Local government: internet websites and email addresses., the official text

An act to amend Section 50034 of the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law requires that a local agency that maintains an internet website for use by the public to ensure that the internet website uses a “.gov” top-level domain or a “.ca.gov” second-level domain no later than January 1, 2029. Existing law requires that a local agency that maintains public email addresses to ensure that each email address provided to its employees uses a “.gov” domain name or a “.ca.gov” domain name no later than January 1, 2029. Existing law defines “local agency” for these purposes as a city, county, or city and county.
This bill would recast these provisions by instead requiring a city, county, or city and county to comply with the above-described domain requirements and by deleting the term “local agency” from the above-described provisions. The bill would also require a special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision to comply with similar domain requirements no later than January 1, 2031. The bill would allow a community college district or community college to use a “.edu” domain to satisfy these requirements, and would specify that these requirements do not apply to a K–12 public school district. By adding to the duties of local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 50034 of the Government Code is amended to read:
50034.
(a) (1) (A) No later than January 1, 2029, a city, county, or city and county that maintains an internet website for use by the public shall ensure that the internet website uses a “.gov” top-level domain or a “.ca.gov” second-level domain.
(B) If a city, county, or city and county that is subject to subparagraph (A) maintains an internet website for use by the public that is noncompliant with subparagraph (A) by January 1, 2029, that city, county, or city and county shall redirect that internet website to a domain name that does comply with subparagraph (A).
(2) No later than January 1, 2029, a city, county, or city and county that maintains public email addresses for its employees shall ensure that each email address provided to its employees uses a “.gov” domain name or a “.ca.gov” domain name.
(b) (1) (A) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), no later than January 1, 2031, a special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision that maintains an internet website for use by the public shall ensure that the internet website uses a “.gov” top-level domain or a “.ca.gov” second-level domain.
(B) If a special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision that is subject to subparagraph (A) maintains an internet website for use by the public that is noncompliant with subparagraph (A) by January 1, 2031, that special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision shall redirect that internet website to a domain name that does comply with subparagraph (A).
(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), no later than January 1, 2031, a special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision that maintains public email addresses for its employees shall ensure that each email address provided to its employees uses a “.gov” domain name or a “.ca.gov” domain name.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, a community college district or community college may use a “.edu” domain name.
(4) This subdivision shall not apply to a K–12 public school district.

SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.