Court Opinion

ID: 9734412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:34:09.407441+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:48.459967
License: Public Domain

Jansen, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. As noted in the majority opinion, the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act (foia), MCL 15.231 et seq.; MSA 4.1801(1) et seq., is to provide public access to public records to insure that an informed public may fully participate in the democratic process. MCL 15.231(2); MSA 4.1801(1X2); State Employees Ass’n v Dep’t of Management & Budget, 428 Mich 104, 109; 404 NW2d 606 (1987). All public records that are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to MCL 15.243; MSA 4.1801(13) must be disclosed upon proper request. Hagen v Dep’t of Ed, 431 Mich 118, 123; 427 NW2d 879 (1988). The exemptions to disclosure are to be narrowly construed. Id., p 124.
In the present case, plaintiffs sought from defendant the unemployment tax rates, or contribution rates, for a number of employers. Defendant de*480nied the request, asserting that the information was exempt from disclosure under § 13(l)(d) of the foia, MCL 15.243(l)(d); MSA 4.1801(13)(l)(d), which exempts from disclosure records or information specifically described and exempted from disclosure by statute. The statute relied on by defendant was § 11(b)(1) of the Michigan Employment Security Act (mesa), MCL 421.11(b)(1); MSA 17.511(b) (1), which provides, in part, that "[information obtained from any employing unit . . . shall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed or open to public inspection ... in any manner revealing . . . the employing unit’s identity.”
Defendant argues that because the formula used to determine the contribution rate utilizes information from employers that is exempt from disclosure, the rates themselves are exempt from disclosure. The majority has adopted defendant’s argument by holding:
The formula for determining an employer’s contribution rate utilizes information obtained from the employer that is exempted from disclosure. Consequently, we hold that the . contribution rates of employers are exempt from disclosure. Ante, p 479.
I am of the opinion that the majority’s holding has construed too broadly the exemption provision of § 13(d) of the foia. Plaintiffs sought only the contribution rates of certain employers, not any information obtained from the employers that is used in formulating the contribution rates themselves. Had plaintiffs sought the information obtained from the employers, instead of merely the contribution rates for a given employer, then I would be constrained to follow the opinion of the majority. However, that was not the case here.
*481In a similar light, and contrary to the position taken by the majority, I am not convinced that 1980 A ACS, R 421.10(1) acts to exempt from disclosure the contribution rates sought by plaintiffs. The rule provides that all information, files, and records of defendant reflecting information obtained from an employing unit "shall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed nor open to public or private inspection by anyone, except as hereinafter provided.”
Plaintiffs have not sought any information, files, or records from defendant that reflect information obtained from the employing units. The unemployment insurance tax rate is computed by defendant, in part, on the basis of information provided by the employing unit. Because the contribution rates do not rely solely upon exempt information, the rates themselves are not exempt and should be disclosed to plaintiffs. Such a result is consistent with the purpose of the foia, which, as noted, is to provide public access to public records to insure that an informed public may fully participate in the democratic process. State Employees Ass% supra.
I would affirm the order of the trial court and require that defendant provide to plaintiffs the requested contribution rates.