LD 2111
pg. 3
Page 2 of 11 An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Freedom of Access Advisory Commi... Page 4 of 11
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LR 3212
Item 1

 
general information about the freedom of access laws for a
wider and deeper understanding of citizens' rights and their
role in open government.__The advisory committee shall
coordinate the education efforts by providing information
about the freedom of access laws and who to contact for
specific inquiries;

 
C.__Shall serve as a resource to support the establishment
and maintenance of a central publicly accessible website
that provides the text of the freedom of access laws and
provides specific guidance on how a member of the public can
use the law to be a better informed and active participant
in open government.__The website must include the contact
information for agencies, as well as who to contact with
complaints and concerns.__The website must also include, or
contain a link to, a list of statutory exceptions to the
public records laws;

 
D.__Shall serve as a resource to support training and
education about the freedom of access laws.__Although each
agency is responsible for training for the specific records
and meetings pertaining to that agency's mission, the
advisory committee shall provide core resources for the
training, share best practices experiences and support the
establishment and maintenance of online training as well as
written question-and-answer summaries about specific topics;

 
E.__Shall serve as a resource for the review committee under
subchapter 1-A in examining public records exceptions in
both existing laws and in proposed legislation;

 
F.__Shall examine inconsistencies in statutory language and
may recommend standardized language in the statutes to
clearly delineate what information is not public and the
circumstances under which that information may appropriately
be released;

 
G.__May make recommendations for changes in the statutes 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;


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