california foia
Does legislation around government transparency (e.g. FOIA or Sunshine ordinances) apply to public sector hiring processes?
<ul>
<li>Can Civil Service applicants be required to sign confidentiality agreements regarding the application and interview process?</li>
<li>Can FOIA/Sunshine requests enjoin government offices to disclose present and future exam or interview questions?</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>Can FOIA/Sunshine requests enjoin government offices to disclose
  present and future exam or interview questions?</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&amp;sectionNum=6254." rel="nofollow noreferrer">Section 6254(g)</a> in the Chapter <em>Inspection of Public Records</em> states that </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>this chapter does not require the disclosure of [...] Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a
  licensing examination, <strong>examination for employment</strong>, or academic
  examination, except as provided for in Chapter 3 (commencing with
  Section 99150) of Part 65 of Division 14 of Title 3 of the Education
  Code.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>(emphasis added)</p>

<p>Thus, it is up to the state agency's discretion whether or not to disclose present and future exam or interview questions.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Can Civil Service applicants be required to sign confidentiality
  agreements regarding the application and interview process?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It seems to me that it is permissible, especially if that confidentiality is <em>reasonably</em> sought to enforce the protection enacted in § 6254(g). Otherwise, an agency's efforts to preserve the secrecy of examination questions would be futile if an applicant discloses --say, for the benefit of future applicants-- <em>what</em> is being tested.</p>
