HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 31 - Councilmember Requested Item Support for Assembly Bill 1303 (Valencia) – Lifeline Program: Customer Data PrivacyCITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702
TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org
Councilmember-Requested Item Report
DATE
July 1, 2025
TOPIC
Support for Assembly Bill 1303 (Valencia) – Lifeline Program: Customer Data Privacy
COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE
Discuss and consider directing the City Manager to direct city staff to bring back a
Resolution for Council consideration that would SUPPORT Assembly Bill 1303
(Valencia), which strengthens privacy protections for applicants and subscribers of the
California Lifeline Telephone Service Program. This bill aims to ensure that sensitive
personal information is safeguarded from inappropriate disclosure to government
agencies, including immigration authorities, and removes unnecessary documentation
barriers that deter program participation, particularly among vulnerable, immigrant, and
under served communities.
DISCUSSION
The California Lifeline Program provides essential, affordable communication services
to low-income residents, many of whom rely on these services to maintain contact with
employers, schools, doctors, family, and emergency services. In cities like Santa Ana,
where a significant portion of the population includes immigrants and working-class
families, access to affordable and secure phone service is not a luxury, it is a lifeline.
Despite the program’s intent to increase connectivity for those in need, concerns about
data sharing and immigration enforcement have created fear and distrust among
potential applicants, especially those from mixed-status households. The current lack of
clear privacy protections can result in eligible residents choosing not to enroll, leaving
them digitally disconnected and at increased risk during emergencies.
AB 1303, authored by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, addresses these concerns
by reinforcing California’s commitment to data privacy and access to public benefits
without fear. The bill prohibits the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the
Lifeline program’s third-party administrator, and service providers from sharing,
disclosing, or otherwise making accessible any information submitted by applicants or
subscribers with federal government agencies, including immigration authorities, unless
there is a court-ordered subpoena or judicial warrant issued by a California judge.
Importantly, the bill also clarifies that while Social Security numbers (SSNs) may be
requested for administrative purposes, they cannot be required as a condition of
CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702
TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org
application or continued participation in the program. This provision is critical in ensuring
that undocumented residents are not excluded from accessing basic and essential
phone services simply due to their immigration status.
These changes reflect an equity-based approach to telecommunications access,
ensuring that California’s most vulnerable communities can remain connected without
facing unnecessary fear or barriers. AB 1303 is aligned with Santa Ana’s values of
inclusion, accessibility, and community safety.
This measure is supported by advocacy organizations such as The Utility Reform
Network (TURN), which has consistently advocated for utility affordability and privacy
protections. TURN notes that no resident should be forced to choose between staying
connected and staying safe.
Supporting this bill would send a strong message that the City of Santa Ana stands with
working families, seniors, immigrants, and all residents in ensuring that access to critical
communication services is not compromised by privacy violations or overreach by
external authorities.
SUBMITTED BY
Councilmember Peñaloza
EXHIBIT(S)
None