Confidential address programs.

Existing law establishes a program until January 1, 2013, known as "Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence and Stalking." That program authorizes specified persons to complete an application containing specified information in person at a community-based victims' assistance program to be approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of enabling state and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing a program participant's residence address. The program also makes the participant's voter registration confidential, and requires the Secretary of State to act as that person's agent for service of process and to designate a substitute mailing address for program participants, as specified. Under existing law, any person who makes a false statement in an application for this program is guilty of a misdemeanor. Under the program any person who is granted confidentiality pursuant to these provisions may file a new affidavit of voter registration or reregistration and be considered an absent voter for subsequent elections until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or the voter. Existing law provides that any records or documents pertaining to a program participant shall be retained and held confidential for a period of 3 years after termination of certification of participation in the program and then destroyed, as specified. This bill would extend the provisions of the program indefinitely. By extending indefinitely provisions of law, the violation of which is a misdemeanor, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes a program similar to the above-described program, the "Address Confidentiality for Reproductive Health Care Services Providers, Employees, Volunteers, and Patients" program until January 1, 2013, for reproductive health care services providers, employees, volunteers, and patients. The program similarly provides that any person who makes a false statement in an application is guilty of a misdemeanor and any person who is granted confidentiality pursuant to these provisions may file a new affidavit of voter registration or reregistration and be considered an absent voter for subsequent elections until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or the voter. This bill would extend indefinitely the "Address Confidentiality for Reproductive Health Care Services Providers, Employees, Volunteers, and Patients" program. By extending indefinitely provisions of law, the violation of which is a misdemeanor, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to retain and keep confidential records and documents pertaining to a participant in this address confidentiality program for a period of 3 years after termination of certification of the participant, and then to destroy the records and documents. This bill would provide an exception to those provisions for change of name records, which would be retained permanently. Existing law, until January 1, 2013, provides that any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration who is a participant in certain address confidentiality programs may have the information relating to his or her residence address, telephone number, and e-mail address appearing on the affidavit, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, declared confidential, as specified. This bill would extend indefinitely the voter registration confidentiality provisions. 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.