Delaware Governor Markell Signs Four-Bill FOIA Package
Gov. Jack Markell today signed into law a package of House bills sponsored by that expand and strengthen Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act. The bills were introduced in early May and passed both chambers of the General Assembly with unanimous votes.
[…]
Read More… from Delaware Governor Markell Signs Four-Bill FOIA Package
Dueling bills address transparency of NC pension fund investments
The ongoing feud over the transparency of state pension fund investments between state Treasurer Janet Cowell and the State Employees Association of North Carolina has spawned dueling bills in the state legislature.
[…]
Read More… from Dueling bills address transparency of NC pension fund investments
A more open New York government? Maybe next session
Sorry, political junkies: Your chance to tune in to state Assembly committee meetings online died at the end of the legislative session last week.
Yes, that may sound slightly less fun than watching paint dry. But for those interested, a proposal to require webcasts of legislative committee meetings could have offered a new window on how state lawmakers decide which proposals make it to the floor and which never see the light of day. The state Senate already offers such video, but the Assembly does not.
[…]
Read More… from A more open New York government? Maybe next session
IL House, Senate seem to handle info requests differently
The campaign of state Rep. TOM CROSS for state treasurer thinks it is not fair that freedom of information requests to the House and Senate have been handled very differently.
The office of the House clerk released hundreds of pages of documents about the 21 years spent by Cross, a Republican from Oswego, in the Illinois House. Among those asking for the documents was ZACH KOUTSKY, campaign manager for state Sen. MIKE FRERICHS, D-Champaign, who is the Democratic candidate for treasurer.
[…]
Read More… from IL House, Senate seem to handle info requests differently
MI Gov. Rick Snyder signs laws shielding gun records from Freedom of Information Act requests
The legislation signed Tuesday codifies a 1999 Michigan Supreme Court decision that found disclosure of gun registry records to be an invasion of privacy. The information will still be available to law enforcement officials for certain purposes, though there are new restrictions on when police can access the records.
A log of who accessed the records and the reason for doing so also is now required by the new laws.
[…]
Editorial: Sides Agree: Maybe AR FOIA Should Be Expanded
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: A liberal, a conservative, a lawyer and a legislator walk into a bar, well … into a legislative hearing. Oh never mind, we’re going to cut right to the punchline: They agreed on something.
[…]
Read More… from Editorial: Sides Agree: Maybe AR FOIA Should Be Expanded
Critics say new IL FOIA law could stifle information
A bill rushed through the closing days of the General Assembly's spring session is drawing the ire of a good-government group that contends it will restrict the ability of citizens to get information about their governments.
Supporters, though, said the bill is a way to help municipalities deal with a comparative handful of people who file excessive requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, tying up employees who could better be used doing other work.
[…]
Read More… from Critics say new IL FOIA law could stifle information
Add transparency to government employee records
Before they headed back to Raleigh for the short session, lawmakers predicted the legislature would devote its time this year to The Three E's — education, environment, economy.
We'd like to add another "E" to the list — employees, as in government employees. North Carolina falls short on legislation related to workers employed by you, the public. Lawmakers could remedy the situation by passing The Government Transparency Act.
[…]
Read More… from Add transparency to government employee records
Lawmakers file bills bolstering Delaware’s FOIA laws
Four pieces of legislation that could increase transparency in government and strengthen Delaware's Freedom of Information Act were filed by Democratic lawmakers Tuesday.
The bills tackle posting of meeting minutes, mailed FOIA requests, publishing of annual reports and require an annual seminar for the state's FOIA coordinators.
[…]
Read More… from Lawmakers file bills bolstering Delaware’s FOIA laws