Minority report on the initiative petition of danielle susan allen and others for the passage of an act to improve access to public records (see house, no. 5004)
Minority Report on the Initiative Petition of Danielle Susan Allen and Others for the Passage of an Act to Improve Access to Public Records (See House, No. 5004)
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, a minority report on an initiative petition, aims to enhance access to public records in Massachusetts. It builds upon previous efforts to improve public record access, addressing concerns about transparency and accountability. The bill seeks to clarify and expand the scope of public records that are readily available to the public. It is closely related to House Bill 5004.
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of ‘public record’ to include more types of government documents.
- Streamlines the process for requesting public records.
- Reduces fees associated with public records requests.
- Establishes timelines for government agencies to respond to public records requests.
- Clarifies procedures for appealing denials of public records requests.
- Addresses legal challenges to public records requests.
Who is affected
- The general public
- Government agencies in Massachusetts
- Taxpayers
- Media outlets
- Civil society organizations
Notable changes
- Builds on previous legislation (H.2717, S.12) to improve public records access.
- Potentially reduces barriers to accessing government information.
- May require agencies to revise their record-keeping practices.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
1 on record
Cosponsor
Arguments
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