BILL NUMBER: AB 206	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 15, 1997
	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 state agencies, including the California
State University, to make available on their Internet web sites, on
or before July 1, 1998, or within 6 months of the establishment of
such a site, whichever is later, a plain language form through which
residents of the state can register complaints relating to the
performance of that state agency.  This bill would require state
agencies making a complaint form available on their Internet web
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   authorize 
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) State agencies shall make available on their Internet
web sites, on or before July 1,  1988   1998
 , 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)  
   (3)  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   may  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.

   8323.  It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter not
affect the application of the Reporting of Improper Governmental
Activities Act (Article 3 (commencing with Section 8547) of Chapter
6.5).