LEGISLATURE

Legislature 0081

Initiative: Provides a base allocation of $500 in fiscal year 2006-07 in the event outside funding is received to fund certain expenses of the Right To Know Advisory Committee.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $0 $500

__________ __________

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $500

SUMMARY

This bill includes recommendations of the Freedom of Access Advisory Committee, established by Resolve 2005, chapter 123, and recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 432.

This bill establishes the Right To Know Advisory Committee, a permanent advisory council representing all levels and branches of government. The advisory committee has oversight authority and responsibility for a broad range of activities associated with the purposes and principles underlying the freedom of access laws. The responsibility for reviewing existing public records exceptions, currently a task assigned to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary, is shifted to the advisory committee. Flexibility for review of exceptions outside of the listed schedule is provided. The advisory committee may make recommendations for changes in the statute to improve the laws and may make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and local and regional governmental entities with regard to best practices in providing the public access to records and proceedings and to maintain the integrity of the freedom of access laws and their underlying principles. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters may report out legislation based on the advisory committee's recommendations.

This bill revises the schedule for review of existing public records exceptions and includes in the review the question of