Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.
Summary
Bill A02321 amends the public officers law to require all state agencies to submit an annual log of all Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests they receive or have pending to the Committee on Open Government. This log must include detailed information about each request, such as the requestor's name, the subject of the request, dates of acknowledgment and response, and the outcome of the request. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Committee on Open Government publish these logs on a single webpage in a machine-readable format, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in government operations regarding public records requests.
Impact
The implementation of this bill will significantly enhance the transparency of how state agencies handle FOIL requests. By requiring detailed reporting and public access to this information, the bill aims to improve public trust in government operations and ensure that agencies are held accountable for their responses to information requests. This change may also lead to a better understanding of the volume and nature of FOIL requests, which could inform future legislative or administrative actions regarding public access to information.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding Bill A02321 appears to be overwhelmingly positive, as evidenced by the voting history. The bill passed the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee with a unanimous vote of 14-0 and subsequently received strong support on the Assembly floor, passing with 145 votes in favor and only 1 against. This indicates a strong bipartisan agreement on the importance of transparency in government.
Contention
While the bill has garnered substantial support, there may be concerns regarding the administrative burden it places on agencies to compile and submit the required logs. Some agencies may argue that the requirements for detailed reporting could divert resources away from their primary functions. However, these concerns have not significantly impacted the overall support for the bill, which is primarily driven by the desire for increased transparency.
Same As
Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.
Same As
Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.
Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.
Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.