Public Records (H 7422, S 2963)

For the first time in ten years, the General Assembly approved comprehensive legislation to strengthen the state’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA). Among other things, the bill shortened the timeframe for public bodies to respond to open records requests and required training of public information officers on their APRA obligations. A recent ACLU report, documenting widespread non-compliance with the statute, served as an impetus for this much-needed bill. The Affiliate, working with the open government groups ACCESS/ RI, Common Cause of R.I. and others, made passage of the bill a priority. As the bill made its way through the General Assembly, supporters agreed to numerous revisions in response to objections made by representatives of public agencies. Proponents also reached agreement with the R.I. Police Chiefs Association on provisions related to access to police records. The bill passed with only a handful of negative votes. Nonetheless, at the apparent behest of the R.I. State Police, the Governor vetoed the legislation, claiming that the bill would somehow hamper police work. ,