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Showing 31 - 40 of 1808 results

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Governing Boards with Public Funds

    […] that the mere receipt of public funds by a co-op or other typically private entity, without more, does not subject the entity to the Brown Act.  California Government Code section 54952(c) sets forth two sets of circumstances under which such an organization might be subject to the Brown Act's open meetings requirements: First, a […]

    June 14, 2009

  • Latest News

    Cases Press Release

    Foreign media at Olympics urged to press home governments to demand China lift internet censorship

    […] on news media covering the Olympics to demand that China tear down "The Great Firewall"--the elaborate system of filters blocking access to online content deemed objectionable by government censors. The California First Amendment Coalition, which has petitioned the US Trade Representative to contest China's censorship as a restraint on international commerce that violates free […]

    June 3, 2009

  • Latest News

    Blog

    Recent court decisions transform legal tools for protecting free speech into an instrument for the suppression of the public’s speech and access rights

    […] legal Frankenstein’s monster. In doing so, they have turned a law designed to protect the public’s exercise of free speech and petition rights into a tool for government suppression of those rights. The decisions in Holbrook v. City of Santa Monica and Californians Aware v. Orange Unified School District both arise from the efforts […]

    June 3, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Does the Brown Act allow closed session negotiations for all public school contracts?

    Does the Brown Act allow a publicly elected school board to hold closed session discussion under Government Code 54957 (Public Employee Appointment/Employment) and 54957.6 (Labor Negotiations) regarding the appointment and pay structure of a Director of Curriculum to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. Both positions are administrative positions that report directly to […]

    July 19, 2016

  • Latest News

    FAC News Press Release

    FAC names free speech award winners–and one loser

    The First Amendment Coalition, a California-based non-profit public interest group, has named the 2009 recipients of its awards for service in the cause of free speech, open government and the public's right to know. In contrast, the Coalition also has presented its "Darkness Award," given in recognition of conduct that thwarts freedom of speech. […]

    October 22, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Closed door assessor appointment – possible Brown Act violation

    The Brown Act serves to facilitate public participation in all phases of local government, and prohibits "serial meetings" and communications amongst a majority of the members of a particular legislative body that take place outside the confines of a properly noticed meeting. In other words, under the Brown Act, a serial meeting in violation […]

    April 21, 2016

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Could this act of intimidation be a Brown Act violation?

    […] County is violating the Brown Act, he or she may bring essentially three types of legal suits to enforce the Brown Act: (1) a suit over a government entity’s alleged violation of the Act based on the entity’s past violation of the Brown Act; (2) a suit to contest or enjoin ongoing or future […]

    June 10, 2016

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    The CPRA and privately owned utilities companies

    […] a sample request letter, at the First Amendment Coalition website at http://firstamendmentcoalition.org/category/resources/access-to-records/. Holme Roberts & Owen LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition and responds to FAC hotline inquiries. In responding to the inquiries, we can give general information regarding open government and speech issues but cannot provide specific legal advice or representation.

    August 7, 2011

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

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

    I resigned from my job at a government entity. I submitted a CPRA request to my former workplace, seeking records related to disciplinary actions taken against me. My former workplace responded, providing only some records and stating the remaining records are exempt under Government Code Sections 7922.000, 7927.700, and 7927.705. It did not provide […]

    May 15, 2025

  • Latest News

    Blog

    Secrecy surrounding public employees’ pay & benefits makes mockery of democracy

    BY PETER SCHEER---Local officials talk a good game about government transparency and accountability. And while city council members and county supervisors often go through the motions of conducting official business in an open and public way, on the biggest, most costly and consequential issues that come before them---issues that dwarf all others by orders […]

    June 24, 2015