Transparency News – September 2018

Note: News links will take you away from WAPRO’s website. WAPRO is not responsible for changing ad content surrounding the articles.

---

September 28, 2018

Washington State

• Washington task force looks to tackle transparency at the legislative level
• Woman sues Yakima School District over public records requests in bullying case
• Editorial: Congratulations, Washingtonians, for defending open government

Outside Washington State

Legislation, and Policy

• 5 things to know about Atlanta’s new transparency ordinance – GA

In the Courts

• ICE Way Behind on Processing FOIA Requests, Federal Case in Denver Shows – USA
• Gone fishing: An epic legal battle epitomizes a ‘reflexive instinct’ to block records – VT
• Editorial: Ontario doctors should end misguided court battle to keep billings secret – International

Transparency and Open Government

• FOIA: What leads public bodies to make official information requests? – VA
• Candidates for Governor Spar Over Making Tax Returns Public – USA

Privacy and Security

• Governing: How much privacy do public employees actually have?
• Iowa’s battles over releasing police videos escalate – IA
• Baton Rouge Bishop: Catholic Church working on making local abuse records public – LA

Fees, Costs, and Burdensome Requests

• Map: What’s the costliest public records request fee in your state?

Records Management and Archives

• October 10 is Electronic Records Day
• October is American Archives Month
• Get out the mops, brooms, and garbage cans; it’s early spring cleaning!

---

September 21, 2018

Washington State

• ‘What a mess’: Texts by Seattle mayor, council member shed light on head-tax repeal
• Judge orders Seattle to turn over internal records on head-tax repeal, Ed Murray by Sept. 28
• Editorial: Secret meetings via text: Hold Seattle’s leaders accountable

Legislation, and Policy

• Atlanta City Council passes public records reform ordinance – GA

In the Courts

• In Racine County, a court dispute over access to public records is fought in secrecy – WI
• Court Keeps Scott Records Ruling On Hold – FL

Transparency and Open Government

• New Service Helps Public Access Public Records – HI

Privacy and Security

• GovPayNow.com Leaks 14M+ Records – USA
• When Transit Agencies Spy on Riders – CA

Fees, Costs, and Burdensome Requests

• City clerks across Michigan are faced with huge public records request regarding 2016 election – MI

Records Management and Archives

• Longmont’s proposed 2019 budget includes public safety records system replacement – CA

---

September 14, 2018

Washington State

• Editorial: Task force on open records must do what’s best for public
• Thurston County Superior Court Judge blocks release of Oregon utility’s coal information
• Editorial: When it comes to public records, lawmakers need to get over themselves
• Editorial: Public records 101 for legislative task force
• Columnist: Down the Public Records Rabbit Hole
• GovTech: How Seattle Is Tackling Privacy Problems in Today’s Digital Age
• Kelso man plans to publish names of Cowlitz level 1 sex offenders

Outside Washington State

Legislation, and Policy

• Charging Fees For Electronic Records Violates New Mexico Law – NM
• Obscure policy lets Mass. state workers keep names and pay a secret – MA
• Iowa open-records law used to hide unflattering police video, open records advocates say – IA

In the Courts

• Oregon Agency Sued After Refusing to Release Upcoming Legislative Bills – OR
• Appeals Court to Hear Case over Releasing Trump’s Tax Returns This Week – USA
• Lawsuit alleges Sarasota city manager broke public records law with private email – NY
• Water officials take records dispute to state Supreme Court – CA

Transparency and Open Government

• Secretary of State orders town clerk to provide public records – MA
• FDA looks to make FOIA process easier – USA
• Ex-Pa. open records office director recognized nationally for promoting government transparency – PA
• Attorney general releases UNM transparency report – NM

Privacy and Security

• School district paid for report on pre-K program, but it says data legally protected from disclosure – AR
• Diocese makes clergy disclosure list public for first time – AR
• Open Government? – Political Misstep leads to Privacy Breach – International (Canada)

Fees, Costs, and Burdensome Requests

• Want to know what opioid lawyers are up to in Texas? It costs thousands to find out – TX
• Arlington often charges hefty fees to see public records, or fails to respond to requests – VA
• New Guide on State Data Breach Laws – USA

Records Management and Archives

• While Data May Be Worth Trillions, It Is Not The New Oil

---

September 7, 2018

• Key concerns emerge during Legislative Task Force on Public Record’s first meeting
• Peninsula member of public records task force describes first meeting
• Lewis County unveils public records portal
• Opinion: Spin Control: Rep. Shea should keep his seat on the Public Records task force
• TVW Broadcasts Legislative Task Force on Public Records
• Task force looks at public records versus private information
• Washington Task Force on public records set to convene
• Disclose this: The battle for lawmaker records begins anew

Outside Washington State
Legislation, and Policy

• Lawmakers approve releasing police video 45 days after an officer shooting – CA
• State Legislature passes transparency measures on police internal investigations, body cameras – CA
• Serial records requester causing city to consider changes to public records rules – UT
• Proposed law would require child lead testing disclosure – CA

In the Courts

• County to pay The Oregonian in sheriff’s office public record lawsuit – OR
• City will pay $30,000 after ruling that public officials’ social media is subject to disclosure – NJ
• State Supreme Court nixes attempt to shield judges under investigation from public disclosure – FL

Transparency and Open Government

• Clerks address logistical issues with large statewide FOIA request for ballots – MI
• Opinion: No, police videos shouldn’t be public under OPRA – NJ
• Democratic super PAC behind requests for 2016 ballots; municipal clerks rattled – MI
• Key open gov deadline nears with no public action – USA
• UNC Health Care’s response to a public records request left NC’s treasurer in the dark – NC
• Giuliani says he’s ‘sure’ Trump will try to block public release of Mueller’s final report – USA
• Illinois DOC says it didn’t keep records on inmate death – IL

Privacy and Security

• Federal transparency website revealed Social Security numbers, other personal info – USA
• GovTech: Data Sharing: What’s the worst that could happen?
• Security clearance records, FOIA, and privacy: What went wrong for Abigail Spanberger – USA
• Hill staffers: Spanberger’s records released because employee misunderstood request – USA
• Everything we know about Nova Scotia’s FOIPOP website 5 months after taken offline – International

Records Management and Archives

• Idaho plans statewide, opt-in system for special education records management – ID
• NARA: Move to digital records ‘does not get cheaper,’ but easier to manage – USA
• NY to offer Municipal Records Management Grants – NY