Author: NFOIC

Aldermen are considering a proposal that would strip the city clerk of his powers relating to public records requests, setting up a power struggle between the city’s elected officials. Aldermen will discuss a proposal by Mayor Steve Hagerty to split up responsibilities granted under the Freedom of Information Act, which all currently fall under the […]

Read More… from Hagerty moves to restrict FOIA powers currently held by city clerk

As the cost of encrypting radio communications shrinks, the question of its practice by local police departments has come under increasing scrutiny and prompted questions about who should have the ultimate authority to make the decision. On May 14, the Longmont Public Safety Department presented the results of a six-month long pilot program to city […]

Read More… from Experts: Encrypting police scanners begs for broader policy

LAKEWOOD, OH — Two Lakewood City Councilpersons are set to introduce a new public records law on Monday night. The proposal would establish a public records chapter in Lakewood code. The proposal is being introduced by Meghan George and Tristan Rader. The duo sent out a release on Monday morning announcing the proposal and saying […]

Read More… from Lakewood City Councilpersons Proposing Public Records Law

LANSING — Michigan is one of two states in the U.S. that does not require financial disclosures from its elected officials. Rep. Julie Calley, Portland-R, announced a plan on Thursday, May 16, to change this. Calley’s plan, likely to be introduced as a house bill in the near future, would require elected officials and candidates […]

Read More… from Calley announces plan for government financial transparency

A bill that would bring records disclosing how government agencies spend taxpayer money back into public view is likely headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Senate Bill 943, which passed in the Senate and received initial approval from the House on Friday, would re-establish in the law that information about contracts that governments make with […]

Read More… from Texas lawmakers pass transparency bill to disclose government contract records

Last Tuesday the Saguache Board of County Commissioners approved a motion to release the unapproved audio recordings of the BoCC meetings and written minutes (stamped “draft”) immediately following their meetings. The resolution states that the charge will be $15 per recording either by USB or email and 25 cents per page for paper copies. No […]

Read More… from BoCC approves county public records fees

WASHINGTON — The chair of Washington, D.C.’s City Council has proposed an amendment to the city’s 2020 budget that would severely limit access to public records. The Washington Post reports the legislation would allow the city to reject record requests that don’t include specifications about the sought documents, including the subject matter, names of senders […]

Read More… from DC lawmakers propose bill to limit public records requests

NEW BLOOMFIELD — State Auditor Nicole Galloway is seeking a ruling from the state attorney general on whether the Governor’s use of the First Amendment to deny access to information under the Sunshine Law is legal. If it is, Galloway says the Missouri Sunshine Law would be effectively rendered unconstitutional. In her request for a legal […]

Read More… from Auditor: Governor cites First Amendment as reason to deny Sunshine Law requests

Internal affairs secrecy contributes to a “code of silence” or “blue wall” in law enforcement, a Denver district court judge wrote in a 2005 decision, “by creating the expectation that things will be kept in house and away from objective outsiders.” Transparency, on the other hand, enhances public confidence in a police department, concluded Judge […]

Read More… from Law school’s research helped penetrate Colorado’s ‘blue wall’ of silence