Write a review of FAC to help us keep our Top Rated Nonprofit status!

Search Results

Showing 281 - 290 of 691 results

Asked and Answered

CPRA

Access to public library records under Public Records Act

[…] solely for reference…purposes" are exempt from the Public Records Act. Cal. Gov't Code § 6254(j). Notwithstanding the above, you may want to send the library a formal letter renewing your public records request, informing them that you know the records are available, and citing to the evidence you found. Here's a link to more information […]

April 1, 2016
Asked and Answered

Brown Act School Records

State Agency I worked for is denying my records’ request, but documents do exist!

[…] (http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1435567.html). If the law does apply, the records you seek, if they exist, should be a public record. Although you are seeking an attorney to write a letter for you, our experience is that persistent letter writing by the requester her or himself can be just as effective. Bryan Cave LLP is general counsel […]

September 13, 2013
Asked and Answered

CPRA School Records

Many Colleges Denying My CPRA Request for Title IX Report

[…] college in California. Several community colleges are denying my request using FERPA, which the US DoE said does not apply to investigation reports in a Dear Colleague letter. Other schools are charging absurd amounts of money ($800-$2500) for the documents. Others are citing attorney client privilege and other aspects of the CPRA act. Every […]

November 7, 2018
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA

Board Conducting Public’s Business Via Private Emails

[…] Records Act on the FAC's website here: http://firstamendmentcoalition.org/category/resources/access-to-records/ As for enforcing the Brown Act, the Act does not specify a particular way that a violation may be cured and corrected, but presumably the legislative body could satisfy the Brown Act by reopening the process to permit public awareness of all the facts and views, […]

June 24, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA

Text-Messaging Public Records

[…] Only purely personal information unrelated to ‘the conduct of the public's business’ could be considered exempt from this definition, i.e., the shopping list phoned from home, the letter to a public officer from a friend which is totally void of reference to governmental activities." California State Univ., Fresno Ass'n, Inc. v. Superior Court, 90 […]

June 14, 2009
Posts

FAC, ACLU, Fresnoland Demand Fresno City Council Stop Secret Budget Negotiations

[…] the same issue year after year, as Fresno’s budget committee has done, it’s a standing committee, not an "ad hoc" body, as the city has contended. Our letter demands that Fresno must immediately stop ignoring open government law and begin holding budget committee meetings in compliance with the Brown Act, or the city may […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
- Public Meetings
September 6, 2023
Latest News

Blog

The First Amendment protects journalists using Snowden’s documents. But what about Snowden?

[…] and to take steps to open some national security decision-making to public scrutiny. These are positive and important developments. If it also turns out that Snowden is correct that his disclosures have not harmed American security interests---and time will tell whether he is correct about that---then, frankly, he will be seen as an American […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
October 22, 2013
Pages

About Us

[…] by FAC’s attorneys. Handbooks FAC offers detailed guides on the California Public Records Act, open-meetings laws, and accessing records from law enforcement. These guides offer numerous sample letters for requesting public records in California or from federal agencies. These resources are free for all to use. Explainers FAC’s Explainers provides information about topics relating […]

June 12, 2024
Latest News

Cases

Amicus Briefs Digest, Sept. 2017

[…] a court denied attorneys’ fees to the LA Times, even though the Times won access to the records it sought. Monterey County police scanners: FAC joined a letter by a coalition of Central Coast news outlets urging police and fire officials in the Monterey County area to continue to provide media access to police […]
September 27, 2017
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Agenda items failed to mention a parcel tax as part of ballot measure

[…] in an open session, a written demand must be made within 30 days of the action, regardless of when the violation was discovered, that the board " cure and correct" the action taken. Govt Code section 54960.1(b), (c)(1). Bryan Cave LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition and responds to First Amendment […]

October 23, 2013