Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming have the most restrictive laws regarding the disclosure of police body-camera recordings. That’s according to a May 10, 2021, article in The Hill. “With no federal requirements on releasing police videos, states often differ in their approach to making the footage publicly available, […]
Tag: South Carolina
Representative pushes for transparency with FOIA in S.C. General Assembly
Republican Weston Newton was re-elected to South Carolina’s House of Representatives District 120, a position representing Beaufort and Jasper Counties that he’s held since he was first elected in 2012. After two years in the House, he was asked to chair a new committee on oversight. In the past four years, Newton has set a […]
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S.C. Legislator: ‘Without transparency, there is no accountability’
“Sunshine is the best disinfectant,” state Rep. Weston Newton said.
Newton’s comments came this week after the state Legislature voted to amend South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act.
The Bluffton Republican said he is “delighted” that some much-needed changes have been made.
“We’ve been working on this for a number of years,” Newton said.
The act outlines how public bodies, such as state and local governments and school districts, comply with records requests from the public.
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South Carolina Public records law was a step forward (Editorial)
Proponents of legislative reforms to improve South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act didn’t get everything they had hoped for in the bill that passed on the last day of the session. But the bill came close, and it should be regarded as a victory for open government and citizens’ ability to gain access to public information.
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South Carolina FOIA bill gets moved to the full Senate, but may hit roadblock
Senators advanced a bill that would change how to resolve disputes over the state's Freedom of Information Act law, but the legislation could get stonewalled by opposition from some lawmakers.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move a long-awaited bill to the full chamber Tuesday, over the objection of Sen. Margie Bright-Matthews, D-Walterboro, who doesn't want the state's Administrative Law Court to handle FOIA cases.
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James Brown suit could change SC freedom of information laws
[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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FOIA legislation to be revisited by South Carolina lawmakers
South Carolina legislators this session will again attempt to pass legislation aimed at reforming the state’s Freedom of Information Act, which regulates public meetings and the release of public records. S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, and S.C. Rep. Weston Newton, R-Beaufort, pre-filed a FOIA bill in the House, and Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, has filed a similar Senate bill.
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SC: Public outcry for transparency in police shooting investigations clashes with public records rules
In the wake of recent police shootings, the public outcry for transparency has come head to head with law enforcement agencies’ interpretation of freedom of information laws.
The statutes outline the public’s right to records produced by government agencies but also include exemptions for law enforcement records. Those are meant for such situations as protecting the identity of a confidential informant or keeping investigative techniques hidden from criminals.
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SC: Four rural fire departments fail to provide public records
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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SC: Judge deciding if Horry County should release files of former officers, records of sexual assault complaints against police
A circuit court judge will decide this week whether to force the Horry County Police Department to release the personnel files of two former officers to a lawyer representing a woman who has accused former detective Allen Large of sexual assault.
The attorney is also seeking citizen complaints and internal affairs files about all HCPD employees accused of making unwanted sexual advances or sexual abuse.
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