BILL NUMBER:  AB 2927
  VETOED	DATE: 09/30/2006




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2927 without my signature.  An open and
accessible government is critical to instill confidence in the
governed.  Indeed the people recently voted overwhelmingly to amend
California's Constitution to make access to public records a
fundamental right. That is why I issued Executive Order S-03-06 which
directs all state departments to post PRA request guidelines in a
conspicuous public place at all office locations and to identify and
designate staff to handle the requests and ensure appropriate
training in PRA compliance f or designated staff members. As a result
of the order, all executive branch agencies have reviewed their
public records procedures.

They have been revamped to improve performance and compliance and
extensive training has been provided to state agency staff. These
efforts address the problem this bill is attempting to fix.  In
addition the provision allowing the Attorney General to review
denials of public records requests is unduly burdensome. The Attorney
General is the attorney for most State agencies and advises agencies
on responding to such requests and thus this bill creates an
inherent conflict of interest.  I will continue to require the
highest standards of compliance with the Public Records Act
throughout the executive branch.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger