Connecticut has passed a law giving agencies a way to deny “vexatious requesters” access to public records. House Bill 5175 was signed into law by Gov. Dannel Malloy on June 7, 2018. Under the law, a public agency can petition the state’s Freedom of Information Commission “for relief from a requester that the public agency alleges […]
Tag: Connecticut Freedom of Information Act
Proposed FOI ruling would force Stonington to release original operations report
Stonington — Ten months after The Day filed an appeal, a state Freedom of Information officer has found that the town violated state law by refusing to release a consultant’s report on town operations to the newspaper. Hearing Officer Valicia Dee Harmon found that the town’s reasons for refusing to release the report, which it […]
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CT: Hearing officer says state police policy on arrest records violated FOI law
An attorney for the Freedom of Information Commission has tentatively ruled that state police violated the state’s Freedom of Information Act when the agency required written permission from a prosecutor for the release of documents while a case was pending prosecution.
Hearing Officer Lisa Fein Siegel found in her Nov. 9 report, stemming from a complaint from the Record-Journal, that the law enforcement agency’s policy violated state law regarding the release of arrest records during pending prosecution.
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CT: Public Utility Uses Federal Anti-Terrorism Measure To Block Release Of Document To Critic
The Hartford region's water-and-sewer agency has invoked a little-used federal Department of Homeland Security anti-terrorism restriction to block citizens' access to what once was public information about its water-supply system.
Critics are blasting the legal maneuver by the Metropolitan District, known as the MDC, to have its water supply plan designated as "protected critical infrastructure information" by the homeland security department — under a post-9/11 program designed to prevent damage to public facilities by terrorists.
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Connecticut Supreme Court affirms teacher misconduct records are public
The Connecticut Supreme Court affirmed Monday that records of alleged misconduct by teachers at public schools and universities in the state are public records subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.
In a unanimous decision by Justice Dennis G. Eveleigh, the state’s highest court rejected an effort by a former University of Connecticut Health Center professor to block the release of a report about allegations he was abusive to staff.
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Gene Policinski: ‘When’ and ‘why’ we need to hear 911 calls
Opinion from The Californian: The word “restraint” and the First Amendment usually exist in uneasy tension.
The 45 words of the First Amendment don’t include it. The Pentagon Papers case in 1971 settled the issue of “prior restraint” by the government on what the press may publish: Nothing doing.
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Newtown 911 tapes released after court fight
Newtown school shooting 911 calls reveal a mixture of calm and anguish from the callers, and gunshots from the assailant are heard in the background, audio recordings released on Dec. 4 reveal.
Officials in Newtown, Connecticut, released recordings of 911 emergency phone calls from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 22, 2013
From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
Minnesota high court: Business not subject to open-records laws
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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for October 18, 2013
From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
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Connecticut task force to hold last public hearing on FOI vs. victim privacy on Oct. 16
From CT News Junkie: A task force weighing the privacy rights of crime victims against open access to public records under the Freedom of Information Act will have its third and final public hearing Wednesday morning in the Legislative Office Building.
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