The California state legislature is making progress on a law that would make the public records of government agencies available in “open” format. The law calls for agencies to save documents in a searchable format which can be done at minimal cost. -db From TechPresident, May 24 2012, by Sarah Lai Stirland. Full story
The county district attorney wrote a letter saying a citizens group had valid documentation of a claim that the trustees of the Gavilan College board violated the state’s open meetings law, the Brown Act, when approving a pay increase for the school president. -db From the Gilroy Dispatch, May 29, 2012, by Kollin Kosmicki. Full story
A federal appeals court ruled against the Chicago Tribune in its quest for secure records from the University of Illinois relating to the school’s preferential review process for applicants for admission with connections to influential supporters. The court said the case belonged in state court under state open records laws. -db From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, May 24, 2012, by You-Jin Han. Full story
The Kern County District Attorney is looking into allegations that the county supervisors are holding too many closed sessions, almost one a week, ostensibly to review the job performance of the chief county administrative officer. -db From an editorial in the Bakersfield Californian, May 22, 2012. Full story
A catastrophic Pacific Gas and Electric 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA that killed eight and wiped out 35 homes did not provide sufficient fuel for a transparency measure that required utility regulators to supply investigation orders and accident reports to the public. The bill failed in the state Senate. -db From the Los Angeles Times, May 21, 201. Full story