BILL NUMBER: AB 206	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 18, 1997

INTRODUCED BY  Assembly Member Hertzberg

                        FEBRUARY 4, 1997

   An act to add Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 8321) to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state
government.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 206, as amended, Hertzberg.  Citizen Complaint Act of 1997.
   Existing law provides for the establishment and operation of state
agencies.
   This bill would require  each  state 
agency   agencies  , including the California State
University, to make available on  its   their
 Internet web  site   sites  , on or
before July 1, 1998, or within 6 months of the establishment of such
a site, whichever is later, a  form in  plain
language  form  through which residents of the state can
register complaints relating to the performance of  a
  that  state agency.  This bill would require
 a  state  agency   agencies
 making a complaint form available on  its 
 their  Internet web  site   sites
 to advise individuals calling to lodge a complaint of specified
information  , to include their Internet web site address in the
telephone directory, to respond within an unspecified number of days
of the receipt of a completed complaint form, and to forward a copy
of the form to the Department of Consumer Affairs.  This bill would
also require public libraries, to the extent permitted through
donations, to provide Internet access to their patrons and to
advertise that they provide Internet access  .  These provisions
would be known as the Citizen Complaint Act of 1997.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 8321) is added to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 5.1.  CITIZEN COMPLAINT ACT OF 1997

   8321.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Citizen
Complaint Act of 1997.  
   8322.  (a) Each state agency, in consultation with the Department
of Consumer Affairs, shall make available on its Internet web site,
on or before July 1, 1998, or within six months of the establishment
of a web site, whichever is later, a form in plain language through
which residents of the state can register complaints relating to the
performance of a state agency.
   (b) A state agency making a complaint form available on its
Internet web site shall advise individuals calling the state agency
to lodge a complaint of both of the following:
   (1) The nearest public library providing Internet access.
   (2) The availability of the complaint form on the Internet web
site.
   (c)  
   8322.  (a) State agencies shall make available on their Internet
web sites, on or before July 1, 1988, or within six months of the
establishment of such a site, whichever is later, a plain-language
form through which residents of California can register complaints
relating to the performance of that agency.  The Internet web site
shall provide instructions on filing the complaint electronically or
on the manner in which to download, complete, and mail the complaint
form to the state agency.
   (b) Any printed complaint form used by a state agency as part of
the process of receiving a complaint against any licensed individual
or corporation subject to regulation by that agency shall make the
form available on its Internet web site, on or before July 1, 1998,
or within six months of the establishment of such a site, whichever
is later.  The Internet web site shall provide instructions on filing
the complaint electronically or on the manner in which to download,
complete, and mail the complaint form to the state agency.
   (c) State agencies making a complaint form available on their
Internet web site shall:
   (1) Advise individuals calling the state agency to lodge a
complaint of both of the following:
   (A) The availability of the complaint form on the Internet web
site.
   (B) That public libraries provide Internet access.
   (2) To the extent feasible, include their Internet web site
address in the telephone directory in order that citizens will be
aware that they may contact the state agency via the Internet or by
telephone.
   (3) Respond within ____ days of receipt of the completed form
referred to in subdivision (a).
   (4) Forward a copy of the form to the Department of Consumer
Affairs which shall compile all of these forms and make them
available on the Internet for distribution to public libraries so
that citizens may familiarize themselves with a form prior to filing
a complaint electronically.
   (d) Public libraries, to the extent permitted through donations,
shall do each of the following:
   (1) Provide Internet access to their patrons.
   (2) Advertise that they provide Internet access.
   (e)  Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 11000, state
agency as used in this section includes the California State
University.