NFOIC – Page 185 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Washington state bill targeting public records access is dead

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A controversial Washington state bill that would have allowed local agencies to prioritize how they fulfill public records requests is dead.

House Bill 2576, which drew criticism from open-government proponents, but had strong support from local government entities, has been placed in the Washington State House Rules Committee “X” file, and will receive no further consideration this session, said the bill’s sponsor Rep. Joan McBride, D-Kirkland.

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A mother’s quest for police records on the death of her son

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Rochelle Reynolds had lots of questions after her 25-year-old son, John, died following an early-morning encounter with police in the western Colorado town of Olathe in April 2015.

The Montrose County coroner ruled the death a suicide: John Reynolds, a registered sex offender with an active felony warrant for his arrest, fatally wounded himself with a sword-shaped letter opener before being Tased by an officer and then handcuffed.

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Advocates: Bill could shield too much from Georgia open records law

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A bill that passed the state Senate and is barreling toward passage in the House would expand an exemption to the state’s public records law in the name of economic development, but open government advocates fear the bill could be used to justify secrecy in far more than recruiting companies.

The bill, SB 323, would allow any state agency to conceal documents about economic development projects involving business expansions of $25 million in investment or 50 jobs. After a deal is signed or negotiations terminated, the records would become public.

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Do universities, research institutions hold the key to open data’s next chapter?

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Government produces a lot of data — reams of it, roomfuls of it, rivers of it.

It comes in from citizen-submitted forms, fleet vehicles, roadway sensors and traffic lights. It comes from utilities, body cameras and smartphones. It fills up servers and spills into the cloud. It’s everywhere. And often, all that data sits there not doing much.

A governing entity might have robust data collection and it might have an open data policy, but that doesn’t mean it has the computing power, expertise or human capital to turn those efforts into value.

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Flint water crisis highlights why FOIA should apply to governor, Democrats say

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Gov. Rick Snyder released thousands of pages of staff emails over the weekend pertaining to the Flint water crisis, but Democratic leaders say that information doesn't supplant the state's need for a more robust Freedom of Information Act that applies to the governor and legislature.

Currently the governor's office is specifically exempt from having to disclose records under Michigan's FOIA. The legislature is exempt via an Attorney General opinion.

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Wisconsin’s DNR says it’s dropping ‘Do Not Respond’ list

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The Department of Natural Resources says it will no longer use a controversial "Do Not Respond" list to limit information it gives to people who have been deemed by the agency to be abusive or repetitive in their requests.

DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said that upon learning of the matter, she's told staff that lists of this type won't be created or used.

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New Mexico governor endorses new online campaign database

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A new law that overhauls New Mexico’s online clearinghouse for information on political contributions and lobbying expenditures has been signed by Gov. Susana Martinez.

The Republican governor signed legislation Monday designed to standardize electronic reporting so that filings by candidates, lobbyists and political committees can be searched, cross-referenced or downloaded for analysis.

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Delaware’s ‘troubling’ lack of oversight of police’s secret cash

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A secret stash of money – seized from citizens and then used to fund Delaware police agencies' wish lists – is lacking not only public review, but also state oversight that's required under the law.

A News Journal investigation in November found that state law shields police and prosecutors from having to tell taxpayers how they spend money from the state's Special Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, comprised of money and property seized from citizens suspected but not necessarily charged with a crime.

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Missouri lawmakers claim they’re exempt from the Sunshine Law

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When he first became chief clerk of the Missouri House in 2006, Adam Crumbliss’ view of Missouri’s Sunshine Law likely wasn’t much different than most.

“Legislators are part of government,” he said. “Government records are open. So I assumed legislative records should be open.”

Over time, as he’s studied the issue further, his opinion evolved.

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Boston police promise to release information on cellphone trackers

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The Boston Police Department has pledged to make some disclosures about how they use cellphone trackers, after months of rebuffing questions on the covert surveillance technology.

In a live radio interview last week, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said his staff was gathering information to share with local civil liberties advocates.

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Author: NFOIC

Posts by NFOIC

Washington state bill targeting public records access is dead

A mother’s quest for police records on the death of her son

Advocates: Bill could shield too much from Georgia open records law

Do universities, research institutions hold the key to open data’s next chapter?

Flint water crisis highlights why FOIA should apply to governor, Democrats say

Wisconsin’s DNR says it’s dropping ‘Do Not Respond’ list

New Mexico governor endorses new online campaign database

Delaware’s ‘troubling’ lack of oversight of police’s secret cash

Missouri lawmakers claim they’re exempt from the Sunshine Law

Boston police promise to release information on cellphone trackers