Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is holding over 700 bills hostage to gain approval of a water deal with the legislature. Among the 700 bills are four bills that advance the cause of open government and freedom of speech. -DB
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Commentary
October 7, 2009
With the Sunday deadline fast approaching, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed only 3 of the over 700 bills on his desk. While a bit coy regarding his intentions on the fate of the Legislature’s entire work product from the 2009 session, the threat of a blanket veto may prove an effective lever on the water deal that alluded Schwarzenegger and legislators in the waning days of the legislative session. In the meantime, several bills of importance to the newspaper industry gather dust on the governor’s desk.
SB 218 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would bring the various nonprofit and auxiliary organizations of the University of California, California State University and Community Colleges under the California Public Records Act. This groundbreaking bill was sponsored by CNPA.
SB 219 by Sen. Yee would protect the rights of UC whistleblowers.
SB 320 by Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) would enact the anti-Libel Tourism Act to protect California writers from frivolous lawsuits filed in foreign jurisdictions. CNPA sponsored this bill.
SB 359 by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) would amend and update the sections of the California Public Records Act that, in alphabetical order, describe the records that may be exempt under the law. CNPA sponsored this bill.
CNPA is urging the veto of one bill – AB 524 by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) — which would amend the anti-Paparazzi law to allow a new cause of action against publishers for the mere publication of an image captured by a third party in violation of the law.
Two bills sponsored or supported by CNPA – AB 1494 by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) and SB 796 (Yee) – were signed by Schwarzenegger earlier this year. AB 1494 amends the serial meeting prohibition in the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting law governing state boards and commissions to be consistent with recent changes to the Ralph M. Brown Act. SB 796 amends the California Anti-SLAPP Law to prohibit government agencies that successfully use the law from obtaining their attorneys fees and costs.
Copyright 2009 California Newspaper Publishers Association