The California Public Records Act requires a public agency, defined to mean any state or local agency, to make public records available for inspection, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law specifies that public records include any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business, including writing transmitted by electronic mail. The act requires any agency that has any information that constitutes a public record not exempt from disclosure, to make that public record available in accordance with certain procedures. provisions and authorizes every agency to adopt regulations
stating the procedures to be followed when making its records available, if the regulations are consistent with those provisions. Existing law authorizes cities, counties, and special districts to destroy or to dispose of duplicate records that are less than two years old when they are no longer required by the city, county, or special district, as specified.
This bill would, notwithstanding any law, require public agencies to retain and preserve energy writing transmitted by electronic mail for a period of at least 2 years.
The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and
agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to the retention of records by public agencies.