The state agriculture department refused to release a list of dairy farmers.
Chicopee withheld the budget for its SWAT team.
Massachusetts State Police wouldn’t say how much they spent in salaries to operate each station.
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Read More… from Massachusetts agencies increasingly cite terrorism risk to withhold records
A bill aimed at overhauling the state’s public records law has cleared a key hurdle, bringing it one step closer to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk.
The bill would require public records requests to be completed in 10 days. If the agency or municipality can’t comply, the person in charge of producing the records must explain the reasons for the delay. A one-time extension could be granted. Continue…
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Read More… from Massachusetts Committee OKs Bill Overhauling State Public Records Law
The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday revamping the state’s much-maligned public records law, considered one of the least effective in the country.
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Read More… from Massachusetts passes public records reform bill
Seeking to strengthen the state’s public records law to provide increased public access to government information, Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr has filed a number of amendments to the public records legislation released last week by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
The bill is expected to be taken up in the Senate formal session on Feb. 4.
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Read More… from Massachusetts senator seeks to strengthen public records law
A final redraft of a long-in-the-works bill to improve access to public records in Massachusetts could be introduced to the House floor soon. It's about time.
People connected to the process are saying the bill’s language will provide timely access while taking into account agency and municipal concerns over aggressive deadlines and limits to recouping costs. A bill to satisfy all sides?
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Read More… from EDITORIAL: Massachusetts public records reform can’t wait
The wave of public outcry over incidents of police brutality has made it clear that citizens want their police departments to be held to a far higher level of public scrutiny than at any time in the past.
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Read More… from Editorial: Lawmakers should reject bill to shroud police misconduct
Massachusetts State Rep. Dennis Rosa said the introduction of House Bill 3665 — titled “An Act to improve public records” — is attempt to bring Massachusetts up to par with the other states.
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Read More… from Bill would update Massachusetts Public Records Law
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s office rejected requests this week for copies of his text messages, saying it believes the governor’s office is exempt from the Massachusetts public records law.
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Read More… from Massachusetts Governor rejects requests for texts
From Lowellsun.com: BOSTON — Area lawmakers are hoping a series of proposed bills will provide better and cheaper public access to government records by moving the costly and time consuming paper chase online.
“Electronic copies should be able to download and people can take what they want,” said Rep. Dave Nangle, D-Lowell, a member of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which met last month to consider ways to speed access to public records.
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Read More… from Mass. lawmakers: Make it easier for residents to get records
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 November 15, 2013
