California Public Records Act: personal information of elected and appointed officials.

Assembly Member Lowenthal's proposed expansion of California's Public Records Act would broaden protections for elected and appointed officials' personal information while establishing new restrictions on its disclosure. The legislation replaces current specific protections for home addresses and telephone numbers with comprehensive safeguards for a wider range of "protected information," including residential addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, vehicle registrations, and precise geolocation data.

The bill prohibits state and local agencies from publicly posting protected information without written permission and creates both criminal and civil penalties for violations. Individuals or businesses that knowingly disclose such information with intent to cause harm could face misdemeanor charges, escalating to potential felony prosecution if disclosure results in bodily injury. Upon receiving a written demand or verifiable consumer request, entities must remove protected information within 48 hours and cease any further dissemination or sale of the data.

These protections extend to immediate family members residing with officials, though family members' rights apply only during periods of cohabitation. The legislation allows officials to designate third parties, including employers, government entities, or professional associations, to submit removal requests on their behalf. Officials whose information is disclosed in violation of these provisions may seek injunctive relief and damages, with minimum awards of $4,000 for intentional violations intended to cause harm.