The California Public Records Act (“CPRA”) strikes a balance between the need for privacy in certain records and the people’s interest in transparent government. The reality of the balance is that it may – and often does – weigh heavily upon agencies that must respond to CPRA requests. This blog post discusses several topics related
Legislature Passes Employee Orientation Bill (AB 119) – What Do Public Employers Need to Know?
This post was authored by Ashley Bobo
On Tuesday, June 27, 2017, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 119 into law. The law applies to public agencies including cities, counties, special districts, trial courts, state civil service agencies, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, public schools (K-12), community colleges, California State Universities, Universities of California
Six Statutes for the New Year
As 2017 kicks off, employers should be aware that a number of new state-wide laws and local ordinances begin taking effect. In this blog, we highlight just a few that California’s public employers should now be implementing.
Seeing Green in Twenty-Seventeen: Minimum Wage Increases for California Employees
Regardless of potential changes to Federal wage and
The Broad Scope of the California Public Records Act: Caldecott v. Superior Court Affirms that Courts Interpret the Act to Favor Disclosure
This post was authored by Liara Silva and Alysha Stein-Manes
Last month, the California Court of Appeal issued a decision in Caldecott v. Superior Court (2015), finding that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (“District”) was obligated under the California Public Records Act (“PRA”) to release certain documents related to an employee’s hostile work environment
Texts and E-mails on Personal Devices – Are They “Public Records”?
Public officials may sometimes use personal devices such as smartphones and personal e-mail or other accounts to communicate concerning their agency’s business. Are these e-mails, texts, or other communications “public records” that must be disclosed in response to a demand under the California Public Records Act? The California Supreme Court will soon decide.
The Court
Public Records Act Update: What Happens on a Personal Device (May) Stay on a Personal Device
This blog post was authored by Heather Coffman
The California Court of Appeal recently issued a decision that may give some relief to public agencies responding to requests under the California Public Records Act (“PRA”). The Court found that the PRA does not require public agencies to produce communications sent or received by public officials
The Public Records Act: Maintenance of Records and Maintenance of Recordings Public Meetings
The following questions, which implicate the Public Records Act, are frequently asked: how long does an agency need to retain and maintain public records? How long does an agency need to retain the recordings of public meetings?
The purpose of the Public Records Act (PRA) is to give the public access documents and other stored