SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) today convened a joint hearing of two key Assembly Committees to examine the policy steps needed to ensure accountability and transparency by state government as it addresses the ongoing threat of cyber security. The hearing of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity and the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection focused on tangible actions the state can take to secure its assets.
“Cybersecurity is a national priority with critical importance in California,” said Assemblymember Irwin. “This committee will continue to work to accelerate the steps being taken to protect California from these cyber threats, and look for new solutions in a way that could serve as an example to other states and the nation as a whole.”
The United States and California, in particular, are in a cybersecurity crisis. The White House has released two Executive Orders on this issue in the past two months and President Obama declared a National Emergency to address cyber threats last week. Cyber-attacks are becoming larger, more frequent, and more sophisticated; and our state government is a priority target because of the value of our information and economy. The state is responsible for defending its networks and assets, as well as the critical networks that Californians rely on for services. The Joint Committee Hearing on Cybersecurity concentrated on tangible actions that the state can take to protect its assets.
Assemblymember Irwin is the author of two bills that address issues of Cybersecurity informed by discussions prompted by the Select Committee on Cybersecurity. Assembly Bill (AB) 670 would require state agencies to receive a network security assessment at least once every 2 years. AB 739 would create an exemption from liability for private entities who are actively sharing cybersecurity threat information with their industry peers and/or the state government for the purpose of reducing vulnerabilities and improving preparedness for cybersecurity threats.
“AB 670 and AB 739 will address several of the key issues facing California that we heard in the Cybersecurity hearing today,” said Assemblymember Irwin. “I am looking forward to working with State Departments, the National Guard and private entities to further develop this legislation and improve California’s cybersecurity infrastructure.”