BILL NUMBER: SB 1337	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator DeSaulnier

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Sections 6253.11 and 6253.12 to the Government Code,
relating to public records.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1337, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Public records: electronic
copies and media requests.
   The California Public Records Act requires every state or local
agency to make public records open to inspection at all times during
regular office hours and provides that every person has a right to
inspect any public record, except as specified.
   This bill would require a state or local agency to provide an
electronic copy of a public record when the public record is made
available in response to a request. This bill would require a state
or local agency to respond to a request for public records from a
member of the press, as defined, within 14 days. By imposing
additional duties upon local agencies in making public records
available for inspection, this bill would impose a state-mandated
local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 6253.11 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   6253.11.  A public agency shall provide an electronic copy of a
public record when the public record is made available in response to
a request.
  SEC. 2.  Section 6253.12 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   6253.12.  (a) A public agency shall respond to a request for
public records from a member of the press within 14 days.
   (b) For the purposes of this section, "member of the press" means
a person engaged in the regular gathering, preparing, collecting,
photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing
of information that concerns local, national, or international events
or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public.

  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.