Privacy

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From Brown's Pen

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Tue, 10/17/2017 - 12:46

Consumers looking for bold action this year on laws protecting their wallets from rapacious drug companies, their privacy from the prying eyes of telecom companies, and their environment from the degradation of the oil and gas industry, didn't get any. But they did get some legislation that helps them take banks to court for fraud and to follow the money behind political ads.

The Ugly:

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California Laws You Should Know That Start Jan. 1, 2016

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Sat, 12/26/2015 - 14:06
In 2015, Californians wanted bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities. But instead, the public too often saw meaningful reform watered down or dumped.

Proposals such as reducing the state's petroleum use by 50% by 2030, protecting groundwater from fracking waste, demanding transparency from oil companies manipulating the price and supply of oil, and shutting down polluting facilities operating for decades without permits failed to be approved.

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Capitol Watchdog: Meetings to Watch This Week

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Sun, 10/25/2015 - 10:52

When and how should you find out if your doctor was put on probation by the California Medical Board? Sloppy medical records, inappropriate behavior with female patients and overprescribing with deadly consequences are a few of the reasons your doctor might be on probation. The Board says that its website's licensing portal is adequate, but patient-safety advocates say that a doctor should tell their patients if they are on probation.

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Brown Ends 2015 With a Whimper: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 10/12/2015 - 18:56

Landmark bills protecting digital privacy, greening energy use in the state, reining in health insurance abuses and expanding voter registration were among the good proposals signed by Gov. Jerry Brown as the 2015 legislative year drew to a close. Yet, in a year Californians called for bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities, centrist saddling and tepid reforms dull the shine of those wins for the public. 

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Big Privacy Victory As Gov. Brown Signs CalECPA

Submitted by John Simpson on Thu, 10/08/2015 - 16:04

Californians won a major privacy victory today that catches protections up with modern technology.  Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 178, the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA), into law.

It will require that law enforcement get a warrant before poking around in our digital records.  If the cops want to search your desk for letters and files, they need a warrant.  But who relies on paper files and letters these days?

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Waiting for Governor Jerry Brown to Sign Bills Protecting Californians

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 11:52

The crowded hallways outside of the Legislature's chambers may now be empty but that doesn't mean the fervent lobbying to kill pending legislation is over. 

With more than 600 bills sitting at the governor's desk, we are keeping an eye on bills that protect privacy, healthcare, elections, consumer rights and the environment. Below are some of the bills we are watching:  

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