Public records: exceptions to disclosure: public postsecondary educational institutions: researchers.

The California Public Records Act requires a state or local agency, as defined, to make public records available for inspection, unless the record is exempt from disclosure. This bill would exempt from disclosure specified information relating to a researcher or their research at, or in affiliation with, a public postsecondary educational institution, including unpublished research methods, trade secrets, and correspondence. The bill would define public postsecondary educational institution for these purposes to include the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and any medical facility or laboratory affiliated with those public postsecondary educational institutions. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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.