized, in writing, by the individual to whom the records pertain, to inspect the records.

As used in this section, the term “patron use records” includes the following:

(1) Any written or electronic record, that is used to identify the patron, including, but not limited to, a patron’s name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address, that a library patron provides in order to become eligible to borrow or use books and other materials.

(2) Any written record or electronic transaction that identifies a patron’s borrowing information or use of library information resources, including, but not limited to, database search records, borrowing records, class records, and any other personally identifiable uses of library resources information requests, or inquiries.

This section shall not apply to statistical reports of patron use nor to records of fines collected by the library.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 80, Sec. 1. (SB 445) Effective January 1, 2012.)

§ 6268.

Public records, as defined in Section 6252, in the custody or control of the Governor when he or she leaves office, either voluntarily or involuntarily, shall, as soon as is practical, be transferred to the State Archives. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Governor, by written instrument, the terms of which shall be made public, may restrict public access to any of the transferred public records, or any other writings he or she may transfer, which have not already been made accessible to the public. With respect to public records, public access, as otherwise provided for by this chapter, shall not be restricted for a period greater than 50 years or the death of the Governor, whichever is later, nor shall there be any restriction whatsoever with respect to enrolled bill files, press releases, speech files, or writings relating to applications for clemency or extradition in cases which have been closed for a period of at least 25 years. Subject to any restrictions permitted by this section, the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, shall make all such public records and other writings available to the public as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

Except as to enrolled bill files, press releases, speech files, or writings relating to applications for clemency or extradition, this section shall not apply to public records or other writings in the direct custody or control of any Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988 at the time of leaving office, except to the extent that that Governor may voluntarily transfer those records or other writings to the State Archives.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the public records and other writings of any Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988 may be transferred to any educational or research institution in California provided that with respect to public records, public access, as otherwise provided for by this chapter, shall not be restricted for a period greater than 50 years or the death of the Governor, whichever is later. No records or writings may be transferred pursuant to this paragraph unless the institution receiving them agrees to maintain, and does maintain, the materials according to commonly accepted archival standards. No public records transferred shall be destroyed by that institution without first receiving the written approval of the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, who may require that the records be placed in the State Archives rather than being destroyed. An institution receiving those records or writings shall allow the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, to copy, at state expense, and to make available to the public, any and all public records, and inventories, indices, or finding aids relating to those records, which the institution makes available to the public generally. Copies of those records in the custody of the State Archives shall be given the same legal effect as is given to the originals.

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 503, Sec. 1.)

§ 6268.5.

The Secretary of State may appraise and manage new or existing records that are subject to Section 6268 to determine whether the records are appropriate for preservation in the State Archives. For purposes of this section, the Secretary of State shall use professional archival practices, including, but not limited to, appraising the historic value of the records, arranging and describing the records, rehousing the records in appropriate storage containers, or providing any conservation treatment that the records require.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 220, Sec. 1. (SB 1009) Effective January 1, 2015.)

§ 6270.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no state or local agency shall sell, exchange, furnish, or otherwise provide a public record subject to disclosure pursuant to this chapter to a private entity in a manner that prevents a state or local agency from providing the record directly pursuant to this chapter. Nothing in this section requires a state or local agency to use the State Printer to print public records. Nothing in this section prevents the destruction of records pursuant to law.

(b) This section shall not apply to contracts entered into prior to January 1, 1996, between the County of Santa Clara and a private entity for the provision of public records subject to disclosure under this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 108, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)

§ 6270.5.

(a) In implementing this chapter, each local agency, except a local educational agency, shall create a catalog of enterprise systems. The catalog shall be made publicly available upon request in the office of the person or officer designated by the agency’s legislative body. The catalog shall be posted in a prominent location on the local agency’s Internet Web site, if the agency has an Internet Web site. The catalog shall disclose a list of the enterprise systems utilized by the agency and, for each system, shall also disclose all of the following:

(1) Current system vendor.

(2) Current system product.

(3) A brief statement of the system’s purpose.

(4) A general description of categories or types of data.

(5) The department that serves as the system’s primary custodian.

(6) How frequently system data is collected.

(7) How frequently system data is updated.

(b) This section shall not be interpreted to limit a person’s right to inspect public records pursuant to this chapter.

(1) “Enterprise system” means a software application or computer system that collects, stores, exchanges, and analyzes information that the agency uses that is both of the following:

(A) A multidepartmental system or a system that contains information collected about the public.

(B) A system of record.

(2) “System of record” means a system that serves as an original source of data within an agency.

(3) An enterprise system shall not include any of the following:

(A) Information technology security systems, including firewalls and other cybersecurity systems.

(B) Physical access control systems, employee identification management systems, video monitoring, and other physical control systems.

(C) Infrastructure and mechanical control systems, including those that control or manage street lights, electrical, natural gas, or water or sewer functions.

(D) Systems related to 911 dispatch and operation or emergency services.

(E) Systems that would be restricted from disclosure pursuant to Section 6254.19.

(F) The specific records that the information technology system collects, stores, exchanges, or analyzes.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit public access to records held by an agency to which access is otherwise restricted by statute or to alter the process for requesting public records, as set forth in this chapter.

(e) If, on the facts of the particular case, the public interest served by not disclosing the information described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record, the local agency may instead provide a system name, brief title, or identifier of the system.

(f) The local agency shall complete and post the catalog required by this section by July 1, 2016, and thereafter shall update the catalog annually.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 795, Sec. 2. (SB 272) Effective January 1, 2016.)

ARTICLE 2. Other Exemptions from Disclosure [6275 – 6276.48]

( Article 2 added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 620, Sec. 11. )

§ 6275.

It is the intent of the Legislature to assist members of the public and state and local agencies in identifying exemptions to the California Public Records Act. It is the intent of the Legislature that, after January 1, 1999, each addition or amendment to a statute that exempts any information contained in a public record from disclosure pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 6254 shall be listed and described in this article pursuant to a bill authorized by a standing committee of the Legislature to be introduced during the first year of each session of the Legislature. The statutes and constitutional provisions listed in this article may operate to exempt certain records, or portions thereof, from disclosure. The statutes and constitutional provisions listed and described may not be inclusive of all exemptions. The listing of a statute or constitutional provision in this article does not itself create an exemption. Requesters of public records and public agencies are cautioned to review the applicable statute or constitutional provision to determine the extent to which it, in light of the circumstances surrounding the request, exempts public records from disclosure.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 697, Sec. 2. (AB 2221) Effective January 1, 2013.)

§ 6276.

Records or information not required to be disclosed pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 6254 may include, but shall not be limited to, records or information identified in statutes listed in this article.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 620, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 1999.)

§ 6276.01.

Crime victims, confidential information or records, The Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law, Section 28 of Article I of the California Constitution.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 697, Sec. 3. (AB 2221) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Read the listed exemptions, starting in § 6276.02 here.