(a) (1) For a Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988, Section 7928.005 does not apply to public records or other writings that were in the Governor’s direct custody or control at the time of leaving office, except to the extent that the Governor may voluntarily transfer those records or other writings to the State Archives.

(2) Subdivision (a) does not apply to enrolled bill files, press releases, speech files, or writings relating to applications for clemency or extradition.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In California Government Code 7928.010

  • Enrolled bill: The final copy of a bill or joint resolution which has passed both chambers in identical form. It is printed on parchment paper, signed by appropriate officials, and submitted to the President/Governor for signature.
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • public records: includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. See California Government Code 7920.530
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Government Code 10

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the public records and other writings of any Governor who held office between 1974 and 1988 may be transferred to any educational or research institution in California. With respect to public records, however, public access, as otherwise provided for by this division, shall not be restricted for a period greater than 50 years or the death of the Governor, whichever is later.

(2) Records or writings shall not be transferred pursuant to this subdivision unless the institution receiving them agrees to maintain, and does maintain, the materials according to commonly accepted archival standards.

(3) An institution receiving public records pursuant to this subdivision shall not destroy any of those records without first receiving the written approval of the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives. The Secretary of State may require that the records be placed in the State Archives rather than being destroyed.

(4) An institution receiving records or writings pursuant to this subdivision shall allow the Secretary of State, as custodian of the State Archives, to copy, at state expense, and to make available to the public, any and all public records, and inventories, indices, or finding aids relating to those records that the institution makes available to the public generally. Copies of those records in the custody of the State Archives shall be given the same legal effect as is given to the originals.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 614, Sec. 2. (AB 473) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 7931.000.)