Privacy Policy
The California State Auditor (state auditor) is committed to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of individuals, as enumerated in Article 1 of the California Constitution, the Information Practices Act of 1977, and other state and federal laws.
It is the state auditor’s policy to limit the collection and safeguard the privacy of personal information collected or maintained by the state auditor. The state auditor’s information management practices conform to the requirements of the Information Practices Act (Civil Code section 1798 et seq.), the Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.), Government Code sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and other applicable laws pertaining to information privacy.
The state auditor adheres to the following principles in connection with the collection and management of personal information:
The state auditor collects personal information only as allowed by law. Personal information is defined in the Information Practices Act and includes information that identifies or describes an individual such as and individual’s name, Social Security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, financial matters, and medical or employment history. The state auditor limits the collection of personal information to that which is relevant and necessary to accomplish a lawful purpose of the state auditor, as defined at Government Code sections 8543-8548.9 and 8251-8253.6. For example, the state auditor may need to know an individual’s home address, e-mail address, or telephone number, in order to answer the individual’s questions or in order to provide requested assistance. The state auditor also collects personal information from applicants and commenters participating in the selection of Commissioners for the Citizens Redistricting Commission pursuant to the Voters FIRST Act. Those individuals agree to the terms of the privacy notification and waiver provided by the state auditor when they elect to participate.
The state auditor does not collect home, business, or e-mail addresses, or account information from persons who simply browse the state auditor’s Internet Web sites. The information that the state auditor automatically collects includes the domain name or Internet Protocol address that relates to the machine used to access the state auditor’s Web sites, the type of browser and operating system used, the date and time when the state auditor’s Web site is visited. The state auditor does not use cookies to collect or store personal information. The state auditor collects personal information about individuals through the state auditor’s Web site only if an individual provides such information to the state auditor voluntarily through e-mail, correspondence, public comments, applications, Forms 700, registration forms, or surveys. Additionally, the state auditor may obtain information about individuals when it investigates or receives public comments about applicants for the Citizens Redistricting Commission.
The state auditor endeavors in each instance to tell people who provide personal information to the state auditor the purpose for which the information is collected. The state auditor strives to tell persons who are asked to provide personal information about the general uses that the state auditor will make of that information. The state auditor does this at the time of collection. With each request for personal information, the state auditor provides information about the authority under which the request is made, the principal uses the state auditor intends to make of the information, and the disclosures the state auditor makes to other government agencies and to the public.
The state auditor provides people who provide personal information with an opportunity to review that information. The state auditor allows individuals who provide personal information to review the information and contest its accuracy or completeness.
The state auditor uses personal information only for specified purposes, or purposes consistent with those specified purposes, unless the state auditor obtains the consent of the subject of the information or the state auditor’s use of the information is otherwise required or permitted by law. The Public Records Act exists to ensure that California government is open and that the public has a right to have access to appropriate records and information possessed by many state and local government agencies. At the same time, there are exceptions to the laws that recognize the public’s right to access public records. These exceptions serve various needs, including maintaining the privacy of individuals. In the event of a conflict between this Policy and the Public Records Act, the Information Practices Act or any other law governing the disclosure of records, the applicable law will control, except when an individual has voluntarily waived his or her privacy rights under that law.
The state auditor uses information security safeguards. Regarding the personal information of individuals collected or maintained by the state auditor, the state auditor takes reasonable precautions to protect such information against loss, unauthorized access, and illegal use or disclosure. The state auditor uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption software to protect the security of individuals’ personal information during the transmission of such information through the state auditor’s Web sites. Such personal information is stored by the state auditor in secure locations. The state auditor staff is trained on procedures for the management of personal information, including limitations on the release of information. Access to personal information is limited to those members of the state auditor’s staff whose work requires such access. Confidential information is destroyed according to the state auditor’s records retention schedule. The state auditor conducts periodic reviews to ensure that proper information management policies and procedures are understood and followed.
The state auditor will provide additional explanations of the state auditor’s privacy policy, if requested. If any individuals have further questions about the state auditor’s privacy policy, they are encouraged to contact the state auditor at 916-445-0255, or by email at privacy@auditor.ca.gov.
Conditions of Use
This Web site, and the information it contains, are provided as a public service by the California State Auditor’s Office (the office). This document sets forth the office’s Use Policy regarding the use of the Web site. Please note that the office also publishes a Privacy Policy, which is available on the Web site. By visiting the Web site, you are accepting the policies and practices described in this document, which covers the following topics.
Please note that this Use Policy is subject to change without notice, and that it reflects the office’s current business practices. The Use Policy is dated November 20, 2009.
System Security
The computer system (“system”) that hosts and controls this Web site is monitored to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for comparable purposes. Anyone using the Web site expressly consents to such monitoring. Unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on the system that hosts the Web site or to use the information for any purpose other than its intended purposes are prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution.
Links To Other Sites
The office’s Web site has links to sites that may be useful to you and which may provide services. When you follow such a link to another site, you are no longer on the office’s Web site and are subject to the privacy policy of the new site to which you have been linked.
Limitation of liability
The office attempts to maintain the accuracy of the content of this Web site. Any errors or omissions should be reported to the office for investigation.
The office makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the absolute accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content of this Web site and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the content of this Web site. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or arising by law, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the content of the Web site or its hyperlinks to other internet resources. Reference in the Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute any endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of California, or its employees or agents.
Ownership
In general, information presented on this Web site, unless otherwise indicated, is considered to exist in the public domain. It may be distributed or copied as permitted by law. However, the State of California does make use of copyrighted data (e.g., photographs) which may require additional permissions prior to further use. Any person seeking to use, from the Web site, any information of any nature not owned or created by the State of California, must seek permission directly from the persons or entities that own (or hold) rights in such information. The State of California shall have the unlimited right to use for any purpose, free of any charge, all information submitted via this site, excepting those submissions made under separate legal contract. The State of California shall be free to use, for any purpose, any ideas, concepts, or techniques contained in information provided through this site.
