California Public Records Act: exemptions.
The modification included in AB 2676 could significantly affect the balance between public access to government-held information and the need to protect sensitive infrastructure data. By broadening exemptions from disclosure, the bill seeks to protect vital information that, if made public, could potentially harm economic or public safety interests. This has implications for transparency in government and the public's right to know about the workings of their government. Supporters may argue that this is necessary for national security and safety, especially concerning critical infrastructure, which the Department of Homeland Security has classified as crucial.
Assembly Bill No. 2676 focuses on amending the California Public Records Act, specifically Section 6254. It seeks to expand existing exemptions from disclosure concerning critical infrastructure information. Under current law, only information that is voluntarily submitted to the Office of Emergency Services is exempt from disclosure, which means that as long as the information is shared willingly, it remains confidential. AB 2676 proposes to remove the condition that the submission of information be voluntary, thus broadening the category of information exempt from public access rights.
While the intent behind AB 2676 is to bolster security measures, it raises concerns regarding transparency and accountability in government operations. Critics might contend that such amendments could lead to excessive secrecy, diminishing the public's ability to scrutinize government actions and decisions. There are concerns that the removal of the voluntary requirement could discourage entities from providing valuable information, undermining collaborative efforts between public agencies and private entities aimed at improving infrastructure resilience.