THE VIRGINIA General Assembly has in this session a tremendous opportunity to dramatically improve the commonwealth’s approach to transparency in government. Numerous bills now pending before the legislature would make documents more accessible, strengthen the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and bolster accountability for public officials. They would afford residents a clearer view of how […]
Read More… from Editorial: Legislators’ chance for Virginia transparency
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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Read More… from NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for September 20, 2013
From Watchdog.org: RICHMOND — Virginia taxpayers can rest assured that local elected officials won’t be able to legally conspire in small groups without public notice — at least, for now.
Members of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Advisory Council on Thursday decidedly killed a heavily criticized proposal from Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors that would have changed Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act so local officials could meet in small groups without giving advanced public notice as long as a quorum was not present.
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Read More… from VA FOI council kills Hanover County proposal to make public meetings private
From Watchdog.org: A subcommittee mostly comprised of state employees dropped a bill Tuesday that would have expanded rights to public records to non-Virginians.
And local government lobbyists were there to back them up.
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Read More… from State employees shoot down VA open records access bill
From The Daily Progress:
One of the suggestions that’s been floated for pushing the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors to engage in more frank discussion? Allow them to meet in private more.
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Read More… from Does open meeting law hinder the University of Virginia Board of Visitors?
From Student Press Law Center:
VIRGINIA — The exchange of emails by members of the Fairfax County School Board did not constitute a public meeting under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, the state Supreme Court ruled June 7.
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