Conditions of Use
This web site is maintained by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). This web site and the information it contains are provided as a public service. CalHR monitors this system to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for comparable purposes.
Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring. Unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on this system, to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes are prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution.
By visiting this web site, you are accepting the conditions of use described in this notice. This Use Policy is subject to change without notice, as it reflects the State's and CalHR's current business practices.
- Personal information and choice
- Information collected and how it is used
- What happens to information you submit to us
- Use of Internet request for assistance form information
- Surveys
- Public disclosure
- Personal information
- Automatic collection of information/cookies
- Security
- Links to other sites
- Limitation of liability
- Ownership
Personal information and choice
When you visit the Medal of Valor web site, we automatically collect your domain name or Internet Protocol address and statistical information about which web pages you visit. If you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for specific information (i.e., completing a request for assistance, filling in personal information for an online form, sending an email, or participating in a survey), more detailed data will be collected. If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice in no way affects your ability to use other features of the site.
If we request any type of personal information on this web site or you volunteer it, California state law, including the Information Practices Act of 1977, Government Code Section 11015.5, and the federal Privacy Act of 1974, may protect it. However, this information may be a public record once you provide it and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not otherwise protected by federal or state law.
"Personal information" is information that identifies or describes an individual, including but not limited to name, Social Security number, physical description, home address, home phone number, education, financial matters, and medical or employment history readily identifiable to that specific individual. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information. However, it is considered "electronically collected personal information."
- According to Government Code 11015.5, "Electronically collected personal information" means any information maintained by an agency that identifies or describes an individual user, including but not limited to name, Social Security number, physical description, home address, home phone number, education, financial matters, medical or employment history, password, electronic mail address, and information that reveals any network location or identity, but excludes any information manually submitted to a state agency by a user, electronically or in written form, and information on or relating to individuals who are users, serving in a business capacity, including but not limited to business owners, officers, or principals of that business.
Information collected and how it is used
We collect personal information directly from individuals who volunteer to use some of our services. Collection of this information is required to deliver the specific services, but use of these services is voluntary.
If you do nothing during your visit to the web site but browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:
1. The Internet Protocol address and domain name used but not the email address. The IP address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the it to direct Internet traffic to you and generate statistics used in the management of this site;
2. The type of browser and operating system you used;
3. The date and time you visited this site;
4. The web pages or services you accessed at this site;
5. The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site;
6. The web site you visit as you leave this web site;
7. If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.
The information we automatically collect or store is used to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. This information does not identify you personally and is used for gathering web site statistics. The information we automatically collect and store in our logs about your visit helps us to analyze our web site to continually improve the value of the materials available. Our web site logs do not identify a visitor by personal information, and we make no attempt to link other web sites with the individuals that browse the State's web site.
- Government Code 11015.5 (6) prohibits all state agencies from distributing or selling electronically collected personal information about users to any third party without the permission of the user. The State does not sell any "electronically collected personal information." Any distribution of "electronically collected personal information" will be solely for the purposes for which it was provided to us.
The State may provide or distribute certain lists and statistical reports of regulatory information as provided by law, but no personal information is sold or distributed. All relevant legal protections still apply to the State's web sites.
What happens to information submitted to CalHR?
If you choose to submit information to us, it will be transmitted through secure lines to our departmental database. Any private information will only be used for the purposes for which it was provided and will not be shared with another entity except as prescribed by law. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
Use of Internet request for assistance information
Any information you provide to us will only be shared with entities involved in your case as necessary. Information you provide may be included with other consumers' information to be used for statistical reporting, trending data, and/or investigative actions. For example, we may need to retain information that becomes part of an enforcement action or consumer complaint case for a period of time after the closing date of the case.
If you provide us with information regarding an issue that does not fall within our regulatory jurisdiction, we may refer your information to the appropriate local, state, or federal agency on your behalf.
Surveys
- If during your visit to this web site you participate in a survey, we will collect the information volunteered in response to the survey. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with Government Code 11015.5.
If during your visit to this web site you send us an email, we will collect your email address and the contents of your email. You may choose to provide us with personal information. We use the information to improve our service to you or to respond to your request. Sometimes we forward your email to other State employees who may be better able to help you, and this staff may be employed by a different agency within the State. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations or as required by law, we do not share our email with any other organizations.
We use your email to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action.
Public disclosure
State of California laws ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records. These exceptions serve various needs including maintaining the privacy of individuals. Both state and federal laws provide exceptions.
All information collected at this site becomes public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless the law provides an exemption. In the event of a conflict between this Use Policy and the Public Records Act, the Information Practices Act, or other law governing the disclosure of records, the Public Records Act, the Information Practices Act, or other applicable law will control.
Personal information
- Under Government Code 11015.5, if you choose you may have any personal information we collect about you discarded without reuse or distribution, provided you contact us in a timely fashion.
Automatic collection of information/cookies
Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser. CalHR may create a temporary cookie on your computer. We may use cookies to help you complete a transaction, process data you submit to us, interact with you better, and understand how visitors use our site. Cookies don't compromise your privacy or security. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, and you can delete cookies from your computer.
Security
CalHR has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day practices of the entire State operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management. This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via this web site. Technical standards governing security are enforced by the Department of Finance.
Links to other sites
Our web site has links to sites that may be useful to you and may provide services. When you link to another site, you are no longer on our site and are subject to the privacy policy of the new site.
Limitation of liability
CalHR attempts to maintain the accuracy of this site's content. Errors or omissions should be reported for investigation. (Contact us to report such information.)
The State makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the absolute accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this site and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in its contents. No warranty of any kind -- implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third-party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus -- is given with respect to the contents of this site or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources. Reference in web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of California, its employees, or its agents.
Ownership
In general, information presented on this web site, unless otherwise indicated, is considered in the public domain. It may be distributed or copied as permitted by law. However, the State does make use of copyrighted data (e.g., photographs) which may require additional permissions prior to your use. Furthermore, the unique branding of the site and various official seals and marks may not be used without permission of the State. In order to use any information on this web site not owned or created by the State, you must seek permission directly from the owning (or holding) sources. The State shall have the unlimited right to use for any purpose, free of any charge, all information submitted via this site except those submissions made under separate legal contract. The State shall be free to use, for any purpose, ideas, concepts, or techniques contained in information provided through this site.