Gov. signs corporate accountability legislation, fines could reach $1 million.

• Position: California News - Brief Article

Gov. Gray Davis signed several corporate accountability bills, including one that could fine corporations up to $1 million for hiding damaging financial information from their shareholders.

Martha Esccutia (D-Whittier) authored two of the bills, SB 523 and SB 777. The first requires corporations to notify their shareholders and government authorities when the corporations acquire knowledge that materially false or misleading statements are made by its corporate officers.

The second, SB 777, establishes a whistleblower hotline in the Attorney General's office, and prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who refuses to participate in activity that...