National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

Author: NFOIC

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Posts by NFOIC

EDITORIAL: Massachusetts public records reform can’t wait

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A final redraft of a long-in-the-works bill to improve access to public records in Massachusetts could be introduced to the House floor soon. It's about time.

People connected to the process are saying the bill’s language will provide timely access while taking into account agency and municipal concerns over aggressive deadlines and limits to recouping costs. A bill to satisfy all sides?

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EDITORIAL: Pitbull’s secret Florida contract a slap to the public

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Mr. Worldwide is living up to his name by bringing some global attention to Florida's latest snub of the public's right to know.

The International Business Times noted in a story last week that the state's tourism agency, Visit Florida, is refusing to say how much it's paying rap artist Pitbull to promote the state as its new "ambassador."

Welcome to Florida, the land of sunshine, sand and secrecy. Continue…

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Are the government’s commitments on criminal justice open data enough?

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The growing importance of criminal justice data in the context of government transparency was highlighted last month when the White House released its Open Government National Action Plan (NAP) to the public. This third iteration of the NAP was the first to include a section on "Justice and Law Enforcement" since the inaugural release in 2011.

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First 5 California counties partner with OpenGov through Innovate Your State grants

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OpenGov and Innovate Your State today announced that five California counties — Kern, Sutter, Placer, Napa, and Mendocino — have come forward as the first organizations to take advantage of grants offered by Innovate Your State to use the OpenGov platform for financial transparency and performance intelligence.

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Pennsylvania bill makes it illegal to ID officers who shoot civilians

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A Pennsylvania House committee gave an overwhelming thumbs-up to a bill Tuesday that would make it illegal for public officials to release the names of cops who shoot civilians until an “official investigation” is completed.

The panel passed the legislation unanimously.

Republican State. Rep. Martina White, a freshman lawmaker from Philadelphia, introduced the bill.

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