(a) As used in this section, “trade secret” means a trade secret as defined in either subdivision (f) of Section 7924.510 of the Government Code or Section 1061 of the Evidence Code.
(b) (1) If a business believes that the inventory required by this article involves the release of a trade secret, the business shall nevertheless provide this information to the unified program agency, and shall notify the unified program agency in writing of that belief on the inventory form.
(2) Subject to subdivisions (d) and (e), the unified program agency shall protect from disclosure any information designated as a trade secret by the business pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c) (1) Upon the receipt of a request for the release of information to the public that includes information that the business has notified the unified program agency is a trade secret pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the unified program agency shall notify the business in writing of the request by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(2) The unified program agency shall release the requested information to the public 30 days or more after the date of mailing to the business the notice of the request for information, unless, prior to the expiration of the 30-day period, the business files an action in an appropriate court for a declaratory judgment that the information is subject to protection under subdivision (b) or for an injunction prohibiting disclosure of the information to the public, and promptly notifies the unified program agency of that action.
(3) This subdivision does not permit a business to refuse to disclose the information required pursuant to this section to the unified program agency.
(d) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any information that has been designated as a trade secret by a business is confidential information for purposes of this section and shall not be disclosed to anyone except the following:
(1) An officer or employee of the county, city, state, or the United States, in connection with the official duties of that officer or employee under any law for the protection of health, or contractors with the county, city, or state and their employees if, in the opinion of the unified program agency, disclosure is necessary and required for the satisfactory performance of a contract, for performance of work, or to protect the health and safety of the employees of the contractor.
(2) A physician if the physician certifies in writing to the unified program agency that the information is necessary to the medical treatment of the physician’s patient.
(e) A physician who, by virtue of having obtained possession of, or access to, confidential information, and who, knowing that disclosure of the information to the general public is prohibited by this section, knowingly and willfully discloses the information in any manner to a person not entitled to receive it, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(f) An officer or employee of the county or city, or former officer or employee who, by virtue of that employment or official position, has possession of, or has access to, confidential information, and who, knowing that disclosure of the information to the general public is prohibited by this section, knowingly and willfully discloses the information in any manner to a person not entitled to receive it, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A contractor with the county or city and an employee of the contractor, who has been furnished information as authorized by this section, shall be considered an employee of the county or city for purposes of this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 254. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)