Indeed, by clarifying what records are open, by modernizing how they shall be made available, by establishing clear rules for inspecting and copying records and by creating a way through the Office of Access to Public Records in which citizens can appeal denials of records without protracted and expensive litigation, this bill brings public accountability into the 21st Century within the spirit of our democratic traditions. The ombudsman approach is particularly appealing in that it affords a readily-available appeals process without interminable cost, delay or litigation. Another important part of this bill is that it includes electronic records, a key aspect of public access. The First Amendment Coalition enthusiastically supports this bill for effectively and realistically extending our historic guarantees of an open form of government, even as it respects and accommodates legitimate interests in confidentiality and privacy. Please use the links to the left to manuever the site.
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