REQUEST FOR REDACTION OF EMPLOYEE NAME FROM CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT RESPONSES

A 2007 California Supreme Court decision determined that the names and compensation of public employees generally are considered public information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Since this decision, the County has received, and continues to receive, many Public Records Act requests calling for lists of County employees, often in connection with other public data such as compensation or expense reimbursements.

To protect the privacy of employees who may have personal safety issues if their employer or work location is identified, the County has developed a process that allows employees to request redaction of their names from lists the County may be required to provide under the CPRA. Requests for redaction may be submitted by employees at any time during their County employment. These requests will be reviewed by a panel on a quarterly basis or upon receipt of a valid CPRA request, and an individualized determination will be made to grant the request or not. The employee making the request will be notified of the determination.

If a request is granted, the County will redact the employee’s name from lists it produces under the CPRA during the calendar year in which the request is granted. However, a plaintiff may seek a court order to compel the release of the records the plaintiff seeks, and if a court so orders, the County will be required to disclose this information. The County will notify the employee prior to disclosure pursuant to the court order.

If no request for redaction is made, or if a request is made and denied, the employee’s name will be included in lists the County produces, during the applicable calendar year, to the media and the public in response to CPRA requests. These lists may also disclose work location, employing County department, salary and other information about an employee that is deemed to be public information.

Employees desiring redaction of their name who are not currently on the redaction list must submit this form with complete information. The forms may be submitted by employees at any time during their County employment. Redaction requests will be processed on a quarterly basis or upon receipt of a valid CPRA request. Employees who were previously notified that their circumstances qualified for redaction must submit a new request by December 31, 2015 with current information. Failure to submit a redaction request in a timely manner (or by December 31, 2015, in the case of employees already approved for redaction) will result in the employee’s name being disclosed publicly in lists of County employees.

NOTE: The deadline to submit a name redaction request will be December 31, 2015, and will remain in effect until December 1, 2016.

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF FACTS THAT MAY JUSTIFY REDACTION OF YOUR NAME:

§  You are currently an approved participant in the California Secretary of State's Safe At Home program, which is designed to protect the identities of victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault

§  You were a victim of domestic violence or another violent crime and have changed your residence and employment to conceal your location. The perpetrator does not know your residence or employer.

§  You have a Restraining Order (Temporary or Permanent) in effect and the person named in the Restraining Order is not aware of the name of your employer

§  You work as an undercover officer and conceal your identity during the course of your investigation

§  You have sought or have been granted political asylum

EXAMPLES OF FACTS THAT WOULD NOT JUSTIFY REDACTION (EXCLUSION) OF YOUR NAME

§  You do not want financial information about yourself publicized

§  You perform a job that entails risk to your physical safety (e.g. a peace officer) but do not have a particular group or individual that you believe is physically threatening to you

§  You believe your right to privacy is more important than the public’s right to know this information.

§  You want to avoid alerting creditors to your whereabouts

§  You consider the location where you work or the population that you serve to be dangerous

If you feel that your safety would be at risk if the name of your employer or your work location were released to the media or a member of the public, please complete the information on the attached form providing as much detail as possible, including any available documents to support your claim, so that the panel can fully consider your request. Failure to provide complete information or available supporting documentation may affect the determination that is made regarding your request.

Submit the completed form with your original signature to the County of Orange Human Resource Services at: or by fax to (714)834-5523.


REQUEST FOR CPRA REDACTION OF EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

Name: Date: Employee ID

E-Mail Address: Work Phone:

Please explain how and why your safety could be compromised if your identity and the fact that you are employed by the County of Orange in general were released publicly. (Provide additional sheets if necessary):

If different from above, please explain how and why your safety would be compromised if the County department for which you work or your actual work location were released publicly. (Provide additional sheets if necessary):

Is the person(s) you fear a former client of yours or have you been associated with that person(s) through your employment with the County? If yes, please explain.

Do you have a current Restraining Order (Temporary or Permanent) against the person(s) described above? If yes, provide the effective date and attach copy of the Restraining Order with your request.

Does the individual named in the Restraining Order know you work for the County?

Do you currently participate in the California Safe At Home Program? Current participation in the California Safe At Home Program will be considered as a factor supporting an employee’s request for redaction. Material about the Safe at Home Program is available from the Secretary of State at http://www.sos.ca.gov/safeathome/ .

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and corrected. Executed at

this day of , 20.

Print Name:
Signature: ______
Please submit this request with your original signature and any supporting documentation to the County of Orange Human Resource Services at: or by fax to (714) 834-5523. Your request will be reviewed and you will be notified of the determination. Thank you.

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