An act to add Chapter 17.26 (commencing with Section 7284.3) to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state government. privacy.
Summary
AB 1300 would create the “California Data Protection and Privacy for All Communities Act” and add new provisions to the Government Code governing how state and local agencies handle personally identifiable information, especially information connected to immigration status. The bill would bar state and local agencies from collecting immigration-related PII unless collection is explicitly required by law and justified by a legitimate government purpose. It would also prohibit sharing PII with federal immigration enforcement agencies unless there is a judicial warrant or court order.
The bill further requires any data-sharing contract, agreement, or memorandum of understanding involving immigration enforcement authorities to comply with oversight mechanisms designed to protect civil rights and privacy. It assigns the State Auditor a recurring audit role over state and local data-sharing agreements at least every two years, and directs the Attorney General to create an oversight task force to review complaints, track violations, and report annually to the Legislature on privacy trends, risks, and policy recommendations.
Impact
AB 1300 would expand state privacy restrictions on government-held data and add new compliance, enforcement, and oversight duties for state and local agencies. It would create a new statutory framework limiting immigration-related data collection and disclosure, authorize enforcement through administrative action or civil penalties brought by the Attorney General, and potentially impose a state-mandated local program because local agencies would have to change practices and meet new requirements. The bill also contemplates reimbursement if the Commission on State Mandates finds reimbursable local costs.
Sentiment
The bill’s framing and structure indicate strong support for privacy protections and for limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Its findings emphasize safeguarding vulnerable communities and aligning government data practices with civil rights and privacy values. There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so the available record does not show formal opposition or amendment debate, but the bill’s subject matter suggests it is aimed at advocates for immigrant privacy and data protection.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the bill’s restrictions on information sharing with federal immigration authorities, the requirement of a judicial warrant or court order before disclosure, and the added oversight burden on state and local agencies. Local governments may be concerned about administrative costs, compliance obligations, and the bill’s status as a state-mandated local program. Law enforcement or agencies that rely on intergovernmental data-sharing arrangements may also object to the tighter limits and the Attorney General’s enforcement authority.
An act to add Section 37224 to, and to add Article 12 (commencing with Section 66095) to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of, the Education Code, and to amend Sections 11131 and 54961 of the Government Code, relating to holidays.
An act to add Chapter 17.6 (commencing with Section 7300) to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, and to add Sections 17137 and 23637 to the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to state government.