BILL NUMBER: AB 206	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 25, 1997
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 2, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 6, 1997
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 17, 1997
	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)
  8330)  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 websites, 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
individuals can register complaints or comments relating to the
performance of that state agency.  This bill would require state
agencies making a complaint form available on their Internet
websites, to the extent feasible, to advise individuals calling to
lodge a complaint of specified information and to include their
Internet website address in the telephone directory.  This bill would
also authorize public libraries, to the extent permitted through
donations and other means, 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.  This
bill would require all state agencies that have Internet websites to
implement these provisions in a manner that is consistent with the
statewide strategy for electronic commerce as established by the
Department of Information Technology.
   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)
  8330)  is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the
Government Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 5.1.  CITIZEN COMPLAINT ACT OF 1997

   8321.   
   8330.   This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
Citizen Complaint Act of 1997.  All state agencies that have Internet
websites shall implement this act in a manner that is consistent
with the statewide strategy for electronic commerce as established by
the Department of Information Technology.  
   8322.   
   8331.   (a) State agencies shall make available on their
Internet websites, on or before July 1, 1998, or within six months of
the establishment of such a site, whichever is later, a
plain-language form through which individuals can register complaints
or comments relating to the performance of that agency.  The
Internet website 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, or both, consistent with
whichever method the agency establishes for the filing of
complaints.
   (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 website, on or before July 1, 1998, or
within six months of the establishment of such a site, whichever is
later.  The Internet website 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, or both,
consistent with whichever method the agency establishes for the
filing of complaints.
   (c) State agencies making a complaint form available on their
Internet website shall, to the extent feasible:
   (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
website.
   (B) That many public libraries provide Internet access.
   (2)  Include their Internet website 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.
   (d) Public libraries, to the extent permitted through donations
and other means, 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.   
   8332.   It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter
 not affect the application of   shall not
apply to  the Reporting of Improper Governmental Activities Act
(Article 3 (commencing with Section 8547) of Chapter 6.5) or the
procedures established to investigate citizens' complaints against
peace officers as required by Section 832.5 of the Penal Code.