Criminal procedure: witness or victim privacy.

Existing law, added by Proposition 115 of the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, generally provides that an attorney shall not disclose or permit to be disclosed to a defendant, members of the defendant's family, or anyone else, the address or telephone number of a victim or witness whose name is disclosed to the attorney through discovery, unless specifically permitted to do so by the court after a hearing and a showing of good cause. Existing law makes a willful violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to amend Proposition 115 by a statute passed by a 23 vote of each house. This bill would further prohibit the disclosure of any personal identifying information, as defined, of the victim or witness. Because the bill would amend the provisions of Proposition 115, the bill would require a 23 vote of the Legislature. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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. The bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.