House Opens Up Legislative, Governor’s Records

The House Wednesday passed a package of bills that will expand and mirror the Freedom of Information Act to open up legislative and gubernatorial documents.

The package contains 10 bills (HB 5469, HB 5470, HB 5471, HB 5472, HB 5473, HB 5474, HB 5475, HB 5476, HB 5477, and HB 5478) and essentially end the exemption the governor had from the Freedom of Information Act. The bills also create the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA), which declares what records of the Legislature shall become public. The package was overwhelmingly passed.

Under the Legislative Open Records Act, the administrator of the Legislative Council recommends disciplinary action against the speaker of the House or the majority leader of the Senate if the administrator determines the House or Senate is charged with an excessive fee or failed to disclose information. Constituent communications and personnel records, such as human resources files, will be exempt from LORA as well as records relating to ongoing investigations or litigation, advisory communications within or between public bodies, and a few others.

The package goes to the Senate to await discussion.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, September 23, 2016 9:58 AM
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