National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

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Private university police bill headed to Indiana governor

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A bill that would exempt police departments at the University of Notre Dame and other private colleges from following the same crime reporting requirements as public colleges is headed to Gov. Mike Pence for his signature.

HB 1022, sponsored by state Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, was approved 49-1 Tuesday by the Indiana Senate. It passed the House unanimously in January. Bauer this week filed a concurrence, which signals agreement with a Senate amendment.

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Connecticut watchdog agencies fear results of deep cuts

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The state’s watchdog agencies, whose budgets constitute a miniscule amount of the $19.8 billion state budget next year, say more cuts will leave them unable to function.

The executive directors of the Freedom of Information Commission, the State Election Enforcement Commission and the Office of State Ethics told the New Haven Register’s editorial board Thursday that their collective mission to provide transparency and keep government honest is being threatened.

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Florida Senate passes compromise on records suits

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In a unanimous vote, the Senate on Wednesday passed a compromise version of what started as the session’s most contentious bill involving public records exemptions.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, would exempt agencies sued for public records violations from absorbing attorney fees if a judge determined a complainant was intentionally harassing or forcing a violation against that agency.

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How Virginia’s governor could veto a public records bill without vetoing it

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Virginia lawmakers from both parties expressed concern Wednesday with action by Gov. Terry McAuliffe that they said would essentially veto a bill aimed at making sure public records are released.

The bill in question, SB494 by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, relates to redaction of public records.

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California needs better open data on state government spending, lawmakers say

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California lawmakers this week called for more transparency in state government, noting the federal government, local entities and other states have implemented open data initiatives that provide detailed accountability of how public money is spent.

“I feel like government is just so opaque and so complicated,” Assembly member Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, told an audience at Open Data Day held Tuesday in Sacramento. “There’s so many layers of bureaucracy to get the right information,” Chang added.

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Idaho public records exemption to be softened

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A bill that would expand an exemption in Idaho’s public records law is expected to be amended to address the concerns of reporters and open government advocates.

House Bill 447 was written by the city of Idaho Falls. Mayor Rebecca Casper, City Attorney Randy Fife and Idaho Falls Power General Manager Jackie Flowers were in Boise on Wednesday to advocate that the Senate State Affairs Committee recommend the law be passed.

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Missouri legislation would close police reports of suicides

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A Missouri lawmaker who tried to kill herself last year now wants to make police reports of suicides and attempted suicides closed records.

Rep. Genise Montecillo’s proposal to restrict access to those reports received approval Wednesday from a House committee. Montecillo, a St. Louis Democrat, tried to kill herself in June 2015.

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New Jersey city admits open records violation, must pay $5K in legal fees

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The city of Bayonne, New Jersey, has admitted that it didn't clearly explain why it denied part of an open public records request and will be paying $5,000 in legal fees to resolve a lawsuit over the matter.

The city's Feb. 22 admission comes about a month after it said in an opposition brief that it "provided an appropriate and lawful response" to the request.

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Lucian Pera named new president of TCOG

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Memphis attorney Lucian Pera is the new president of the nonprofit Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, a nonpartisan group seeking to improve access to public information and open government, according to a news release.

Pera is a partner with the Memphis office of Adams and Reese LLP, and has been on TCOG's board of directors since 2007. He has been vice president since 2010. Adam Yeomans, Associated Press Regional Director for the South, was elected vice president.

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