California voters ensured that local government agencies comply with the California Public Records Act (CPRA) in a landslide with 61.5 percent approving Prop 42, the Public’s Right to Know Act. The proposition shifted the burden for paying for CPRA to local governments after the state moved to withdraw funding for transparency services. Local government in other states have always paid for the services. (Electronic Frontier Foundation, June 4, 2014, by Dave Maass)
With state deficits restricting state funding for transparency, local governments sometimes cited lack of funding in failing to meet the requirements of the state’s open meeting laws and the public records act. With Prop 42 passing, they will no longer be able to deny transparency. (San Jose Mercury News, June 3, 2014, by Becky Bach)