AB 1978 bill is Withdrawn
Dear Colleagues,
I have received word that Assemblymember Solorio has "dropped" AB 1978 from consideration by the Government Organization committee, which effectively kills the bill. His office said that due to "new developments" on the bill, Solorio "has decided to not push it forward," so "it's not going to go anywhere."
This does not mean that the backers of this attempt to limit and confuse the public's right to its governments' data (as guaranteed by the California Public Records Act) would not try to advance their objectives through other means. So, we will stay vigilant, and hope that you will remain responsive, if the need again arises.
Many thanks to those who sent a letter to Asm. Solorio's office expressing opposition to the bill. Undoubtedly, this influenced his decision to withdraw. Thanks, also, to those professional organizations that are in the process of preparing a statement of opposition. Please remain responsive and vigilant.
Grateful appreciation is due to the GIS press (especially, DirectionsMagazine, GIS Cafe, GeoSpatial Solutions, POB Magazine, GeoPlace, and GIS Monitor) and the mainstream press (Orange County Register and S.F.Bay Guardian) for informing our community about this important issue.
Enjoy the sunshine, and stay alert!
BAAMA informs its members about AB 1978
Legislative Alert
Dear BAAMA member and GIS community,
You may be aware that our state legislature is considering a bill to amend
the California Public Records Act. The bill (AB 1978) was introduced on
February 14, 2008 by State Assembly Member Jose Solorio, and may have
implications on public access to geospatial information in the future.
We believe this topic is of primary interest to all GIS practitioners. We invite you to review Assembly Member Solorio's proposed bill and discuss its implications within your organization.
You can find the text of AB 1978 at
http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=2702
A critique of AB 1978 may be found at:
http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=2701
Based upon your review of AB 1978, you may wish to share your opinion of the bill with your local Assembly Member or state Senator. The bill is scheduled for committee review 30 days after introduction, which would be March 15.
Sincerely,
The BAAMA Board
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