The tussle over how to ensure public access to local government records, as well as who should pay for those requirements, came after a barrage of criticism from open-government activists who said proposed changes in a state budget bill would essentially gut the law.
Brown proposed the changes in his January budget plan as a way to save the state money. They make it optional for local governments to comply with several key provisions of the act.
At issue is Assembly Bill 76, a budget bill on Brown's desk that proposes making key provisions of the state's Public Records Act optional for local governments.
Amid criticism from the media and open-government advocates, the Assembly announced plans to send a replacement for the measure Thursday that does not contain the records act changes.
