BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2674
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Date of Hearing: March 30, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Cristina Garcia, Chair
AB 2674
(Bonta) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
SUBJECT: State archives: Online Archives Program
SUMMARY: Establishes the Online Archives Program (OAP) under
the Secretary of State's (SOS) State Archives. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Requires the creation of an archival standards-based digital
records preservation system that allows for the intake,
preservation, indexing, and public access of records.
2)Requires the OAP to operate in accordance with state law that
assures public access to state government records.
3)Specifies that the OAP provides online access to records,
photographs, exhibits, and other items held by the State
Archives that document and celebrate California's history and
culture.
4)Specifies that the OAP shall use social media platforms to
share digitized content.
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EXISTING LAW:
1)Makes the SOS custodian of the public archives of the state.
2)Allows the SOS to receive into the archives any item deemed to
be of historical value.
3)Specifies that the Chief of Archives is responsible for the
preservation and indexing of material deposited in the State
Archives, and shall make the material available for use.
4)Requires public access to government records, with specified
exceptions.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: This bill creates an online archives program within
the State Archives. According to SOS, the sponsor, establishing
the OAP will allow the public to more easily access records of
historical interest while helping the state comply with public
records requirements.
The State Archives holds more than 125,000 cubic feet of
paper-based records and approximately 22 terabytes of electronic
records. While records are physically available at the State
Archives in Sacramento, most are not available online.
Currently, none of the 22 terabytes of electronic records are
available online and just a few paper-based records have been
digitized and posted online. The posting of those documents
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have generally been funded by grants. For example, a grant from
the California Supreme Court Historical Society funded the
digitization of working papers from the state's 1878-1879
Constitutional Convention, which can be viewed on the State
Archives' web page.
According to SOS, establishing the OAP will help the state meet
requirements specified in the State Constitution and California
Public Records Act (PRA), which provide the public access to
government records with some exceptions.
This bill will increase government accountability and provide
researchers and state residents enhanced access to state
documents and historical information.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
SOS (sponsor)
California Association of Licensed Investigators, Inc.
Council of State Archivists
San Diego Area Law Libraries
Southern California Association of Law Libraries
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Northern California Association of Law Libraries
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Scott Herbstman / A. & A.R. / (916)
319-3600