NFOIC – Page 98 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Tacoma, Wa. to pay $50,000 for violating public records act

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The city of Tacoma will pay a $50,000 fine and legal fees for violating the Public Records Act by withholding most of a nondisclosure agreement it signed to obtain cellphone surveillance equipment known as Stingray.

The News Tribune reports The Center for Open Policing sued the city for blacking out large portions of the document after the organization requested it in 2014.

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Tn.: Advocates keep a close eye as lawmakers mull public records bills

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At a recent panel discussion hosted by the Tennessee Press Association, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Beth Harwell said they would be open to reviewing the hundreds of exemptions to the state’s public records law.

During the interaction, the leaders were pressed on the possibility of including a sunset provision on any new exemptions that are added to the public records law.

“I think that’s an idea that we need to probably pursue,” McNally said.

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Florida reporters to see how lawmakers stand on open records

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Because of Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law, the state's records and meetings are more accessible than in most states. But the Legislature has, year in and year out, instituted, or considered instituting, numerous exemptions. The body, on average, imposes up to a dozen a year; the grand total, as of early February, was 1,119.

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Va.: New Laws Would Help and Hurt Access to Information

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For advocates of government transparency, the General Assembly's 2017 session was a mixed bag, resulting in bills that both increased and decreased information available under the Freedom of Information Act.

According to Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, the session saw fewer FOIA-related bills than in past years. Even so, the group stayed busy opposing legislation that Rhyne said would keep important information from the public.

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Open Data Portal Beta Encourages Visitors to ‘Analyze Boston’

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Boston has launched a beta version of a new citywide open data platform.

This project, dubbed Analyze Boston, is a work in progress, and city officials said in a statement that they hope the now-online preview will “spark conversation and get feedback” leading up to its official release this spring. The project's goal is to upgrade and enhance Boston’s current open data portal, on which Mayor Marty Walsh has long encouraged agencies to publish their data sets.

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James Brown suit could change SC freedom of information laws

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[A] lawsuit in South Carolina could change who can access public information, and it's already affecting a high-profile case centered around the Godfather of Soul. The biggest thing in question here is can you, a private citizen, be stripped of your FOIA rights if you're being sued by a public body?

That would change the game. It would mean a lot of time and money that people probably don't have.

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Lawmaker Wants Public Info Restricted to Texans

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A Republican lawmaker has proposed a bill that would let Texas ignore public information requests from people who are not permanent residents of the state.

The Texas Public Information Act entitles any person, regardless of citizenship or residency, to obtain information about government agencies, public officials and government employees.

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Why Colorado Lawmakers Aren’t Totally Open To Digital Open Records

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Advocates say Senate Bill 40 does something simple: It brings the Colorado Open Records Act into the 21st century by requiring state agencies to provide information in a digital format — such as a database or a spreadsheet — where feasible.

“These are the people’s records. We are the custodians, we are the stewards of these records,” said Democratic Sen. John Kefalas of Fort Collins. He’s the main sponsor of the bill.

For some, the issue is more complicated.

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California Supreme Court held that personal email used for public business is subject to disclosure

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On March 2, the California Supreme Court held that emails sent to or from the personal accounts of public officials can be subject to disclosure if they are used to conduct public business. The decision stems from a 2009 public records request made to the city of San Jose.

The full text of the ruling can be found here.

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Connecticut: Bill Would Impose Fee On Excessive FOIA Requests

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In Connecticut a bill before the legislature seeks to limit frivolous complaints to the state’s Freedom of Information Commission.

Republican State Representative Adam Dunsby of Easton proposed the bill. It would impose a $125 fee for two or more complaints submitted to the commission within a calendar year.

During a public hearing this week, Dunsby said these numerous complaints are not about transparency.

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Author: NFOIC

Posts by NFOIC

Tacoma, Wa. to pay $50,000 for violating public records act

Tn.: Advocates keep a close eye as lawmakers mull public records bills

Florida reporters to see how lawmakers stand on open records

Va.: New Laws Would Help and Hurt Access to Information

Open Data Portal Beta Encourages Visitors to ‘Analyze Boston’

James Brown suit could change SC freedom of information laws

Lawmaker Wants Public Info Restricted to Texans

Why Colorado Lawmakers Aren’t Totally Open To Digital Open Records

California Supreme Court held that personal email used for public business is subject to disclosure

Connecticut: Bill Would Impose Fee On Excessive FOIA Requests