Attorney General: Reproductive Privacy Act: enforcement.

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan's legislation expands enforcement authority for California's Reproductive Privacy Act by granting the Attorney General new investigative and litigation powers. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to pursue civil actions against violators, conduct investigations, and impose penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

Under the new provisions, the Attorney General may initiate court proceedings to obtain injunctions or writs of mandate against entities violating or preparing to violate the Act. The legislation enables the Attorney General to subpoena witnesses, gather evidence, and require document production during investigations. Courts may order restitution to victims and consider factors such as violation severity, frequency, and willfulness when determining penalties.

The bill exempts Reproductive Privacy Act claims from standard Government Claims Act requirements and applies retroactively to pending cases. All costs, fees and civil penalties collected through enforcement will fund the Attorney General's ongoing oversight of the Act, subject to legislative appropriation. The four-year statute of limitations for bringing enforcement actions preserves the Attorney General's ability to address past violations while maintaining reasonable time constraints on litigation.