Source: https://www.spj.org/findfoi.asp
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 06:54:55+00:00

Document:
The Alaska Legal Resource Center provides free access to public legal resources such as case law, court rules, statutes and regulations. You'll find a free Alaska legal database and related links of interest. Website services are provided by Touch N' Go Systems, Inc. and content is provided by the Law Offices of James B. Gottstein, in Anchorage, Alaska.
Open Meetings Law A.S. §44.62.310 et seq.
Closed: If they could prejudice the reputation or character of any person, or adversely affect government finances.
Open Records Law A.S. §09.25.110 et seq.
Exempt: Juvenile, adoption, medical and public health; library lending; names of victims of certain types of sexual assault; and some law enforcement records.
Website has links to a variety of government records.
Open Meetings Law Al. Code §36-12-40 et seq.
Closed: Attorney-client meetings; discussions where "character or good name" of a person is involved; and grand jury and juvenile proceedings.
Open Records Law Al. Code §36-25A-1 et seq.
Exempt: Banking, juvenile court, hospital and probation reports; identity of Medicaid recipients; reports of suspected disease cases; tax and financial statements.
Longtime FOI advocate who knows the state’s open government issues well.
Media attorney in Little Rock. Expert on state open records and meetings. His Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow firm operates a free FOI hotline.
Open Meetings Law Ark. Code Ann. §25-19-101 et seq. including §25-19-105.
Closed: To consider employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of any public employee.
Open Records Law Ark. Code Ann. §25-19-101 et seq. including §25-19-106.
Exempt: Income tax records; medical, scholastic and adoption records; historical and archeological files; on-going law enforcement investigations; working papers, competitive advantage, and personnel records; and identities of undercover law enforcement officers.
Media law attorney & adjunct faculty at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Expert on all aspects of state open meeting and records laws.
Perkins Coie Brown & Bain P.A.
Open Records Law A.R.S. §39-121 et seq.
Written by Dan Barr. To get a copy for $5, contact Sharon Neilson at 602-351-8014 or at sneilson@perkinscoie.com. To get a free e-book copy, go here.
This link provides resources for using the California Public Records Act, including the text of the Act, CFAC’s CPRA Primer, the California Attorney General’s Guide to the Act, Frequently Asked Questions, sample records request letters, and more.
The HelpLine is available without charge to CNPA members to help answer legal questions on topics such as access to public meetings and records, school access, publisher liability for advertising, libel and workplace issues.
produced by the Public Education Committee of the Colorado Supreme Court with assistance from the Colorado Bar-Press Committee. Denver, CO: Colorado Judicial Department, 1996. 62 pages.
The booklet's purpose is to provide information about the law and the legal system. The text is designed to guide reporters through the judicial system and offer them a better selection of sources for their work. A glossary is included.
by James J. Brodell, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Department of Journalism, 1995, 36 p., including appendices.
Format: Pamphlet, 8-1/2 by 11 in.
Open Meetings Law Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-18a et seq.
Closed: Certain personnel matters; collective bargaining and negotiating sessions; administrative staff meetings; certain real estate transactions; security strategy; and pending litigation negotiations.
Open Records Law Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-18a et seq.
Exempt: Fifteen total exemptions including: Personnel, medical and some law enforcement files; juvenile; some witness and victim identification records; pending litigation files; and real estate documents.
Hartford, CT: Hartford County Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association, 2000, 110 p.
Price: Free to the media.
Format: One-volume handbook. 8 in.
Open Meetings Law 29 Del. C. §10001 et seq.
Closed: Criminal investigations; employee evaluations; attorney-client discussions; collective bargaining; real estate transactions; student disciplinary hearings; and attorney-client meetings.
Open Records Law 29 Del. C. §10001 et seq.
Exempt: Personnel, medical, and student files; trade, investigative and intelligence documents; charitable donations; collective bargaining; and pending lawsuits.
Florida First Amendment Foundation, Inc.
Does workshops throughout Florida on access and use of records. Tracks state open records and open meetings issues through his website.
Long-time assistant attorney general who for years wrote the state’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual and ran the state’s public records mediation program.
Open Meetings Law Fla. Stat. sec. 286.011 et seq.
All meetings of boards and commissions open. Most collegial public bodies also open.
Open Records Law Fla. Stat. sec. 119.01 et. seq.
Exempt: More than 600 exemptions, check listed code citation.
This digital booklet covers both state and national laws that give the public access to government information and meetings. It contains a list of recourses for citizens seeking information and a sample letter to request public records.
Published by The First Amendment Foundation. Profiles 150 of Florida’s most useful public records, overview of the state’s public records laws and sample FOI letter.
Exempt: Investigations; certain real estate documents; attorney-client privilege documents; and names of handgun carriers. Electronic records open.
Closed: Certain personnel matters, attorney consultations and real estate transactions.
Open Meetings Law Haw. Rev. Stat. §92-1 et seq.
Closed: To consider personnel information relating to those applying for professional or vocations licenses; hiring or firing of an employee; labor negotiations; property negotiations; attorney consultation; misconduct investigations; and public safety or security. State boards and commissions may meet in private if no commitment to vote is made or sought; also can meet with the governor as long as it does not relate to a quasi-judicial matter.
Open Records Law Haw. Rev. Stat. §91-1 et seq.
Exempt: Medical, psychiatric, or psychological information; criminal investigations; social services or welfare benefits information; personnel files; fitness to be granted a license; and personal recommendations and evaluations.
Open Meetings Law Iowa Code §21.1 et seq.
Closed: 11 exemptions, check code citation.
Open Records Law Iowa Code §22.1 et seq.
State access law has 50 exemptions including personal information of public school students, hospital and medical records, trade secrets, peace officers' investigative reports, and attorney work related to litigation.
Website includes Sunshine Advisories, public records and meetings guidance, legal outlines of the laws, and Q and A.
A primer on the state's "sunshine" laws and court system for journalists new to Iowa.
A flier that summarizes the Iowa Code regarding open meetings, open records and access to law enforcement. Published in conjunction with the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.
A flier that explains a Council program  open to members of the Iowa Newspaper Association and Iowa Broadcasters Association  that provides financial support for educational programs and for litigation over serious violations of the state's open meetings and public records laws.
These websites contain information about Iowa law. These associations can also help resolve access issues by advising public agencies about what the laws require or by explaining how public agencies interpret the law.
Format: One-volume, loose leaf reference manual. 8 in.
Open Meetings Law I.C. §§5-14-1.5-1 et seq.
Closed: Numerous exemptions including: Collective bargaining, litigation strategy, and certain real estate transactions.
Open Records Law §§5-14-3-1 et seq.
Exempt: Trade secrets; university research; and certain educational and medical records. Discretionary exemptions include: Personnel files; diaries; journals; and personal notes.
Open Meetings Law Open Meetings Law K.S.A. 75-4317 et seq.
Lecturer and former Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press.
Former national SPJ president and reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Leading expert on Kentucky open government laws. His firm, Dinsmore & Shohl, coordinates the FOI hotline for the Kentucky Press Association.
Open Meetings Law K.R.S. 61.810 et seq.
Closed: Parole board; collective bargaining; certain real estate transactions; certain employee matters; certain business negotiations; and pending litigation involving a public agency.
Open Records Law K.R.S. 61.872 et seq.
Edited by University of Kentucky lecturer Terry Anderson. Good source for state FOI news of all kinds, including bills pending in the state General Assembly.
This Web site provides details about Kentucky’s open records and meetings laws, compiled by attorneys Jon L. Fleischaker, R. Kenyon Meyer, Ashley L. Pack and Jeremy S. Rogers.
Sponsors First Amendment oriented events and programs.
Nonpartisan research and educational organization and the leading voice for free markets in Louisiana. The Institutes mission is to conduct scholarly research and analysis that advances sound policies based on free enterprise, individual liberty, and constitutionally limited government.
Open Meetings Law Open Meetings Laws G.L. c. 39, 23-24. State: G.L. c. 30, 11. County: G.L. c. 34, 9F. Municipality: G.L. c. 39, 23B.
Closed: Certain personnel matters; discussion of individual characteristics; collective bargaining; real estate negotiations; and disciplinary records.
Open Records Law G.L. c. 66, sec. 10.
Exempt: Information that would invade individual privacy; trade secrets; public policy development memos; and investigative materials.
Open Meetings Law Md. State Gov't Code Ann. §§10-501 et seq.
Open Records Law Md. State Gov't Code Ann. §§10-611 et seq.
Exempt: Information that invades individual privacy; trade secrets; public policy development memos; and investigative materials.
Open Meetings LawM.R.S.A. Sec. 403 et seq.
Closed: Certain personnel matters; attorney consultations; and student disciplinary considerations.
Open Records Law M.R.S.A. Sec. 402 et seq.
Exempt: Certain law enforcement investigation documents; records of legislature; and university administrative committees.
Open Meetings Law Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §15.261 et seq.
Open Records Law Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §15.231 et seq.
Exempt: Information deemed private; trade secrets; advisory communications with government agencies; attorney-client communications; medical counseling and psychological facts or appraisals; records of campaign committees; and some law enforcement records.
Attorney, Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, Inc.
Open Meetings Law Montana Code 2-3-201 et seq.
Closed: Matters involving individual privacy and litigation between government entities and private parties. Citizens may file suit to overturn decisions made in allegedly illegal meetings. However, in 2006, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that citizens who challenge a decision must prove that it caused them "actual harm" over and above that of an ordinary taxpaper or citizen.
Open Records Law Montana Code 2-6-101 et seq.
The law gives citizens the right to inspect any "public writings" of the state except as prohibited by statute. Recent legislation removed several exemptions to the law, thus opening records, including death certificates.
Exempt: Records may be closed if the right to individual privacy clearly exceeds the public's right to know. However, the Montana Supreme Court has upheld challenges to statutes or executive branch decisions that closed records, ruling that the constitutional public right to know outweighed the individual privacy interest.
Open Meetings Law N.D.C.C. §44-04-19 et seq.
Closed: Attorney consultations during pending litigation; non-renewal hearings between school board and teacher; juvenile proceedings; and hiring/firing of college or university personnel and presidents by the State Board of Higher Education.
Open Records LawN.D.C.C. §44-04-18 et seq.
Exempt: Juvenile records; trade secrets; public employee medical and assistance records; workers compensation; unemployment; tax information; law enforcement investigation records; and most Department of Human Services records.
Law and the Media in the Midwest: A Seven State Handbook Covering Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin by John R. Finnegan, Sr. and Patricia A. Hirl.
Open Meetings Law Nebraska Statutes §84-1409 et seq.
Closed: Collective bargaining; real estate purchases; litigation; to protect an individual's reputation; and security personnel and devices.
Open Records Law Nebraska Statutes §84-712 et seq.
Exempt: personal information regarding students; medical records; trade secrets and unpublished academic and scientific research; work product of an attorney for a public body; investigative records of law enforcement and other public bodies with investigative duties; appraisals and negotiation information on purchase or sale of property by a public body; personal information about personnel of public bodies; information solely about the security of public property; security-related records pertaining to the state lottery; information about customers of public utilities; records of library patrons; correspondence, memoranda and phone calls of legislators related to performance of their duties; records that would reveal the location, character, or ownership of any known archaeological, historical or paleontological site; records of donors of articles of archaeological, historical or paleontological significance; application materials of finalists for jobs with a public body; social security numbers, credit card numbers and similar financial account information supplied to state and local governments by citizens.
Right to Know NH (RTKNH) is the only nonpartisan citizen coalition working to improve access to New Hampshire state, county, and local governments. We advocate to strengthen New Hampshire state laws, particularly the Right-to-Know law known as RSA 91-A, as well as Right-to-Know governmental policies. We serve as a resource on Right to Know in our state with the goal of making government more open and transparent. We educate citizens on their Right to Know and aid them in exercising their rights under the law. We educate public officials on improving their adherence to the law and delivering greater government transparency to their constituents.
Media law attorney. Ricks firm is a member of the Media Law Resource Center, and he is a member of the Communications Forum of the American Bar Association. Expert on libel, privacy and all aspects of the states Right-to-Know Law.
Open Meetings Law R.S.A. Ch. 91-A et seq.
Closed: Certain personnel matters, real estate meetings and pending litigation.
Open Records Law R.S.A. Ch. 01-A et seq.
Exempt: Investigative files; parole and pardon board records; student records; and certain commercial/financial information.
Contact: Walter M. Luers, Esq.
Rodey, Dickason, Sloan Akin & Robb, P.A.
Open Meetings Law N.R.S. 241 et seq.
Closed: To consider someone's character, alleged misconduct, or professional competence; and to conduct labor negotiations.
Open Records Law N.R.S. 239 et seq.
Exempt: Over 300 exemptions. Custodians must balance privacy issues with public interest.
Closed: Litigation strategy discussions; collective bargaining; certain real estate transactions; certain personnel matters; and matters which would imperil public safety or law enforcement or disclose identity of informant.
Sunshine Chair: Richard D. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
Expert on Ohio open meeting and records laws.
Reporter with Crain's Cleveland Business.
Open Meetings Law Ohio Rev. Code sec. 121.22 et seq.
Closed: Real estate transactions; certain personnel matters; certain law enforcement meetings; Adult Parole Authority; and certain medical board meetings.
Open Records Law Ohio Rev. Code sec. 149.43 et seq.
Exempt: Personal bank records; medical records; adoption records; probation and parole records; and certain law enforcement investigative records.
The Legal Handbook for Ohio Journalists provides general legal information updated for 2002, as well as information about media issues directly affecting Ohio's journalists. Read it here.
This model letter contains citations to the relevant statutory and judicial language regarding the public's right of access to open records in Oklahoma. The letter is available online for free, but the author asks that he be notified by email when it is used.
Part of New Forums Press state media law series, this book explains OklahomaÂ¹s open records and open meeting laws by analyzing the relevant state statutes, judicial decisions and attorney general opinions.
Open Meetings Law O.R.S. 192.610 et seq.
Closed: Personnel matters; filling of a vacancy in elective office; misconduct investigations; conduct of medical staff at public hospitals; some labor negotiations; property negotiations; trade or commerce negotiations; and attorney consultations.
Open Records Laws O.R.S. 192.410 et seq.
Exempt: Records less than 75 years old containing information on the health care treatment of a living individual; impending litigation; trade secrets; criminal investigation materials; testing materials; real estate appraisals; personnel disciplinary action; and computer programs.
Media Handbook on Oregon Law and Court System was prepared by the Oregon Bar-Press-Broadcasters Council to increase cooperation among these professions and provide wider understanding of the Oregon court system among journalists and broadcasters. Members of the Oregon State Bar, the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, and the Oregon Association of Broadcasters shared their expertise to develop this reference manual. Its purpose is to answer the most commonly asked questions concerning the media and courts. Available online here.
Exempt: Some investigative records; birth and death records; some election reports; and accident reports.
 Sunshine Act information by Department of Community and Economic Development (click on Open Meetings).
The Media Survival Kit, last updated in 2001, is published by the Pennsylvania First Amendment Coalition. The book was printed by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and distributed to PNA member newspapers. Pennsylvania's Right to Know Act, which concerns government records, was updated since the Media Survival Kit was printed. PNA's Legal Department produced a guide to the 2008 changes, which is a handy reference to use in conjunction with the Media Survival Kit. Access the kit here.
Closed: Certain personnel matters; collective bargaining; litigation; security; real estate transactions; school committees; student disciplinary hearings; and student records.
Exempt: Presumption of disclosure with few exemptions.
Closed: Certain personnel matters, criminal investigations, and some real estate transactions.
Exempt: Pending investigation documents; confidential attorney communications; identification of informants; certain bank and business transactions; and income tax returns.
The S.C. FOIA: This is the entire text of the law.
Mr. Bordewyk put together the South Dakota Freedom of Information Coalition and was instrumental in the passage this year of a much-improved open government law.
Mr. Arneson wrote the South Dakota portion of the Open Government Guide created by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and has represented various media on a number of free-press issues.
Open Meetings Law S.D.C.L. 1-25-1 et seq.
Closed: Legal matters; employee or student performance; labor negotiations; and pricing strategies by publicly-owned competitive businesses.
Open Records Law S.D.C.L. 1-27-1 et seq.
Exempt: Savings and loan association reports; school records; juvenile court records; adoption records; hospital licensing and inspection information; and medical research information.
State statutes regarding public records, SDCL ch. 1-27, may be found on the Legislatureâ€™s webpage.
Keys to Open Government, a 52-page guide to Tennessees open records and open meetings laws, by Frank Gibson and Deb Fisher, released in February 2015.
Law Office of Allan K. DuBois, P.C.
Exempt: Over 30 exemptions including: Confidential information as defined by law; personnel information; litigation or settlement negotiations involving state, competition or bidding information; certain real estate information; certain legislative documents; certain investigation or prosecution documents; certain private communications of public office holders; certain trade or financial secrets; and student records.
Closed: Attorney consultations; real estate transactions; hearings of the ethics commission; personnel and individual student matters; and emergency medical service quality reviews, etc.
Assistant city editor at the Deseret News and FOI Chair of the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The texts of bills from the Virginia legislature are readily available to the public at this site. You can check bills and resolutions or read details on members.
Closed: Terrorism activities precautions; some personnel matters, attorney consultations, real estate matters, student disciplinary matters, etc.
Exempt: Some criminal investigations; some police reports; tax returns; medical records; personnel matters; real estate; attorney client privilege exemptions; and working papers.
Charlottesville, VA: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service6, 2006.
An excellent analysis of Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, written from the perspective of a government official.
Price: $5; $4 for orders of five or more.
Format: One-volume reference manual. 8 in.
The Virginia State Bar publishes pamphlets on law-related issues for Virginia’s citizens. If you would like to order printed copies of these pamphlets, please download the Publications Order Form* (pdf) and fax or mail with payment (when applicable) to the Virginia State Bar at (804) 775-0582.
Longtime Burlington Free Press staffer, adjunct professor, Vermont chair of SPJ Project Sunshine, and First Vice President of the New England First Amendment Coalition.
Burlington lawyer with Gravel and Shea, has handled most of the major FOI cases, subpoenas and close courtrooms/sealed documents.
Former editor of The Keene Sentinel of Keene, N.H., and active with the New England First Amendment Coalition. Currently, an editor for the Stowe Reporter group in Stowe, Vt.
Open Meetings Law Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.010 et seq.
Open Records Law Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.010 et seq.
The Attorney General has a good Web site the provides tips for obtaining public records, a deskbook, and model rules for public disclosure. If you are illegally denied a public record look up the AG’s explanation of how it should be open, then provide the agency a link to the AG’s Web site  the agency might not listen to you but it might listen to the highest government attorney in Washington.
This 32-page booklet outlines the “Observer” program, where citizens attend public meetings and report actions to citizens. The League has observers covering a variety of agencies, including those journalists might not be covering. Could make for good sources.
This booklet is great to have on any desk. It provides the statutes and explanation of the public records and open meeting laws, among other things. The guide is put out by the SPJ Western Washington chapter. Contact the chapter for more information.
Open Meetings Law Wis. Stat. 19.81 et seq.
Open Records Law Wis. Stat. 19.31 et seq.
Order from: State Bar of Wisconsin at (800) 728-7788 or (608) 257-3838. Each copy is $5 plus shipping, handling, and applicable sales tax.
Public Records Law Compliance Guide, 2012: Newly updated guide from the Attorney General's office.
Open Meetings Law Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-401 et seq.
Closed: Sessions regarding threats to security; personnel matters; parole board meetings regarding granting of parole; purchasing or leasing of property; and meetings regarding anonymous gifts to public agencies.
Open Records Law Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-201 et seq.
Exempt: Some law enforcement investigation records; testing materials; details of state institutions' research projects; labor negotiations; school board and university student disciplinary records; and medical records of publicly funded hospitals.

References: §44
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