State Senator Dan Sullivan is pushing for more sunshine and transparency in government with several Freedom of Information bills filed this session. These bills seek to open up meetings and financial information of private groups established to financially assist government, as well as provide avenues to make sure that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is enforced.
SB194 – Allowing Photographing of Public Records – SUPPORT
This bill would allow the taking of pictures or video recordings of public records without having to physically copy the documents.
SB195 – Private Foundations with Government Purpose Subject to FOIA – SUPPORT
This bill would require that private groups which provide financial or in-kind support to government entities, or provide labor/staff for these government entities, would be subject to the FOIA laws if they provided at least one million dollars in assistance to a government entity in the prior year. This bill would allow the public to know the source of these private funds given, for example, through economic development groups, to privately pay bonuses to government employees, such as the Secretary of Commerce.
SB196 – Attorney’s Fees Awarded for Getting Public Records During Litigation – SUPPORT
This bill would allow attorney’s fees to be awarded to the person bringing a FOIA lawsuit if during the litigation the public entity releases a substantial or material portion of records originally sought before the judge’s order. This will provide an incentive for government entities to cooperate and an incentive for people to bring FOIA lawsuits knowing, they may recoup their costs spent on the case, even if the government cooperates before the judge makes a ruling.
SB208 – Greater Enforcement of FOIA to Open Meetings – SUPPORT
This bill would require that conversations (including by phone and any electronic means) between two or more public officials, relating to the public business the officials may be required to consider, would be considered a meeting, and thus subject to FOIA. This would also bring such meetings under the public notice requirements and specifically include “schools.” This bill would provide greater transparency to the discussion regarding public business.
