California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Public Records Act
by Toni A. Otokunrin on April 27, 2026
posted in
Law Enforcement, Municipal Law, Public Records Act, Recent Court Decisions,
Agencies are increasingly adopting law enforcement technology that increases the efficiency, transparency and safety of investigations. However, these technologies also create time consuming and costly burdens. Police departments have begun using tools like body-worn cameras, license plate peaders (LPRs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones), which provide important advantages. These tools allow distanced assessments to ensure the appropriate resources are dispatched and increase investigation efficiency. These tools also create records which implicate the California Public Records Act ... Continue Reading
tags:
Body Worn Cameras, CPRA, Government Code Section 7923.600(a), Law Enforcement Technology, New laws, Public Records Act,
by Jason M. Ewert on December 8, 2025
posted in
Law Enforcement, Public Records Act,
In recent years, the California Legislature has taken significant steps to provide the public with greater access to peace officer personnel files, which were previously only accessible through formal law and motion proceedings, generally referred to as Pitchess motions. First, in 2018 Senate Bill 1421 (Skinner) amended section 832.7 of the California Penal code to require disclosure of certain categories of information from peace officer personnel files in response to California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests for information. Those categories include incidents involving discharge of a firearm ... Continue Reading
tags:
New laws, Pitchess, Police,
by Derek P. Cole on August 1, 2025
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Public Records Act,
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) guarantees access to the records of state and local governments. The act ensures public officials and employees conduct business transparently. It recognizes that government records belong to — and should always be available to — the people.
But the right to access public records is not unlimited. As a municipal lawyer, I regularly advise my clients on handling public records requests. I often encounter misperceptions about what the CPRA requires.
Here’s a look at the most common misperceptions — and what the act really says.
Fact: Agencies ... Continue Reading
tags:
California Public Records Act, CPRA, Public Records Act,
by Betsy Martyn on December 31, 2024
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Code Enforcement, Employment Law, Public Records Act, Public Utilities, Public Works, Uncategorised,
All bills are effective January 1, 2025 unless otherwise provided.
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
Voluntary Disclosure of a Police Officer Termination – SB 400: Amends Penal Code 832.7 by adding (b)(13) which provides for voluntary disclosure by a public agency of the reason for termination for cause for the type of incident which must be disclosed.
13) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other law, an agency that formerly employed a peace officer or custodial officer may, without receiving a request for disclosure, disclose to the public the termination for cause ... Continue Reading
tags:
New laws, Public Records Act,
by Betsy Martyn on January 21, 2020
posted in
Employment Law, Legislative Updates, Public Records Act, Public Utilities, Water,
Introduction
The majority of the bills from 2019 addressed wildfires, affordable housing and emergency/homeless shelters. The housing bills from last year will be addressed in a separate post. A separate post on new bills affecting law enforcement will also be added.
... Continue Reading
tags:
data collection, gender diversity, Independent Contractors, New laws, planning, public works, Sexual Harassment Training, surplus property, urban water retailers, wages, zoning,
