Asked & Answered

A&A: CA Public Benefit Corporations and the CPRA

Q: We are a very small group of residents are concerned about a community plan, which is in process of being amended, and the revised EIR that will be coming out soon that could bring a potential of overwhelming development to our area. We’ve been working on the growth issue for two years now and have just recently organized as a non-profit (CA Public Benefit Corp) and filed under IRS 501(c)(3) to obtain a Determination

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A&A: Charter schools and public oversight

Q: I have reason and documentation to believe that the charter school my children attend has not been properly permitted and fire codes have been violated. The Governing Board falls under the Brown Act as a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. Can I request and receive copies of permits from the school for the portable classrooms on campus? Because one of the Board members is affiliated with the City Office I was told I couldn’t

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Copyrights and Mugshots

Copyrights and Mugshots Q: Is a mugshot copyrighted?  For example, if my news agency were to take a mugshot that was posted on a competitor’s website… is that copyright infringement? A: All photographs are protected by copyright except photographs created by the US government.  So, technically, mug shots from local law enforcement are copyrighted. In addition, the competitor has a copyright in its web site.  Taking content from the competitor’s web site could be copyright

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Internal audit reports and the CPRA

Internal audit reports and the CPRA Q: At the Metropolitan Transit System there is a practice of giving the Board of Directors copies of internal audit reports, in open session. These reports are not made available during the meeting when requested. These reports are not available for inspection when requested. When I requested the reports, I was told the internal audit reports are not Public Records. I require guidance on possible reason/s these reports would

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School administrators and the CPRA

School administrators and the CPRA Q: Is a high school principal considered a public official?  E.G. are his/her “writings” public open to public view per the California Constitution? A: Under the California Public Records Act, “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,” Govt. Code Section 6252(e), is “open to inspection at all times

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