From NJ.com: With the recent revelations about the National Security Agency’s widespread monitoring of U.S. citizens, a pair of bills that give New Jersey residents a clearer picture of government goings on could not be timelier.
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg expects to post two measures that would fine-tune laws protecting the public’s right to know this week for a full Senate vote.
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Read More… from Editorial: N.J. legislature should support updates to opengov laws
From North Jersey: Fair Lawn – Reports by the borough of residents abusing Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests and businesses using OPRA information for profit have prompted State Sen. Bob Gordon to sponsor a bill that would exempt certain personal information from the state’s open public records law.
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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.
Attorney General issues informal opinion on Iowa Public Radio questions
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From Daily Record:
The public may finally gain access to mug shots if a local assemblyman can help it.
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, a Republican who represents parts of Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex counties, has introduced legislation that would render the police photos of arrested suspects as public records throughout the state, available for the public and news organizations.
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Read More… from Bill would make N.J. mug shots available to the public
From NJ.com:
SOMERVILLE — A state judge has again denied Raritan Borough's efforts to charge a major newspaper publisher for public information — a decision in an ongoing battle that could cost the borough and its taxpayers as much as $750,000 in legal fees.
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Read More… from Judge backs publisher over Raritan Borough in public records fight
From Watchdog.org:
A recent New Jersey Watchdog investigation revealed 45 “retired” school chiefs had returned to the public payroll, double-dipping millions of dollars a year from pension funds and local education budgets.
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From NJ.com:
It’s Sunshine Week, that time of year we reflect on the importance of government transparency and how critical it is to our democracy. Much of the conversation during Sunshine Week focuses on the failure of government to be open and transparent. Citizens, Journalists, and Reform groups use this time to highlight how we can expand our current rights and combat government secrecy.
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From NJ.com:
An open-government activist was awarded $13,000 in legal fees after he won his lawsuit alleging that Lawrence violated the state’s public records law.
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Read More… from Open government blogger wins lawsuit against Lawrence Township (N.J.)
From Planet Princeton:
(February 7, 2013) – The New Jersey Senate is slated to vote on changes to the State’s Open Public Records Act today that are supposed to provide citizens with more access to public records. But many open government advocates no longer support the bill because of a key change regarding legal fees. The New Jersey Press Association also opposes the legal fee change.
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Read More… from NJ Senate to vote on open public records bill this afternoon
