GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6250-6270

6250. In enacting this chapter, the Legislature, mindful of the right of individuals to privacy, finds and declares that access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.

6251. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Public Records Act.

6252. As used in this chapter:

(a) "State agency" means every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission or other state body or agency, except those agencies provided for in Article IV (except Section 20 thereof) or Article VI of the California Constitution.

(b) "Local agency" includes a county; city, whether general law or chartered; city and county; school district; municipal corporation; district; political subdivision; or any board, commission or agency thereof; other local public agency; or nonprofit entities that are legislative bodies of a local agency pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 54952.

(c) "Person" includes any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, or association.

(d) "Public agency" means any state or local agency.

(e) "Public records" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. "Public records" in the custody of, or maintained by, the Governor's office means any writing prepared on or after January 6, 1975.

(f) "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording upon any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, and other documents.

(g) "Member of the public" means any person, except a member, agent, officer, or employee of a federal, state, or local agency acting within the scope of his or her membership, agency, office, or employment.

6252.5. Notwithstanding the definition of "member of the public" in Section 6252, an elected member or officer of any state or local agency is entitled to access to public records of that agency on the same basis as any other person. Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of elected members or officers to access public records permitted by law in the administration of their duties. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.

6253. (a) Public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, except as hereafter provided. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be available for inspection by any person requesting the record after deletion of the portions that are exempted by law.

(b) Except with respect to public records exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law, each state or local agency, upon a request for a copy of records that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, shall make the records promptly available to any person upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if applicable. Upon request, an exact copy shall be provided unless impracticable to do so.

(c) Each agency, upon a request for a copy of records, shall, within 10 days from receipt of the request, determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the agency and shall promptly notify the person making the request of the determination and the reasons therefor. In unusual circumstances, the time limit prescribed in this section may be extended by written notice by the head of the agency or his or her designee to the person making the request, setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched. No notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension for more than 14 days. As used in this section, "unusual circumstances" means the following, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular request:

(1) The need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request.

(2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records that are demanded in a single request.

(3) The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject matter interest therein.

(4) The need to compile data, to write programming language or a computer program, or to construct a computer report to extract data.

 (d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit an agency to delay or obstruct the inspection OR COPYING (<-new) of public records.

(old) "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit an agency to delay access for purposes of inspecting public records."

The notification of denial of any request for records required by Section 6255 shall set forth the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial.

(e) Except as otherwise prohibited by law, a state or local agency may adopt requirements for itself that allow for faster, more efficient, or greater access to records than prescribed by the minimum standards set forth in this chapter.

6253.1 (a) When a member of the public requests to inspect a public record or obtain a copy of a public record, the public agency, in order to assist the member of the public to make a focused and effective request that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, shall do all of the following, to the extent reasonable under the circumstances:

(1) Assist the member of the public to identify records and information that are responsive to the request or to the purpose of the request, if stated.

(2) Describe the information technology and physical location in which the records exist.

(3) Provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or information sought.

(b) The requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the public agency is unable to identify the requested information after making a reasonable effort to elicit additional clarifying information from the requester that will help identify the record or records.

(c) The requirements of subdivision (a) are in addition to any action required of a public agency by Section 6253.

(d) This section shall not apply to a request for public records if any of the following applies:

(1) The public agency makes available the requested records pursuant to Section 6253.

(2) The public agency determines that the request should be denied and bases that determination solely on an exemption listed in Section 6254.

(3) The public agency makes available an index of its records.

6253.2. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, information regarding persons paid by the state to provide in-home supportive services pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or personal care services pursuant to Section 14132.95 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall not be subject to public disclosure pursuant to this chapter, except as provided in subdivision (b).

(b) Copies of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons described in subdivision (a) shall be made available, upon request, to an exclusive bargaining agent and to any labor organization seeking representation rights pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 12301.6 or Section 12302 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1.

This information shall not be used by the receiving entity for any purpose other than the employee organizing, representation, and assistance activities of the labor organization.

(c) This section shall apply solely to individuals who provide services under the In-Home Supportive Services Program (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) or the Personal Care Services Program pursuant to Section 14132.95 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) Nothing in this section is intended to alter or shall be interpreted to alter the rights of parties under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4) or any other labor relations law.

6253.4. (a) Every agency may adopt regulations stating the procedures to be followed when making its records available in accordance with this section.

The following state and local bodies shall establish written guidelines for accessibility of records. A copy of these guidelines shall be posted in a conspicuous public place at the offices of these bodies, and a copy of the guidelines shall be available upon request free of charge to any person requesting that body's records:

Department of Motor Vehicles

Department of Consumer Affairs

Department of Transportation

Department of Real Estate

Department of Corrections

Department of the Youth Authority

Department of Justice

Department of Insurance

Department of Corporations

Department of Managed Health Care

Secretary of State

State Air Resources Board

Department of Water Resources

Department of Parks and Recreation

San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

State Board of Equalization

State Department of Health Services

Employment Development Department

State Department of Social Services

State Department of Mental Health

State Department of Developmental Services

State Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development

Public Employees' Retirement System

Teachers' Retirement Board

Department of Industrial Relations

Department of General Services

Department of Veterans Affairs

Public Utilities Commission

California Coastal Commission

State Water Resources Control Board

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District

All regional water quality control boards

Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District

Bay Area Air Pollution Control District

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

Department of Toxic Substances Control

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

(b) Guidelines and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be consistent with all other sections of this chapter and shall reflect the intention of the Legislature to make the records accessible to the public. The guidelines and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall not operate to limit the hours public records are open for inspection as prescribed in Section 6253.

6253.5. Notwithstanding Sections 6252 and 6253, statewide, county, city, and district initiative, referendum, and recall petitions, petitions circulated pursuant to Section 5091 of the Education Code, petitions for the reorganization of school districts submitted pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35700) of Chapter 4 of Part 21 of the Education Code, petitions for the reorganization of community college districts submitted pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 74000) of the Education Code and all memoranda prepared by the county elections officials in the examination of the petitions indicating which registered voters have signed particular petitions shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be open to inspection except by the public officer or public employees who have the duty of receiving, examining or preserving the petitions or who are responsible for the preparation of that memoranda and, if the petition is found to be insufficient, by the proponents of the petition and the representatives of the proponents as may be designated by the proponents in writing in order to determine which signatures were disqualified and the reasons therefor. However, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Fair Political Practices Commission, a district attorney, a school district or a community college district attorney, and a city attorney shall be permitted to examine the material upon approval of the appropriate superior court.

If the proponents of a petition are permitted to examine the petition and memoranda, the examination shall commence not later than 21 days after certification of insufficiency.

(a) As used in this section, "petition" shall mean any petition to which a registered voter has affixed his or her signature.

(b) As used in this section "proponents of the petition" means the following:

(1) For statewide initiative and referendum measures, the person or persons who submit a draft of a petition proposing the measure to the Attorney General with a request that he or she prepare a title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure.

(2) For other initiative and referenda on measures, the person or persons who publish a notice of intention to circulate petitions, or, where publication is not required, who file petitions with the elections official.

(3) For recall measures, the person or persons defined in Section 343 of the Elections Code.

(4) For petitions circulated pursuant to Section 5091 of the Education Code, the person or persons having charge of the petition who submit the petition to the county superintendent of schools.

(5) For petitions circulated pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35700) of Chapter 4 of Part 21 of the Education Code, the person or persons designated as chief petitioners under Section 35701 of the Education Code.

(6) For petitions circulated pursuant to Part 46 (commencing with Section 74000) of the Education Code, the person or persons designated as chief petitioners under Sections 74102, 74133, and 74152 of the Education Code.

6253.6. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6252 and 6253, information compiled by public officers or public employees revealing the identity of persons who have requested bilingual ballots or ballot pamphlets, made in accordance with any federal or state law, or other data that would reveal the identity of the requester, shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be provided to any person other than public officers or public employees who are responsible for receiving those requests and processing the same.

(b) Nothing contained in subdivision (a) shall be construed as prohibiting any person who is otherwise authorized by law from examining election materials, including, but not limited to, affidavits of registration, provided that requests for bilingual ballots or ballot pamphlets shall be subject to the restrictions contained in subdivision (a).

6253.8. (a) Every final enforcement order issued by an agency listed in subdivision (b) under any provision of law that is administered by an entity listed in subdivision (b), shall be displayed on the entity's Internet website, if the final enforcement order is a public record that is not exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter.

(b) This section applies to the California Environmental Protection Agency and to all of the following entities within the agency:

(1) The State Air Resources Board.

(2) The California Integrated Waste Management Board.

(3) The State Water Resources Control Board, and each California regional water quality control board.

(4) The Department of Pesticide Regulation.

(5) The Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, an enforcement order is final when the time for judicial review has expired on or after January 1, 2001, or when all means of judicial review have been exhausted on or after January 1, 2001.

(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), with regard to a final enforcement order issued by the State Water Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality control board, this section shall apply only to a final enforcement order adopted by that board or a regional board at a public meeting.

(d) An order posted pursuant to this section shall be posted for not less than one year.

(e) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall oversee the implementation of this section.

(f) This section shall become operative April 1, 2001.

6253.9. (a) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, any agency that has information that constitutes an identifiable public record not exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter that is in an electronic format shall make that information available in an electronic format when requested by any person and, when applicable, shall comply with the following:

(1) The agency shall make the information available in any electronic format in which it holds the information.

(2) Each agency shall provide a copy of an electronic record in the format requested if the requested format is one that has been used by the agency to create copies for its own use or for provision to other agencies. The cost of duplication shall be limited to the direct cost of producing a copy of a record in an electronic format.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the requester shall bear the cost of producing a copy of the record, including the cost to construct a record, and the cost of programming and computer services necessary to produce a copy of the record when either of the following applies:

(1) In order to comply with the provisions of subdivision (a), the public agency would be required to produce a copy of an electronic record and the record is one that is produced only at otherwise regularly scheduled intervals.

(2) The request would require data compilation, extraction, or programming to produce the record.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the public agency to reconstruct a record in an electronic format if the agency no longer has the record available in an electronic format.

(d) If the request is for information in other than electronic format, and the information also is in electronic format, the agency may inform the requester that the information is available in electronic format.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an agency to make information available only in an electronic format.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the public agency to release an electronic record in the electronic form in which it is held by the agency if its release would jeopardize or compromise the security or integrity of the original record or of any proprietary software in which it is maintained.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit public access to records held by any agency to which access is otherwise restricted by statute.

6254. Except as provided in Sections 6254.7 and 6254.13, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records that are any of the following:

(a) Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency memoranda that are not retained by the public agency in the ordinary course of business, provided that the public interest in withholding those records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure. (b) Records pertaining to pending litigation to which the public agency is a party, or to claims made pursuant to Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810), until the pending litigation or claim has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.

(c) Personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

(d) Contained in or related to:

(1) Applications filed with any state agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of the issuance of securities or of financial institutions, including, but not limited to, banks, savings and loan associations, industrial loan companies, credit unions, and insurance companies.

(2) Examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of, any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency communications prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of, any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(4) Information received in confidence by any state agency referred to in paragraph (1).

(e) Geological and geophysical data, plant production data, and similar information relating to utility systems development, or market or crop reports, which are obtained in confidence from any person.

(f) Records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or records of intelligence information or security procedures of, the office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, and any state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes, except that state and local law enforcement agencies shall disclose the names and addresses of persons involved in, or witnesses other than confidential informants to, the incident, the description of any property involved, the date, time, and location of the incident, all diagrams, statements of the parties involved in the incident, the statements of all witnesses, other than confidential informants, to the victims of an incident, or an authorized representative thereof, an insurance carrier against which a claim has been or might be made, and any person suffering bodily injury or property damage or loss, as the result of the incident caused by arson, burglary, fire, explosion, larceny, robbery, carjacking, vandalism, vehicle theft, or a crime as defined by subdivision (c) of Section 13960, unless the disclosure would endanger the safety of a witness or other person involved in the investigation, or unless disclosure would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation. However, nothing in this division shall require the disclosure of that portion of those investigative files that reflect the analysis or conclusions of the investigating officer. Other provisions of this subdivision notwithstanding, state and local law enforcement agencies shall make public the following information, except to the extent that disclosure of a particular item of information would endanger the safety of a person involved in an investigation or would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation:

(1) The full name and occupation of every individual arrested by the agency, the individual's physical description including date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height and weight, the time and date of arrest, the time and date of booking, the location of the arrest, the factual circumstances surrounding the arrest, the amount of bail set, the time and manner of release or the location where the individual is currently being held, and all charges the individual is being held upon, including any outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions and parole or probation holds.

(2) Subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 841.5 of the Penal Code, the time, substance, and location of all complaints or requests for assistance received by the agency and the time and nature of the response thereto, including, to the extent the information regarding crimes alleged or committed or any other incident investigated is recorded, the time, date, and location of occurrence, the time and date of the report, the name and age of the victim, the factual circumstances surrounding the crime or incident, and a general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved. The name of a victim of any crime defined by Section 220, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 273a, 273d, 273.5, 286, 288, 288a, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 646.9 of the Penal Code may be withheld at the victim's request, or at the request of the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor. When a person is the victim of more than one crime, information disclosing that the person is a victim of a crime defined by Section 220, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 273a, 273d, 286, 288, 288a, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 646.9 of the Penal Code may be deleted at the request of the victim, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, in making the report of the crime, or of any crime or incident accompanying the crime, available to the public in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

(3) Subject to the restrictions of Section 841.5 of the Penal Code and this subdivision, the current address of every individual arrested by the agency and the current address of the victim of a crime, where the requester declares under penalty of perjury that the request is made for a scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purpose, or that the request is made for investigation purposes by a licensed private investigator as described in Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, except that the address of the victim of any crime defined by Section 220, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 273a, 273d, 273.5, 286, 288, 288a, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 646.9 of the Penal Code shall remain confidential. Address information obtained pursuant to this paragraph shall not be used directly or indirectly to sell a product or service to any individual or group of individuals, and the requester shall execute a declaration to that effect under penalty of perjury.

(g) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a licensing examination, examination for employment, or academic examination, except as provided for in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99150) of Part 65 of the Education Code. (h) The contents of real estate appraisals or engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by the state or local agency relative to the acquisition of property, or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until all of the property has been acquired or all of the contract agreement obtained. However, the law of eminent domain shall not be affected by this provision.

(i) Information required from any taxpayer in connection with the collection of local taxes that is received in confidence and the disclosure of the information to other persons would result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the person supplying the information.

(j) Library circulation records kept for the purpose of identifying the borrower of items available in libraries, and library and museum materials made or acquired and presented solely for reference or exhibition purposes. The exemption in this subdivision shall not apply to records of fines imposed on the borrowers.

(k) Records the disclosure of which is exempted or prohibited pursuant to federal or state law, including, but not limited to, provisions of the Evidence Code relating to privilege.

(l) Correspondence of and to the Governor or employees of the Governor's office or in the custody of or maintained by the Governor' s legal affairs secretary, provided that public records shall not be transferred to the custody of the Governor's legal affairs secretary to evade the disclosure provisions of this chapter.

(m) In the custody of or maintained by the Legislative Counsel, except those records in the public data base maintained by the Legislative Counsel that are described in Section 10248.

(n) Statements of personal worth or personal financial data required by a licensing agency and filed by an applicant with the licensing agency to establish his or her personal qualification for the license, certificate, or permit applied for.

(o) Financial data contained in applications for financing under Division 27 (commencing with Section 44500) of the Health and Safety Code, where an authorized officer of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority determines that disclosure of the financial data would be competitively injurious to the applicant and the data is required in order to obtain guarantees from the United States Small Business Administration. The California Pollution Control Financing Authority shall adopt rules for review of individual requests for confidentiality under this section and for making available to the public those portions of an application which are subject to disclosure under this chapter.

(p) Records of state agencies related to activities governed by Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512), Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 3525), and Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, that reveal a state agency's deliberative processes, impressions, evaluations, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work products, theories, or strategy, or that provide instruction, advice, or training to employees who do not have full collective bargaining and representation rights under these chapters. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the disclosure duties of a state agency with respect to any other records relating to the activities governed by the employee relations acts referred to in this subdivision.

(q) Records of state agencies related to activities governed by Articles 2.6 (commencing with Section 14081), 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), and 2.91 (commencing with Section 14089) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, that reveal the special negotiator's deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with providers of health care services, impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy, or that provide instruction, advice, or training to employees.

Except for the portion of a contract containing the rates of payment, contracts for inpatient services entered into pursuant to these articles, on or after April 1, 1984, shall be open to inspection one year after they are fully executed. In the event that a contract for inpatient services that is entered into prior to April 1, 1984, is amended on or after April 1, 1984, the amendment, except for any portion containing the rates of payment, shall be open to inspection one year after it is fully executed. If the California Medical Assistance Commission enters into contracts with health care providers for other than inpatient hospital services, those contracts shall be open to inspection one year after they are fully executed.

Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection under this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire contract or amendment shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments until the time a contract or amendment is fully open to inspection by the public.

(r) Records of Native American graves, cemeteries, and sacred places maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.

(s) A final accreditation report of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals that has been transmitted to the State Department of Health Services pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1282 of the Health and Safety Code.

(t) Records of a local hospital district, formed pursuant to Division 23 (commencing with Section 32000) of the Health and Safety Code, or the records of a municipal hospital, formed pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 37600) or Article 8 (commencing with Section 37650) of Chapter 5 of Division 3 of Title 4 of this code, that relate to any contract with an insurer or nonprofit hospital service plan for inpatient or outpatient services for alternative rates pursuant to Section 10133 or 11512 of the Insurance Code. However, the record shall be open to inspection within one year after the contract is fully executed.

(u) (1) Information contained in applications for licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 12050 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department that indicates when or where the applicant is vulnerable to attack or that concerns the applicant's medical or psychological history or that of members of his or her family.

(2) The home address and telephone number of peace officers, judges, court commissioners, and magistrates that are set forth in applications for licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 12050 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department.

(3) The home address and telephone nmber of peace officers, judges, court commissioners, and magistrates that are set forth in licenses to carry firearms issued pursuant to Section 12050 of the Penal Code by the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department.

(v) (1) Records of the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program related to activities governed by Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695), and Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700), of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and that reveal the deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with health plans, or the impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or records that provide instructions, advice, or training to employees.

(2) (A) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts for health coverage entered into pursuant to Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695), or Part 6.5 (commencing with Section 12700), of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, on or after July 1, 1991, shall be open to inspection one year after they have been fully executed.

(B) In the event that a contract for health coverage that is

entered into prior to July 1, 1991, is amended on or after July 1,

1991, the amendment, except for any portion containing the rates of

payment shall be open to inspection one year after the amendment has

been fully executed.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to

inspection pursuant to this subdivision, the portion of the contract

or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to

inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto, until the contract or amendments to a contract is open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (3).

(w) (1) Records of the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program related to activities governed by Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 10700) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and that reveal the deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with health plans, or the impressions, opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product, theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or records that provide instructions, advice, or training to employees.

(2) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of payment, contracts for health coverage entered into pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 10700) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, on or after January 1, 1993, shall be open to inspection one year after they have been fully executed.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and amendments thereto, until the contract or amendments to a contract is open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (2).

(x) Financial data contained in applications for registration, or

registration renewal, as a service contractor filed with the Director

of the Department of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Chapter 20

(commencing with Section 9800) of Division 3 of the Business and

Professions Code, for the purpose of establishing the service

contractor's net worth, or, financial data regarding the funded

accounts held in escrow for service contracts held in force in this

state by a service contractor.

(y) (1) Records of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board

related to activities governed by Part 6.2 (commencing with Section

12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and that reveal the

deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other

portion of the negotiations with health plans, or the impressions,

opinions, recommendations, meeting minutes, research, work product,

theories, or strategy of the board or its staff, or records that

provide instructions, advice, or training to employees.

(2) (A) Except for the portion of a contract that contains the

rates of payment, contracts entered into pursuant to Part 6.2

(commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code,

on or after January 1, 1998, shall be open to inspection one year

after they have been fully executed.

(B) In the event that a contract entered into pursuant to Part 6.2

(commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code

is amended, the amendment shall be open to inspection one year after

the amendment has been fully executed.

(3) Three years after a contract or amendment is open to

inspection pursuant to this subdivision, the portion of the contract

or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to

inspection.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire

contract or amendments to a contract shall be open to inspection by

the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Joint Legislative Audit

Committee shall maintain the confidentiality of the contracts and

amendments thereto until the contract or amendments to a contract are

open to inspection pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3).

(z) Records obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c)

of Section 2891.1 of the Public Utilities Code.

Nothing in this section prevents any agency from opening its

records concerning the administration of the agency to public

inspection, unless disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law.

Nothing in this section prevents any health facility from

disclosing to a certified bargaining agent relevant financing

information pursuant to Section 8 of the National Labor Relations

Act.

6254.1. (a) Except as provided in Section 6254.7, nothing in this chapter requires disclosure of records that are the residence address of any person contained in the records of the Department of Housing and Community Development, if the person has requested confidentiality of that information, in accordance with Section 18081 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of the residence or mailing address of any person in any record of the Department of Motor Vehicles except in accordance with Section 1808.21 of the Vehicle Code. (c) Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of the results of a test undertaken pursuant to Section 12804.8 of the Vehicle Code.

6254.2. (a) Nothing in this chapter exempts from public disclosure the same categories of pesticide safety and efficacy information that are disclosable under paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136h(d)(1)), if the individual requesting the information is not an officer, employee, or agent specified in subdivision (h) and signs the affirmation specified in subdivision (h).

(b) The Director of Pesticide Regulation, upon his or her initiative, or upon receipt of a request pursuant to this chapter for the release of data submitted and designated as a trade secret by a registrant or applicant, shall determine whether any or all of the data so submitted is a properly designated trade secret. In order to assure that the interested public has an opportunity to obtain and review pesticide safety and efficacy data and to comment prior to the expiration of the public comment period on a proposed pesticide registration, the director shall provide notice to interested persons when an application for registration enters the registration evaluation process.

(c) If the director determines that the data is not a trade secret, the director shall notify the registrant or applicant by certified mail.

(d) The registrant or applicant shall have 30 days after receipt of this notification to provide the director with a complete justification and statement of the grounds on which the trade secret privilege is claimed. This justification and statement shall be submitted by certified mail.

(e) The director shall determine whether the data is protected as a trade secret within 15 days after receipt of the justification and statement or, if no justification and statement is filed, within 45 days of the original notice. The director shall notify the registrant or applicant and any party who has requested the data pursuant to this chapter of that determination by certified mail. If the director determines that the data is not protected as a trade secret, the final notice shall also specify a date, not sooner than 15 days after the date of mailing of the final notice, when the data shall be available to any person requesting information pursuant to subdivision (a).

(f) "Trade secret" means data that is nondisclosable under paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

(g) This section shall be operative only so long as, and to the extent that, enforcement of paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 10 of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act has not been enjoined by federal court order, and shall become inoperative if an unappealable federal court judgment or decision becomes final that holds that paragraph invalid, to the extent of the invalidity.

(h) The director shall not knowingly disclose information submitted to the state by an applicant or registrant pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 12811) of Chapter 2 of Division 7 of the Food and Agricultural Code to any officer, employee, or agent of any business or other entity engaged in the production, sale, or distribution of pesticides in countries other than the United States or in countries in addition to the United States, or to any other person who intends to deliver this information to any foreign or multi-national business or entity, unless the applicant or registrant consents to the disclosure. To implement this subdivision, the director shall require the following affirmation to be signed by the person who requests such information :

AFFIRMATION OF STATUS

This affirmation is required by Section 6254.2 of the Government Code.

I have requested access to information submitted to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (or previously submitted to the Department of Food and Agriculture) by a pesticide applicant or registrant pursuant to the California Food and Agricultural Code. I hereby affirm all of the following statements:

(1) I do not seek access to the information for purposes of delivering it or offering it for sale to any business or other entity, including the business or entity of which I am an officer, employee, or agent engaged in the production, sale, or distribution of pesticides in countries other than the United States or in countries in addition to the United States, or to the officers, employees, or agents of such a business or entity.

(2) I will not purposefully deliver or negligently cause the data to be delivered to a business or entity specified in paragraph (1) or its officers, employees, or agents. I am aware that I may be subject to criminal penalties under Section 118 of the Penal Code if I make any statement of material facts knowing that the statement is false or if I willfully conceal any material fact.

______________________________

________________________________

Name of Requester Name of Requester's

Organization

______________________________

________________________________

Signature of Requester Address of Requester

_____________ _______________

________________________________

Date Request No. Telephone Number of Requester

______________________________

Name, Address, and Telephone

Number of Requester's Client,

if the requester has requested

access to the information on

behalf of someone other than

the requester or the requester's

organization listed above.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the director may disclose information submitted by an applicant or registrant to any person in connection with a public proceeding conducted under law or regulation, if the director determines that the information is needed to determine whether a pesticide, or any ingredient of any pesticide, causes unreasonable adverse effects on health or the environment.

(j) The director shall maintain records of the names of persons to whom data is disclosed pursuant to this section and the persons or organizations they represent and shall inform the applicant or registrant of the names and the affiliation of these persons.

(k) Section 118 of the Penal Code applies to any affirmation made pursuant to this section.

(l) Any officer or employee of the state or former officer or employee of the state who, because of this employment or official position, obtains possession of, or has access to, material which is prohibited from disclosure by this section, and who, knowing that disclosure of this material is prohibited by this section, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person not entitled to receive it, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.

For purposes of this subdivision, any contractor with the state who is furnished information pursuant to this section, or any employee of any contractor, shall be considered an employee of the state.

(m) This section does not prohibit any person from maintaining a civil action for wrongful disclosure of trade secrets.

(n) The director may limit an individual to one request per month pursuant to this section if the director determines that a person has made a frivolous request within the past 12-month period. 

6254.20. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of records that relate to electronically collected personal information, as defined by Section 11015.5, received, collected, or compiled by a state agency.

6254.21. (a) No state or local agency shall post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official on the Internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.

(b) For purposes of this section "elected or appointed official" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) State constitutional officers.

(2) Members of the Legislature.

(3) Judges and court commissioners.

(4) District attorneys.

(5) Public defenders.

(6) Members of a city council.

(7) Members of a board of supervisors.

(8) Appointees of the Governor.

(9) Appointees of the Legislature.

(10) Mayors.

(11) City attorneys.

(12) Police chiefs and sheriffs.

6254.22. Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law

shall require the disclosure of records of a health plan that is

licensed pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of

1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the

Health and Safety Code) and that is governed by a county board of

supervisors, whether paper records, records maintained in the

management information system, or records in any other form, that

relate to provider rate or payment determinations, allocation or

distribution methodologies for provider payments, formulae or

calculations for these payments, and contract negotiations with

providers of health care for alternative rates for a period of three

years after the contract is fully executed. The transmission of the

records, or the information contained therein in an alternative form,

to the board of supervisors shall not constitute a waiver of

exemption from disclosure, and the records and information once

transmitted to the board of supervisors shall be subject to this same

exemption. The provisions of this section shall not prevent access

to any records by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in the

exercise of its powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section

10500) of Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 2. The

provisions of this section also shall not prevent access to any

records by the Department of Corporations in the exercise of its

powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1340) of

Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.

6254.25. Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law shall require the disclosure of a memorandum submitted to a state body or to the legislative body of a local agency by its legal counsel pursuant to subdivision (q) of Section 11126 or Section 54956.9 until the pending litigation has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled. The memorandum shall be protected by the attorney work-product privilege until the pending litigation has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.

6254.3. (a) The home addresses and home telephone numbers of state

employees and employees of a school district or county office of

education shall not be deemed to be public records and shall not be

open to public inspection, except that disclosure of that information

may be made as follows:

(1) To an agent, or a family member of the individual to whom the information pertains.

(2) To an officer or employee of another state agency, school district, or county office of education when necessary for the performance of its official duties.

(3) To an employee organization pursuant to regulations and decisions of the Public Employment Relations Board, except that the home addresses and home telephone numbers of employees performing law enforcement-related functions shall not be disclosed.

(4) To an agent or employee of a health benefit plan providing

health services or administering claims for health services to state,

school districts, and county office of education employees and their

enrolled dependents, for the purpose of providing the health

services or administering claims for employees and their enrolled

dependents.

(b) Upon written request of any employee, a state agency, school

district, or county office of education shall not disclose the

employee's home address or home telephone number pursuant to

paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and an agency shall remove the

employee's home address and home telephone number from any mailing

list maintained by the agency, except if the list is used exclusively

by the agency to contact the employee.

6254.4. (a) The home address, telephone number, e-mail address, precinct number, or other number specified by the Secretary of State for voter registration purposes, and prior registration information shown on the voter registration card for all registered voters is confidential, and shall not be disclosed to any person, except pursuant to Section 2194 of the Elections Code.

(b) For purposes of this section, "home address" means street address only, and does not include an individual's city or post office address.

(c) The California driver's license number or California identification card number shown on a voter registration card of a registered voter is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.

6254.5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, whenever a state or local agency discloses a public record which is otherwise exempt from this chapter, to any member of the public, this disclosure shall constitute a waiver of the exemptions specified in Sections 6254, 6254.7, or other similar provisions of law. For purposes of this section, "agency" includes a member, agent, officer, or employee of the agency acting within the scope of his or her membership, agency, office, or employment. This section, however, shall not apply to disclosures:

(a) Made pursuant to the Information Practices Act (commencing with Section 1798 of the Civil Code) or discovery proceedings. (b) Made through other legal proceedings or as otherwise required by law.

(c) Within the scope of disclosure of a statute which limits

disclosure of specified writings to certain purposes.

(d) Not required by law, and prohibited by formal action of an

elected legislative body of the local agency which retains the

writings.

(e) Made to any governmental agency which agrees to treat the disclosed material as confidential. Only persons authorized in writing by the person in charge of the agency shall be permitted to obtain the information. Any information obtained by the agency shall only be used for purposes which are consistent with existing law.

(f) Of records relating to a financial institution or an affiliate thereof, if the disclosures are made to the financial institution or affiliate by a state agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of the financial institution or affiliate.

(g) Of records relating to any person that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Corporations, if the disclosures are made to the person that is the subject of the records for the purpose of corrective action by that person, or if a corporation, to an officer, director, or other key personnel of the corporation for the purpose of corrective action, or to any other person to the extent necessary to obtain information from that person for the purpose of an investigation by the Department of Corporations.

(h) Made by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions under Section 1909, 8009, or 18396 of the Financial Code.

(i) Of records relating to any person that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Managed Health Care, if the disclosures are made to the person that is the subject of the records for the purpose of corrective action by that person, or if a corporation, to an officer, director, or other key personnel of the corporation for the purpose of corrective action, or to any other person to the extent necessary to obtain information from that person for the purpose of an investigation by the Department of Managed Health Care.

6254.6. Whenever a city and county or a joint powers agency,

pursuant to a mandatory statute or charter provision to collect

private industry wage data for salary setting purposes, or a contract

entered to implement that mandate, is provided this data by the

federal Bureau of Labor Statistics on the basis that the identity of

private industry employers shall remain confidential, the identity of

the employers shall not be open to the public or be admitted as

evidence in any action or special proceeding.

6254.7. (a) All information, analyses, plans, or specifications

that disclose the nature, extent, quantity, or degree of air

contaminants or other pollution which any article, machine,

equipment, or other contrivance will produce, which any air pollution

control district or air quality management district, or any other

state or local agency or district, requires any applicant to provide

before the applicant builds, erects, alters, replaces, operates,

sells, rents, or uses the article, machine, equipment, or other

contrivance, are public records.

(b) All air or other pollution monitoring data, including data

compiled from stationary sources, are public records.

(c) All records of notices and orders directed to the owner of any

building of violations of housing or building codes, ordinances,

statutes, or regulations which constitute violations of standards

provided in Section 1941.1 of the Civil Code, and records of

subsequent action with respect to those notices and orders, are

public records.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e) and Chapter 3

(commencing with Section 99150) of Part 65 of the Education Code,

trade secrets are not public records under this section. "Trade

secrets," as used in this section, may include, but are not limited

to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound,

procedure, production data, or compilation of information which is

not patented, which is known only to certain individuals within a

commercial concern who are using it to fabricate, produce, or

compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value and

which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage

over competitors who do not know or use it.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all air pollution

emission data, including those emission data which constitute trade

secrets as defined in subdivision (d), are public records. Data used

to calculate emission data are not emission data for the purposes of

this subdivision and data which constitute trade secrets and which

are used to calculate emission data are not public records.

(f) Data used to calculate the costs of obtaining emissions

offsets are not public records. At the time that an air pollution

control district or air quality management district issues a permit

to construct to an applicant who is required to obtain offsets

pursuant to district rules and regulations, data obtained from the

applicant consisting of the year the offset transaction occurred, the

amount of offsets purchased, by pollutant, and the total cost, by

pollutant, of the offsets purchased is a public record. If an

application is denied, the data shall not be a public record.

6254.8. Every employment contract between a state or local agency

and any public official or public employee is a public record which

is not subject to the provisions of Sections 6254 and 6255.

6254.9. (a) Computer software developed by a state or local agency

is not itself a public record under this chapter. The agency may

sell, lease, or license the software for commercial or noncommercial

use.

(b) As used in this section, "computer software" includes computer

mapping systems, computer programs, and computer graphics systems.

(c) This section shall not be construed to create an implied

warranty on the part of the State of California or any local agency

for errors, omissions, or other defects in any computer software as

provided pursuant to this section.

(d) Nothing in this section is intended to affect the public

record status of information merely because it is stored in a

computer. Public records stored in a computer shall be disclosed as

required by this chapter.

(e) Nothing in this section is intended to limit any copyright

protections.

6254.10. Nothing in this chapter requires disclosure of records

that relate to archeological site information maintained by the

Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Historical Resources

Commission, or the State Lands Commission.

6254.11. Nothing in this chapter requires the disclosure of records

that relate to volatile organic compounds or chemical substances

information received or compiled by an air pollution control officer

pursuant to Section 42303.2 of the Health and Safety Code.

6254.12. Any information reported to the North American Securities

Administrators Association/National Association of Securities Dealers'

Central Registration Depository and compiled as disciplinary records

which are made available to the Department of Corporations through a

computer system, shall constitute a public record. Notwithstanding

any other provision of law, the Department of Corporations may

disclose that information and the current license status and the year

of issuance of the license of a broker-dealer upon written or oral

request pursuant to Section 25247 of the Corporations Code.

6254.13. Notwithstanding Section 6254, upon the request of any

Member of the Legislature or upon request of the Governor or his or

her designee, test questions or materials that would be used to

administer an examination and are provided by the State Department of

Education and administered as part of a statewide testing program of

pupils enrolled in the public schools shall be disclosed to the

requester. These questions or materials may not include an

individual examination that has been administered to a pupil and

scored. The requester may not take physical possession of the

questions or materials, but may view the questions or materials at a

location selected by the department. Upon viewing this information,

the requester shall keep the materials that he or she has seen

confidential.

6254.14. (a) Except as provided in Sections 6254 and 6254.7,

nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of

records of the Department of Corrections that relate to health care

services contract negotiations, and that reveal the deliberative

processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the

negotiations, including, but not limited to, records related to those

negotiations such as meeting minutes, research, work product,

theories, or strategy of the department, or its staff, or members of

the California Medical Assistance Commission, or its staff, who act

in consultation with, or on behalf of, the department.

Except for the portion of a contract that contains the rates of

payment, contracts for health services entered into by the Department

of Corrections or the California Medical Assistance Commission on or

after July 1, 1993, shall be open to inspection one year after they

are fully executed. In the event that a contract for health services

that is entered into prior to July 1, 1993, is amended on or after

July 1, 1993, the amendment, except for any portion containing rates

of payment, shall be open to inspection one year after it is fully

executed.

Three years after a contract or amendment is open to inspection

under this subdivision, the portion of the contract or amendment

containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entire contract or

amendment shall be open to inspection by the Joint Legislative Audit

Committee and the Bureau of State Audits. The Joint Legislative

Audit Committee and the Bureau of State Audits shall maintain the

confidentiality of the contracts and amendments until the contract or

amendment is fully open to inspection by the public.

It is the intent of the Legislature that confidentiality of health

care provider contracts, and of the contracting process as provided

in this subdivision, is intended to protect the competitive nature of

the negotiation process, and shall not affect public access to other

information relating to the delivery of health care services.

(b) The inspection authority and confidentiality requirements

established in subdivisions (q), (v), and (w) of Section 6254 for the

Legislative Audit Committee shall also apply to the Bureau of State

Audits.

6254.15. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the

disclosure of records that are any of the following: corporate

financial records, corporate proprietary information including trade

secrets, and information relating to siting within the state

furnished to a government agency by a private company for the purpose

of permitting the agency to work with the company in retaining,

locating, or expanding a facility within California. Except as

provided below, incentives offered by state or local government

agencies, if any, shall be disclosed upon communication to the agency

or the public of a decision to stay, locate, relocate, or expand, by

a company, or upon application by that company to a governmental

agency for a general plan amendment, rezone, use permit, building

permit, or any other permit, whichever occurs first.

The agency shall delete, prior to disclosure to the public,

information that is exempt pursuant to this section from any record

describing state or local incentives offered by an agency to a

private business to retain, locate, relocate, or expand the business

within California.

6254.16. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the

disclosure of the name, credit history, utility usage data, home

address, or telephone number of utility customers of local agencies,

except that disclosure of name, utility usage data, and the home

address of utility customers of local agencies shall be made

available upon request as follows:

(a) To an agent or authorized family member of the person to whom

the information pertains.

(b) To an officer or employee of another governmental agency when

necessary for the performance of its official duties.

(c) Upon court order or the request of a law enforcement agency

relative to an ongoing investigation.

(d) Upon determination by the local agency that the utility

customer who is the subject of the request has used utility services

in a manner inconsistent with applicable local utility usage

policies.

(e) Upon determination by the local agency that the utility customer who is the subject of the request is an elected or appointed official with authority to determine the utility usage policies of the local agency, provided that the home address of an appointed official shall not be disclosed without his or her consent.

(f) Upon determination by the local agency that the public interest in disclosure of the information clearly outweighs the public interest in nondisclosure.

6254.17. (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records of the State Board of Control that relate to a request for assistance under Article 1 (commencing with Section 13959) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2.

(b) This section shall not apply to a disclosure of the following information, if no information is disclosed that connects the information to a specific victim, derivative victim, or applicant under Article 1 (commencing with Section 13959) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2:

(1) The amount of money paid to a specific provider of services.

(2) Summary data concerning the types of crimes for which assistance is provided.

6255. (a) The agency shall justify withholding any record by demonstrating that the record in question is exempt under express provisions of this chapter or that on the facts of the particular case the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record.

(b) A response to a written request for inspection or copies of public records that includes a determination that the request is denied, in whole or in part, shall be in writing.

6257.5. This chapter does not allow limitations on access to a public record based upon the purpose for which the record is being requested, if the record is otherwise subject to disclosure.

6258. Any person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declarative relief or writ of mandate in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce his or her right to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record or class of public records under this chapter. The times for responsive pleadings and for hearings in these proceedings shall be set by the judge of the court with the object of securing a decision as to these matters at the earliest possible time.

6259. (a) Whenever it is made to appear by verified petition to the superior court of the county where the records or some part thereof are situated that certain public records are being improperly withheld from a member of the public, the court shall order the officer or person charged with withholding the records to disclose the public record or show cause why he or she should not do so. The court shall decide the case after examining the record in camera, if permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 915 of the Evidence Code, papers filed by the parties and any oral argument and additional evidence as the court may allow.

(b) If the court finds that the public official's decision to refuse disclosure is not justified under Section 6254 or 6255, he or she shall order the public official to make the record public. If the judge determines that the public official was justified in refusing to make the record public, he or she shall return the item to the public official without disclosing its content with an order supporting the decision refusing disclosure.

(c) In an action filed on or after January 1, 1991, an order of the court, either directing disclosure by a public official or supporting the decision of the public official refusing disclosure, is not a final judgment or order within the meaning of Section 904.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure from which an appeal may be taken, but shall be immediately reviewable by petition to the appellate court for the issuance of an extraordinary writ. Upon entry of any order pursuant to this section, a party shall, in order to obtain review of the order, file a petition within 20 days after service upon him or her of a written notice of entry of the order, or within such further time not exceeding an additional 20 days as the trial court may for good cause allow. If the notice is served by mail, the period within which to file the petition shall be increased by five days. A stay of an order or judgment shall not be granted unless the petitioning party demonstrates it will otherwise sustain irreparable damage and probable success on the merits. Any person who fails to obey the order of the court shall be cited to show cause why he or she is not in contempt of court.

(d) The court shall award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the plaintiff should the plaintiff prevail in litigation filed pursuant to this section. The costs and fees shall be paid by the public agency of which the public official is a member or employee and shall not become a personal liability of the public official. If the court finds that the plaintiff's case is clearly frivolous, it shall award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the public agency.

6260. The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed in any manner to affect the status of judicial records as it existed immediately prior to the effective date of this section, nor to affect the rights of litigants, including parties to administrative proceedings, under the laws of discovery of this state, nor to limit or impair any rights of discovery in a criminal case.

 6261. Notwithstanding Section 6252, an itemized statement of the total expenditures and disbursement of any agency provided for in Article VI of the California Constitution shall be open for inspection.

6262. The exemption of records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, any state or local agency for licensing purposes under subdivision (f) of Section 6254 shall not apply when a request for inspection of such records is made by a district attorney.

 6263. A state or local agency shall allow an inspection or copying of any public record or class of public records not exempted by this chapter when requested by a district attorney.

 6264. The district attorney may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to require a state or local agency to allow him to inspect or receive a copy of any public record or class of public records not exempted by this chapter when the agency fails or refuses to allow inspection or copying within 10 working days of a request. The court may require a public agency to permit inspection or copying by the district attorney unless the public interest or good cause in withholding such records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 6265. Disclosure of records to a district attorney under the provisions of this chapter shall effect no change in the status of the records under any other provision of law.

 6267. All registration and circulation records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, local agency, or state agency except as follows:

(a) By a person acting within the scope of his or her duties within the administration of the library.

(b) By a person authorized, in writing, by the individual to whom the records pertain, to inspect the records.

(c) By order of the appropriate superior court. As used in this section, the term "registration records" includes any information which a library requires a patron to provide in order to become eligible to borrow books and other materials, and the term "circulation records" includes any information which identifies the patrons borrowing particular books and other material. This section shall not apply to statistical reports of registration and circulation nor to records of fines collected by the library.

 6268. Public records, as defined in Section 6252, in the custody or control of the Governor when he or she leaves office, either voluntarily or involuntarily, shall, as soon as is practical, be transferred to the State Archives. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Governor, by written instrument, the terms of which shall be made public, may restrict public access to any of the transferred public records, or any other writings he or she may transfer, which have not already been made accessible to the public.

With respect to public records, public access, as otherwise provided for by this chapter, shall not be restricted for a period greater than 50 years or the death of the Governor, whichever is later, nor shall there be any restriction whatsoever with respect to enrolled bill files, press releases, speech files, or writings relating to applications for clemency or extradition in cases which have been closed for a period of at least 25 years. Subject to any restrictions permitted by this section, the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, shall make all such public records and other writings available to the public as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

Except as to enrolled bill files, press releases, speech files, or writings relating to applications for clemency or extradition, this section shall not apply to public records or other writings in the direct custody or control of any Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988 at the time of leaving office, except to the extent that that Governor may voluntarily transfer those records or other writings to the State Archives.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the public records and other writings of any Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988 may be transferred to any educational or research institution in California provided that with respect to public records, public access, as otherwise provided for by this chapter, shall not be restricted for a period greater than 50 years or the death of the Governor, whichever is later. No records or writings may be transferred pursuant to this paragraph unless the institution receiving them agrees to maintain, and does maintain, the materials according to commonly accepted archival standards. No public records transferred shall be destroyed by that institution without first receiving the written approval of the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, who may require that the records be placed in the State Archives rather than being destroyed. An institution receiving those records or writings shall allow the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, to copy, at state expense, and to make available to the public, any and all public records, and inventories, indices, or finding aids relating to those records, which the institution makes available to the public generally. Copies of those records in the custody of the State Archives shall be given the same legal effect as is given to the originals.

6270. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no state or local agency shall sell, exchange, furnish, or otherwise provide a public record subject to disclosure pursuant to this chapter to a private entity in a manner that prevents a state or local agency from providing the record directly pursuant to this chapter. Nothing in this section requires a state or local agency to use the State Printer to print public records. Nothing in this section prevents the destruction of records pursuant to law.

(b) This section shall not apply to contracts entered into prior to January 1, 1996, between the County of Santa Clara and a private entity for the provision of public records subject to disclosure under this chapter.

-END