Access to Public Records (H 7973, S 2308)

The General Assembly considered, but did not act on, revisions to the state's law governing public records. The Access to Public Records Act dictates when public entities can keep documents from public view, and the rights of the public to view or obtain other documents; despite updates in 2013, an audit by the ACLU and other groups concerned with transparency in government found the law’s enforcement policies insufficient to ensure compliance from dozens of agencies. In April, the ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees, respectively, in support of legislation to make it easier for the public to obtain documents of public concern. Among other provisions, the legislation would have clarified when documents such as arrest reports and correspondence by elected officials could be exempt from release, required bodies to note the reasons for withholding any document, required public bodies prominently feature their public records policies on their websites, and allowed courts to impose stronger penalties on those bodies that improperly withhold documents. Neither bill received a committee vote.