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Public Agencies Must Disclose All Public Documents Regardless of the Record's Origin

In Becerra v. Superior Court of San Francisco, California's First District Court of Appeal broadened the definition of documents that public agencies must provide pursuant to a request made under the Public Records Act (PRA), to include records in the possession of the agency regardless of the record's origin.

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New Brown Act Case Clarifies Brown Act's Pending Litigation Exception When Litigation is Orally Threatened

On February 10, 2020, the California Court of Appeal decidedFowler v. City of Lafayette (2020) __ Cal.App.5th __, concluding a five-year dispute among neighbors involving the construction of a tennis court cabana on private residential property.

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CARES Act - Federal Funding for COVID-19 Prevention

In the midst of the emergency surrounding the novel coronavirus and its associated respiratory disease (COVID-19), the federal government passed a two trillion dollar spending bill.

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Important Update: The deadline to file the Annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) has been extended from April 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has announced it is allowing a 60-day extension for those required to file a 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

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Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Temporary Employer-Paid Sick Leave and Employer-Paid FMLA Leave for Childcare

In response to the nationwide economic disruption and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, Congress passed, and the President signed, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (H.R. 6201), which became law on March 18, 2020.

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Public Agency Employer Responses to COVID-19: Labor and Employment Implications

With growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, public agency employers are taking proactive steps to limit exposure and further transmission.

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AB 1600 Modifies Pitchess Motion Filing Deadlines and Expands Potential Access to Peace Officer Personnel Records

Assembly Bill (AB) 1600, which took effect on January 1, 2020, shortens the filing timelines for Pitchess motions in criminal matters and renders the personnel records of supervisorial officers potentially discoverable.

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Court of Appeal Confirms Limits on Severance Payouts to Public Employees

In Koenig v. Warner Unified School District (2019) 41 Cal.App.5th 43, the California Court of Appeal added to the legal landscape under Government Code sections 53260 and 53261, which limits severance payouts to public employees, while also addressing the important concepts of severance of illegal contract provisions in the context of an employment termination agreement.

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Government Code 1090 Challenges by Third Parties Clarified and Limited by California Supreme Court

The California Supreme Court has ruled that third parties (private citizens, taxpayers, watchdog groups, etc.) do not have legal standing to sue public agencies to invalidate contracts allegedly made in violation of Government Code section 1090.

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