Biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device developers, as well as the lawyers who represent them, gathered recently at a Kentucky Derby party in Plymouth Meeting. Amid the games, faux betting, and interesting displays of new genetic technologies and services, I talked with researchers and chief executive officers about some fascinating projects underway. It didn’t seem like […]
Read More… from Op-Ed: Why Bio-Tech and Pharma C-Suites Should Understand Sunshine Laws
Government agencies, in many instances, have given contractors exclusive rights to the data. The government then removes it from public view online or never posts the data, laws and documents that are considered public information.
Public datasets that state and local governments are handing off to private contractors include court records and judicial opinions; detailed versions of state and local laws and, in some cases, the laws themselves; building codes and standards; and public university graduation records.
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Read More… from How private contractors are taking over data in the public domain
A Vermont judge has ruled a private contractor managing medical records for the state has to follow the state's public records law.
Vermont Information Technology Leaders denied a citizen-activist's request for records on how it was spending money received from the state, saying it was a private, nonprofit firm.
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Read More… from VT: Judge tells government contractor – Follow public records law
A government transparency expert has said the Alvin, Huger, Longridge and Pineville-Russellville departments have disregarded South Carolina law even after the agencies have been given multiple opportunities over three months to make the information public.
In Berkeley County, 26 rural fire departments — which operate as nonprofits — are contracted through the county to provide fire service to unincorporated areas.
Because those departments operate using public money, they are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
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Read More… from SC: Four rural fire departments fail to provide public records
