AB 1924

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law generally makes it a crime to install or use a pen register or trap and trace device without court approval. Existing law allows a peace officer to make an application to a magistrate for an order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device and requires a provider of wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or other person, upon presentation of an order, to provide the peace officer with all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation, as specified, if the assistance is directed by the order. Under existing law, an order or extension order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device is required to direct that the order be sealed until otherwise ordered by the magistrate who issued the order, or a judge of the superior court, and that the person owning or leasing the line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is attached, or who has been ordered by the court to provide assistance to the applicant, not disclose the existence of the pen register or trap and trace device or the existence of the investigation to the listed subscriber or to any other person, except as specified. This bill would instead require an order or extension order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device direct that the order be sealed until the order, including any extensions, expires, and would require that the order or extension direct that the person owning or leasing the line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is attached not disclose the existence of the pen register or trap and trace device or the existence of the investigation to the listed subscriber or to any other person. The bill would require a government entity that obtains information pursuant to an order for a pen register or trap and trace device to notify the identified targets of the order within 30 days after the termination of the period of the order that information about the recipient has been compelled or requested. The bill would allow a court to order a delay of this notification if it finds that there is reason to believe notification may have an adverse result, as defined, and to grant extensions of the delay, as provided. The bill would require the requesting peace officer's law enforcement agency to compensate a provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or other person who provides facilities or technical assistance pursuant to these provisions for the reasonable expenses incurred in providing the facilities and assistance. (2) Existing law authorizes a government entity to compel the production of, or access to, electronic communication from a service provider or access to electronic device information only pursuant to a warrant, wiretap order, order for electronic reader records, or subpoena. This bill would additionally authorize a government entity to compel production of the above communications and information pursuant to an order for a pen register or trap and trace device. (3) Existing law authorizes a government entity to access electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the device only in specified circumstances, including, among others, pursuant to a warrant or wiretap order, or with the specific consent of the authorized possessor of the device. This bill would additionally authorize a government entity to access electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the device pursuant to an order for a pen register or trap and trace device. (4) The California Constitution provides for the Right to Truth in Evidence, which requires a 23 vote of the Legislature to enact a statute that would exclude any relevant evidence from any criminal proceeding, as specified. This bill would authorize any person in a trial, hearing, or proceeding to move to suppress wire or electronic information obtained or retained in violation of the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution or of the pen register and trap and trace device provisions described above, as specified, and would authorize the Attorney General to commence a civil action to compel any government entity to comply with those provisions. The bill would also authorize an individual whose information is targeted by a warrant, order, or other legal process that is inconsistent with those provisions, the California Constitution, or the United States Constitution, or a service provider or any other recipient of the warrant, order, or other legal process to petition the issuing court to void or modify the warrant, order, or process, or to order the destruction of any information obtained in violation of those provisions, the California Constitution, or the United States Constitution. Because this bill would authorize the exclusion of relevant evidence obtained or retained in violation of those pen register and trap and trace device provisions in a criminal proceeding, it requires a 23 vote of the Legislature. (5) This bill would provide that the prohibition against a government entity compelling the production of or access to electronic communication information or electronic device information without a search warrant, wiretap order, order for electronic reader records, or subpoena does not limit the authority of the Public Utilities Commission or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to obtain energy or water supply and consumption information pursuant to the powers granted to them under the Public Utilities Code or the Public Resources Code and other applicable state laws. (6) The bill would incorporate changes to Section 1546.1 of the Penal Code proposed by both this bill and SB 1121, which would become operative only if both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is enacted after SB 1121. (7) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.