Illinois Government Transparency Advocates Urge Against Veto Override Of ‘Bad’ FOIA Bill

Government transparency advocates are urging the Illinois General Assembly to opt against overriding Gov. Pat Quinn's recent veto of a bill that would "damage" the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
 
The FOIA legislation, HB 3796, is a "step in the wrong direction" that would hurt the public's right to access important government data and information, said Alden Loury, senior policy analyst at the Chicago-based Better Government Association, an independent, non-partisan government watchdog group.

A more open New York government? Maybe next session

Sorry, political junkies: Your chance to tune in to state Assembly committee meetings online died at the end of the legislative session last week.

Yes, that may sound slightly less fun than watching paint dry. But for those interested, a proposal to require webcasts of legislative committee meetings could have offered a new window on how state lawmakers decide which proposals make it to the floor and which never see the light of day. The state Senate already offers such video, but the Assembly does not.

[…]

Read More… from A more open New York government? Maybe next session

IL House, Senate seem to handle info requests differently

The campaign of state Rep. TOM CROSS for state treasurer thinks it is not fair that freedom of information requests to the House and Senate have been handled very differently.

The office of the House clerk released hundreds of pages of documents about the 21 years spent by Cross, a Republican from Oswego, in the Illinois House. Among those asking for the documents was ZACH KOUTSKY, campaign manager for state Sen. MIKE FRERICHS, D-Champaign, who is the Democratic candidate for treasurer.

[…]

Read More… from IL House, Senate seem to handle info requests differently

MI Gov. Rick Snyder signs laws shielding gun records from Freedom of Information Act requests

The legislation signed Tuesday codifies a 1999 Michigan Supreme Court decision that found disclosure of gun registry records to be an invasion of privacy. The information will still be available to law enforcement officials for certain purposes, though there are new restrictions on when police can access the records.

A log of who accessed the records and the reason for doing so also is now required by the new laws.

[…]

Read More… from MI Gov. Rick Snyder signs laws shielding gun records from Freedom of Information Act requests

Critics say new IL FOIA law could stifle information

A bill rushed through the closing days of the General Assembly's spring session is drawing the ire of a good-government group that contends it will restrict the ability of citizens to get information about their governments.
Supporters, though, said the bill is a way to help municipalities deal with a comparative handful of people who file excessive requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, tying up employees who could better be used doing other work.
[…]

Read More… from Critics say new IL FOIA law could stifle information

Add transparency to government employee records

Before they headed back to Raleigh for the short session, lawmakers predicted the legislature would devote its time this year to The Three E's — education, environment, economy.

We'd like to add another "E" to the list — employees, as in government employees. North Carolina falls short on legislation related to workers employed by you, the public. Lawmakers could remedy the situation by passing The Government Transparency Act.

[…]

Read More… from Add transparency to government employee records

Lawmakers file bills bolstering Delaware’s FOIA laws

Four pieces of legislation that could increase transparency in government and strengthen Delaware's Freedom of Information Act were filed by Democratic lawmakers Tuesday.

The bills tackle posting of meeting minutes, mailed FOIA requests, publishing of annual reports and require an annual seminar for the state's FOIA coordinators.

[…]

Read More… from Lawmakers file bills bolstering Delaware’s FOIA laws