Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • beats
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    • California Dream
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Roots
    • Eclectic
    • Videos
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight
    • California State of Mind
    • The View From Here
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • Insight Music
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • CapRadio Travels
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support / Underwriting
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Volunteering
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Lawmakers Scramble to Undo Change to Public Records Act

  •  Katie Orr 
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

Legislation passed as part of the state budget package would make complying with parts of the CPRA optional for local governments. A city, county, school district or special district could simply make an announcement at a public meeting that it was not going to comply with the act and then not have to assist the public in finding records, fufilling requests within ten days or making infromation availabe electronically.

On Wednesday, Democratic Assembly Speaker John Pérez announced his chamber would essentially amend the budget to remove that provision. He says the issue will be taken up Thursday morning.  "To be clear, this means that the California Public Records Act will remain intact without any changes as part of the budget – consistent with the Assembly’s original action," Speaker Pérez said in a statement. 

An Assembly committee had originally rejected the budget provision that contained the change to the CPRA. But a version of the provision was included in the final budget bill that came out of the joint conference committee. The Assembly ultimately approved that version. 

But Pérez’s proposed fix may not get much traction in the Senate. Democratic President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg says the Senate won’t immediately act on that bill if it comes to them. Instead, Democratic Senator Mark Leno will introduce a Constitutional Amendment that would make complying with the entire act mandatory and require local governments to cover the cost. Governor Jerry Brown says he supports such an amendment.

And in the meantime, “If we get word from one public entity, one public entity, that they are not complying with the law, the Public Records Act, we will then pass that bill,” Steinberg says.

The Constitution currently requires the state to reimburse local governments for complying with the act, which costs California tens of millions of dollars. The CPRA change in the budget was designed to save the state that money.

Leno defended his original vote supporting the change, saying making those provisions optional didn’t affect the core principle of the act. “And that core principle is that public records are open to inspection during office hours of every local and state agency and that every person has a right to inspect every public record,” he says.

The minority party weighed in on the measure as well. Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff says the budget trailer bill that included the CPRA provision should have been made public longer before it was voted on, to allow the public to figure out what's in the legislation and weigh in. “Because we believe Californians deserve to have their voices heard, Senate Republicans requested during budget negotiations that all budget trailer bills receive a public hearing in Committee and that they be in print for at least 72 hours,” Huff said in a statement.

Democrats point out the CPRA provision was part of the budget Governor Brown proposed in January and had been discussed in several committees before the final budget vote.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 cabudget2013capitol

Katie Orr

Former Health Care Reporter

Katie Orr reported for Capital Public Radio News through December 2015.  Read Full Bio 

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Marissa Espiritu / CapRadio

Watch: Virtual Conversation On Sacramento After The Chauvin Conviction

April 21, 2021

AP

Trial Of Derek Chauvin In The Death Of George Floyd Goes To The Jury

April 20, 2021

Randol White / CapRadio

Beer Law The Focus Of McGeorge Event, Review

April 22, 2021

Most Viewed

California Coronavirus Updates: A strike Of Teachers Aides And Food Service Workers Has Been Called Off

California Coronavirus Updates: Sacramentans Are Getting Vaccinated, But The County Remains In The Red Tier

How To Get A Vaccine Appointment In California, And Other Things To Know About The Vaccine

Signatures Are In. What You Need To Know About The Gavin Newsom Recall Effort.

Sacramento County To Keep Motels For Homeless Residents Open Through August

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California Coronavirus Updates: A strike Of Teachers Aides And Food Service Workers Has Been Called Off

California Coronavirus Updates: Sacramentans Are Getting Vaccinated, But The County Remains In The Red Tier

How To Get A Vaccine Appointment In California, And Other Things To Know About The Vaccine

Signatures Are In. What You Need To Know About The Gavin Newsom Recall Effort.

Sacramento County To Keep Motels For Homeless Residents Open Through August

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2021, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.