Gov. Brown To Sign Legislation Restoring Public's Access To Government Documents

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign fix-it legislation that restores a mandate for local governments to comply with document requests.

The governor's spokesman, Evan Westrup, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the governor's office supports the new approach taken by the Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate.

The leaders have pledged to undo language that threatened the public's access to government documents. The language is contained in a budget bill the Legislature approved last week and sent to the governor.

Earlier Thursday, the Assembly passed legislation that restores the local government mandate for complying with the state Public Records Act. The Senate leader then said his house will take up the bill soon.

Westrup says the governor supports that effort, as well as a longer-term solution. That most likely would be in the form of a constitutional amendment that ensures public access to government documents while requiring that local governments pay for complying with the law.

Media outlets throughout California had objected over part of the bill passed last week. It relieved the state of its responsibility for reimbursing the costs incurred by local governments. In doing so, it made complying with the records act optional, rather than required.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.