California · Government Code

GOV §8953: The committee shall maintain a record of its investigations, inquiries, and proceedings.

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A committee must keep records of investigations and proceedings confidential, except as specified. Employees who unlawfully disclose confidential information commit a misdemeanor.

Read the full statutory text
The committee shall maintain a record of its investigations, inquiries, and proceedings. All records, complaints, documents, reports filed with or submitted to or made by the committee, and all records and transcripts of any investigations, inquiries or hearings of the committee under this article shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to inspection by any person other than a member of the committee, an employee of the committee, or a state employee designated to assist the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided in this article. The committee may, by adoption of a resolution, authorize the release to the Attorney General or to the district attorney of the appropriate county of any information, records, complaints, documents, reports, and transcripts in its possession material to any matter pending before the Attorney General or the district attorney. All matters presented at a public hearing of the committee and all reports of the committee stating a final finding of fact pursuant to Section 8950 shall be public records and open to public inspection. Any employee of the committee who divulges any matter which is deemed to be confidential by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.