Open Records (H 5809)

ACLU efforts to strengthen the state's open records law, known as APRA, fell short this year. The bill's sponsor sat down with bill supporters and opponents at the end of the session to see if a compromise could be worked out, but time ran out. Among other improvements, the legislation would shorten the timeframe for public bodies to respond to open records requests, increase penalties for violations of the law and require training of public information officers on their obligations under APRA. The ACLU, Common Cause, the RI Press Association and ACCESS/RI -- the major proponents of the bill -- hope to make passage of the legislation a priority in 2012.