The National Freedom of Information Coalition has endorsed a letter written by the New York Coalition for Open Government, urging the state to mandate that minutes of public meetings be posted online within two weeks of a meeting. “It is important to have a written record of who attended a meeting; what motions were made…
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In partnership with Uncovered, NFOIC provides public records training to cold-case solvers
The National Freedom of Information Coalition conducted a three-part “Public Records Bootcamp” training program in partnership with Uncovered: A Cold Case Platform. The Bootcamp, conducted three Thursday evenings in April 2021, each engaged more than 40 participants interested in using public records to help solve cold cases. “Working with NFOIC to provide this level of…
Loophole allows Wisconsin legislators to destroy emails; ‘Obviously it’s troubling,’ FOI council leader says
Unlike other public officials in Wisconsin, state legislators can destroy documents to avoid records requests, according to a report by the Racine County Eye. State legislators must comply with the state’s Open Records Law — if they have the requested documents in their possession. There’s nothing preventing them from destroying documents, and one state representative…
Far from perfect, but ‘better than nothing,’ says Michigan coalition director of bill touted as a transparency measure
Unlike lawmakers in most states, Michigan legislators aren’t required to disclose their financial interests. A bipartisan bill would change that — kind of. The bill would require lawmakers to disclose their financial information to a legislative committee, which would be exempt from the state’s Open Meetings and Freedom of Information acts. Only if the committee…
New law in Virginia a ‘rare victory for open access’ to police records, editorial says
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Ensuring open meetings and enhancing police transparency top coalitions’ policy priorities
The National Freedom of Information Coalition, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, surveyed and questioned its state and local affiliates in the Winter and Spring of 2021 to obtain each affiliate’s top policy priorities and top perceived threats to transparency. The NFOIC released some results of its online survey in its “States of Denial” report,…
Letter, signed by NFOIC, supports bill that would create repository of reports to Congress
The National Freedom of Information Coalition joined 30 other organizations in a letter supporting the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, urging the House of Representatives to pass the legislation. The act would create a central repository of agency reports submitted to Congress and track whether agencies submit required reports….
In spite of law, Maine police conceal officer discipline records, newspapers report
In Maine, police officer discipline records are public documents. But law enforcement agencies often evade transparency. That’s according to a joint investigation by the Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald, with funding from the Pulitzer Center. Among the findings: It was impossible to tell from available records why most of the 19 state police…
Florida clamps down on COVID-19 records, taking a ‘so sue me’ attitude, transparency advocates say
Records requesters seeking information about COVID-19 in Florida face long delays and large fees. “But perhaps more worrisome, we’re often hearing that some agencies will stonewall, fail to respond, and provide nothing, for months,” said Pam Marsh, president of the First Amendment Foundation of Florida. “It’s basically a ‘so sue me’ kind of attitude, daring…
Public should have insight into hiring of university president, says brief signed by Colorado coalition and NFOIC
A Colorado Court of Appeals ruling set a “dangerous precedent” when it sided with the University of Colorado’s decision to withhold the names and applications of all six candidates interviewed for the job of university president. That’s according to a brief filed by the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and signed by the National Freedom…