Bills that would expand two government transparency laws to cover quasi-governmental agencies, like the New Jersey League of Municipalities and New Jersey School Boards Association, were the subject of an hourlong Senate committee hearing Monday.
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Read More… from New Jersey: State legislation to boost open records law gets hearing
From NJ.com: After receiving about 10 boot void sheets from a source, The Jersey Journal filed an Open Public Records Act request on Oct. 24 seeking all sheets the JCPA has on record for the last three years.
On Nov. 6, JCPA attorney Aurelio Vincitore denied the newspaper’s request, saying that releasing the sheets would “substantially interfere with the state or federal government’s ability to protect and defend its citizens against acts of sabotage or terrorism if disclosed.”
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Read More… from Jersey Journal had to fight for Parking Authority records showing who got breaks
From USA Today: TRENTON, N.J. — In advance of an expected 2016 presidential campaign, Chris Christie’s administration is stepping up efforts to control the Republican governor’s image at all costs — even skirting sunshine laws that permit public access to government records.
Getting the Christie administration to release its grip of records tracking use of federal recovery money for Superstorm Sandy has been particularly difficult for watchdog groups and media outlets, including the Asbury Park Press.
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Read More… from Christie critics cry foul over public records access
From NJ.com: PITTSGROVE TWP. — The acting township clerk violated a law by failing to provide requested documents to a resident under the Open Public Records Act, according to state officials.
Steve Wymbs was found to be in violation, according to the New Jersey Government Records Council, after he was unable to locate and produce less than 3 percent of the total requested documents from resident Norman Lenchitz.
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From Watchdog.org: Should New Jersey officials be allowed to keep forever secret a criminal investigation on alleged corruption involving a prominent elected official?
Or does the public have a right to know what the state found – and how authorities handled a probe rife with conflicts of interest?
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From NorthJersey.com: A group of parents has sued the Northern Valley Regional Board of Education, claiming it did not comply with state open-records law by providing access to some documentation of official discussion about a random drug-testing policy.
Bruce Rosen of Florham Park, the attorney representing the parents, claimed the district violated the Open Public Records Act because it did not give the requested information in a timely manner and when it was finally delivered, important documents were withheld.
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From NorthJersey.com: A campaign to tweak the state’s most prominent open-government acts continues in town hall.
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Read More… from West Milford Township wants proposed open-government amendments tweaked
From The Asbury Park Press: Township Public Library Director Susan O’Neal zipped off a quick email to township government critic and library supporter Linda Baum on April 18, suggesting that she request a copy of the audio recording from the library meeting the prior night.
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Read More… from Emails stoke conflict in Middletown (New Jersey)
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.
Advocates, journalists honored for supporting open government
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From Daily Record:
The public may finally gain access to mug shots if a local assemblyman can help it.
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, a Republican who represents parts of Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex counties, has introduced legislation that would render the police photos of arrested suspects as public records throughout the state, available for the public and news organizations.
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Read More… from Bill would make N.J. mug shots available to the public
