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Showing 1 - 10 of 48 results

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    Can my former employer disclose my personnel records under the CPRA?

    CPRA: general overview The California Public Records Act ("CPRA") generally requires state and local agencies to disclose any public record on request to any member of the public unless the record falls within a specific statutory exemption from disclosure. Govt. Code §§ 7922.525, 7922.530. General information about the CPRA, including a sample request form, […]

    May 15, 2025

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    Are government employee hiring records accessible under the CPRA?

    […] notes related to a recent county hiring decision, including interview materials, scoring criteria, and the minimum qualifications used in the selection process. I specifically sought the qualifications of the candidate who was hired and did not request personal information on other applicants. The county responded by generally citing the CPRA and only provided the […]

    May 16, 2025

  • Handbooks

    Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California

    By Paloma Esquivel A guide to publicly available data in California on criminal justice, education, the environment, state and local finances and more. This is a live document that will regularly updated. Access the most recent version here. First Published: January 29, 2026

    January 29, 2026

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act CPRA

    Access to City Manager’s compensation denied

    I am a  director for the Public Utility District trying to access the General Manager's compensation information.  Another director asked for W-2s with confidential information blacked out. And was told via email that they do not have to provide them. What information am I entitled to and how to I ask for it? The […]

    July 28, 2011

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    Is the list of employees taking voluntary buyouts a public document?

    I am a reporter covering the public district hospital. I want to know if a list of 74 employees who accepted voluntary buyouts is a public document. I requested this list from the hospital's PR person, and she said she would provide it only on condition that I promise not to publish the names. […]

    August 27, 2010

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    Is a Salary/Wage Review Really A “Trade Secret”?

    Our District Hospital contracted with a company to do a salary/wage and benefit review of hospital employees. They are meeting in closed session and discussing this report as a "trade secret." I have requested a copy of this report under the CPRA and was refused based on the trade secret exemption. Their response was, […]

    July 2, 2010

  • Latest News

    Blog

    A stunning end to the media’s 20-year losing streak in high court access cases.

    […] that affirms the vital link between public access to information and democratic self-government. In the IFPTE case the Contra Costa Times newspaper had requested records showing the salaries, by name, of all Oakland public employees making more than $100,000 a year. Although the city of Oakland had released this information in past years, it […]

    June 3, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    Bagley-Keene Act Brown Act

    Closed meeting and the Brown Act

    I'm thinking about writing a letter of cure/correct regarding a pattern of what appear to be Brown Act Violations. The district acted to correct the June 19 violation. According to a story we published previewing a meeting this past Tuesday, July 3: "After closed session on Tuesday, the board is scheduled to convene in […]

    June 14, 2009