California lawmakers advance last-minute data privacy bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state senators advanced a lastminute internet privacy bill Tuesday ahead of a deadline while acknowledging it would need changes if it becomes law.

The bill would let consumers ask companies what personal data they collect and opt out of having their data sold, among other privacy provisions.

Lawmakers voted to pass the measure, AB375, out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill is aimed at keeping a related initiative off the November ballot. Lawmakers negotiated it with San Francisco housing developer Alastair Mactaggart, who spent millions of dollars to place the initiative on the ballot. He said he would pull the measure from the ballot if the bill is signed into law by the Thursday deadline to withdraw initiatives.

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee, a spokeswoman for co-author Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-van Nuys, said. The full Assembly and Senate each plan to vote on the bill Thursday. Gov. Jerry Brown's office has not said whether he will sign it.

Lawmakers can more easily amend laws they pass than alter voterenacted initiatives.

Lawmakers say the legislation will affect every California consumer and will likely inform legislation throughout the country.

Mactaggart said he supports the bill and his initiative, though he believes the legislative process is better tailored for enacting such policy. He said he has been pushing legislators to address the issue.

Those who spoke against the bill, including the California Chamber of Commerce, said they favored it over the initiative and urged future changes.

“Although AB375 is deeply flawed, the privacy initiative is even worse,” chamber lobbyist Sarah Boot said.

The bill has unclear language and could prevent companies from providing loyalty programs and notifications to customers, Boot said.

The bill would let consumers ask companies such as Google and Facebook what personal data has been collected, why it was collected and what categories of third parties have received it.