An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Freedom of Access
Mandate preamble. This measure requires one or more local units of government to expand or modify activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues but does not provide funding for at least 90% of those expenditures. Pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 21, 2/3 of all of the members elected to each House have determined it necessary to enact this measure.
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §400 is enacted to read:
§ 400. Short title
This subchapter may be known and cited as "the Freedom of Access Act."
Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §402, sub-§3, ¶M, as amended by PL 2005, c. 381, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 1 MRSA §402, sub-§§5 and 6 are enacted to read:
Sec. 4. 1 MRSA §408, as amended by PL 2009, c. 240, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 1 MRSA §408-A is enacted to read:
§ 408-A. Public records available for inspection and copying
Except as otherwise provided by statute, a person has the right to inspect and copy any public record in accordance with this section within a reasonable time of making the request to inspect or copy the public record.
Sec. 6. 1 MRSA §409, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 240, §5, is further amended to read:
Sec. 7. 1 MRSA §412, as amended by PL 2007, c. 576, §2, is further amended to read:
§ 412. Public records and proceedings training for certain elected officials and public access officers
An elected official or a public access officer meets the training requirements of this section by conducting a thorough review of all the information made available by the State on a publicly accessible website pursuant to section 411, subsection 6, paragraph C regarding specific guidance on how a member of the public can use the law to be a better informed and active participant in open government. To meet the requirements of this subsection, any other training course must include all of this information and may include additional information.
Sec. 8. 1 MRSA §§413 and 414 are enacted to read:
§ 413. Public access officer
§ 414. Public records; information technology
An agency shall consider, in the purchase of and contracting for computer software and other information technology resources, the extent to which the software or technology will:
Sec. 9. 6 MRSA §174, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 563, §1, is amended to read:
The directors may adopt and establish bylaws consistent with the laws of this State and necessary for the convenience and the proper management of the affairs of the airport authority and perform other acts within the powers delegated by law to the directors.
The directors must be sworn to the faithful performances of their duties, including the duties of a member who serves as clerk or clerk pro tem. The directors shall publish an annual report that includes a report of the treasurer.
The directors shall appoint and fix the salary of an airport manager who may not be a director. The airport manager has such power and authority as the directors in their bylaws or by resolution specify and delegate to the airport manager. Subject to approval of or authorization from the directors, the airport manager may appoint any other employees necessary to carry out the corporate purposes of the airport authority and may fix their salaries.
Business of the airport authority must be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the freedom of access laws, Title 1, sections 401 to 412 Freedom of Access Act.
Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §8424, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1981, c. 278, §4, is further amended to read:
The date for submission of the information required under subsection 2, paragraph C , may be extended by the director upon a showing that such information is not then available.
Cutting plans accompanying the application may be utilized by the Bureau of Forestry for planning purposes, and may be shared with other government agencies, but shall do not constitute records available for public inspection or disclosure pursuant to Title 1, section 408 408-A.
For excise tax purposes, such application must designate one person who shall must be billed and notified of any lien recorded under this subchapter. When a tax bill or notice of lien is sent to this person, it shall constitute constitutes notice to all other landowners listed on the application. Each forest landowner shall be land owner is jointly and severally liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed under this subchapter.
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §22, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 564, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 12. 21-A MRSA §22, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 584, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §22, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 342, §5, is amended to read:
Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §1104, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 802, §1, is amended to read:
§ 1104. Public records
The commission shall retain for public inspection all completed code forms accepted by the commission under section 1103. A code subscribed to by a candidate is a public record under Title 1, section 408 408-A.
Sec. 15. 25 MRSA §2006, first ¶, as amended by PL 2011, c. 298, §11, is further amended to read:
Notwithstanding Title 1, sections 401 to 410 chapter 13, subchapter 1, all applications for a permit to carry concealed handguns and documents made a part of the application, refusals and any information of record collected by the issuing agency during the process of ascertaining whether an applicant is of good moral character and meets the additional requirements of sections 2003 and 2005 are confidential and may not be made available for public inspection or copying. The applicant may waive this confidentiality by written notice to the issuing authority. All proceedings relating to the issuance, refusal or revocation of a permit to carry concealed handguns are not public proceedings under Title 1, chapter 13, unless otherwise requested by the applicant.
Sec. 16. 25 MRSA §2929, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 17. 25 MRSA §2957, as repealed and replaced by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. A, §33, is amended to read:
§ 2957. Confidentiality
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the investigative records of the agency are confidential and all meetings of the board are subject to Title 1, sections 401 to 410 chapter 13, subchapter 1, except that those meetings may be held in executive session to discuss any case investigations or any disciplinary actions.
Sec. 18. 29-A MRSA §2251, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2011, c. 390, §1, is further amended to read:
A report or statement contained in the accident report, or a report as required by subsection 2, a statement made or testimony taken at a hearing before the Secretary of State held under section 2483, or a decision made as a result of that report, statement or testimony may not be admitted in evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of the accident.
A report may be admissible in evidence solely to prove compliance with this section.
Notwithstanding subsection 7-A, the Chief of the State Police may disclose the date, time and location of the accident and the names and addresses of operators, owners, injured persons, witnesses and the investigating officer. On written request, the chief may furnish a photocopy of the investigating officer's report at the expense of the person making the request. The cost of furnishing a copy of the report is not subject to the limitations of Title 1, section 408, subsection 3 408-A.
Sec. 19. 29-A MRSA §2251, sub-§7-A, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 390, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 20. 32 MRSA §9418, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 170, §19, is amended to read:
Notwithstanding Title 1, sections 401 to 410 chapter 13, subchapter 1, all applications for a license to be a contract security company and any documents made a part of the application, refusals and any information of record collected by the commissioner during the process of ascertaining whether an applicant is of good moral character and meets the additional requirements of sections 9405 and 9411-A, and all information of record collected by the commissioner during the process of ascertaining whether a natural person meets the requirements of section 9410-A, are confidential and may not be made available for public inspection or copying. The applicant or natural person may waive this confidentiality by written notice to the commissioner. All proceedings relating to the issuance of a license to be a contract security company are not public proceedings under Title 1, chapter 13, unless otherwise requested by the applicant.
Sec. 21. 33 MRSA §651, last ¶, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 575, §1, is amended to read:
Notwithstanding Title 1, section 408, subsection 3 408-A, this chapter governs fees for copying records maintained under this chapter.
Sec. 22. 34-A MRSA §1216, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 487, §§2 to 4, is further amended to read:
(1) The research plan is first submitted to and approved by the commissioner;
(2) The disclosure is approved by the commissioner; and
(3) Neither original records nor identifying data are removed from the facility or office that prepared the records.
The commissioner and the person doing the research shall preserve the anonymity of the person receiving services from the department and may not disseminate data that refer to that person by name or number or in any other way that might lead to the person's identification;
(1) The plan for the statistical analysis is first submitted to and approved by the commissioner; and
(2) The disclosure is approved by the commissioner.
The commissioner and the state agency requesting the information shall preserve the anonymity of the persons receiving services from the department and may not disseminate data that refer to any person by name or number or that in any other way might lead to a person's identification.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may release the names, dates of birth and social security numbers of juveniles receiving services from the department and, if applicable, eligibility numbers and the dates on which those juveniles received services to the Department of Health and Human Services for the sole purpose of determining eligibility and billing for services under federally funded programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and provided by or through the department. The department may also release to the Department of Health and Human Services information required for and to be used solely for audit purposes, consistent with federal law, for those services provided by or through the department. Department of Health and Human Services personnel must treat this information as confidential in accordance with federal and state law and must return the records when their purpose has been served.
Sec. 23. 35-A MRSA §6410, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 616, §10, is amended to read:
The trustees may adopt and establish bylaws consistent with the laws of this State and necessary for the convenience and the proper management of the affairs of the water district, and perform other acts within the powers delegated by law to the trustees.
The trustees shall must be sworn to the faithful performances of their duties including the duties of a member who serves as clerk or clerk pro tem. The trustees shall publish an annual report that includes a report of the treasurer.
Business of the district must be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the freedom of access laws, Title 1, sections 401 to 410 Freedom of Access Act.
Sec. 24. 38 MRSA §640, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 453, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 25. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE
Administration - Attorney General 0310
Initiative: Provides funds to increase one part-time Assistant Attorney General position to full-time to serve as a Public Access Ombudsman.
GENERAL FUND | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
|
0.000 | 0.500 |
Personal Services
|
$0 | $38,889 |
All Other
|
$0 | $5,178 |
GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $0 | $44,067 |