Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes legal protections for journalists attending protest demonstrations.

Highlights:

• Establishes the following requirements to be applied to peace officers, while within an area roped or closed off by means of a police line or other emergency measure, during a march, protest, demonstration, rally or other activity in which the actions of the participating individuals are pursuant to the First Amendment or Article I of the United States Constitution (Sec 1):

• An authorized member of any verified news service may enter the enclosed area;

• No peace officer may intentionally assault, interefere with, or inhibit the representative of said news service while that representative is in the process of gathering, receiving or processing information to communicate to the public; and

• Said representative shall not be cited for a violation of curfew, failure to disperse, or entering the enclosed area.

• Defines a “duly authorized representative of a news service” as a person who appears to be engaged in the gathering, receiving, or processing of information for the purposes of communicating it to the public and who shall produce a card, badge, or similar credential upon request (Sec 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes legal protections for journalists attending protest demonstrations.

Highlights:

• Establishes the following requirements to be applied to peace officers, while within an area roped or closed off by means of a police line or other emergency measure, during a march, protest, demonstration, rally or other activity in which the actions of the participating individuals are pursuant to the First Amendment or Article I of the United States Constitution (Sec 1):

• An authorized member of any verified news service may enter the enclosed area;

• No peace officer may intentionally assault, interefere with, or inhibit the representative of said news service while that representative is in the process of gathering, receiving or processing information to communicate to the public; and

• Said representative shall not be cited for a violation of curfew, failure to disperse, or entering the enclosed area.

• Defines a “duly authorized representative of a news service” as a person who appears to be engaged in the gathering, receiving, or processing of information for the purposes of communicating it to the public and who shall produce a card, badge, or similar credential upon request (Sec 1).

Full Bill Text