Freedom of Information Act Request Help

Model Rules on Public Disclosure: Washington State

2009-11-18T07:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Mark M. for sending the link direct via email, because sometimes you need the information to "push back" against State, County, Local run-around to your Freedom of Information Act Requests. I have also added the link that goes to the information below under Washington State FOIA information that covers both print rules and electronic rules for open records requests.

Model Rules on Public Disclosure

2006 Model Rules (Paper Records)

As part of the 2005 recodification of the Public Records Act, the Legislature asked the Attorney General to provide guidance to both records requestors and agencies on the public records process by drafting model rules on public disclosure.

After conducting a 13-city Open Government tour, gathering comments in the mail and on the Web and holding a public hearing, the model rules were formally adopted in late winter 2006. The model rules are non-binding and provide "best practices" for requestors and agencies.

Final Model Rules (link to WACs)

Final Model Rules (PDF of WACS)

Final Model Rules as a Word Document, Including Electronic Model Rules (For government agencies to use for adoption of their own version)

Guidance document referenced in the rules

NEW!Recodification conversion chart (RCW 42.17 to RCW 42.56)

Visit the Open Government Tour page to hear audio from the Open Government tour.

2007 Model Rules (Electronic Records)

The Legislature directed the Attorney General to adopt advisory model rules on topics including “Fulfilling requests for electronic records.” RCW 42.56.570(2). The model rules are non-binding best practices to assist records requestors and agencies. On June 15, 2007, the Attorney General’s Office adopted the model rules for electronic records. Information about them is below.

Model Rules (Electronic Records) - PDF (note: new language is in underline, deleted language stricken-through, and new sections denoted as “New Section”)

Rule Making Documents:

CR-103 Rule Making Order
Concise Explanatory Statement
Comments

Georgia Senate Bill 207: Increases Transparency Regarding Juvenile Proceedings

2009-05-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

New transparency options for Juvenile Hearings in the State of Georgia to take effect January 1, 2010. w/ Thanks to One Out Of Many, a Georgia Not-for-Profit organization.

http://oneoutofmany.org/Documents/Press%20for%20the%20signing%20of%20SB%20207.doc
"Effective January 1st 2010 the public will be allowed to view juvenile hearings in the State of Georgia per Senate Bill 207 passed in April of 2009. This new law of transparency comes on the wake of thousands of closed juvenile hearings which resulted in rulings based on false accusations made by some DFCS case workers which cost the lives of children and the ruination of families. "

sb207 sb207 To amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to admit the general public to certain proceedings in juvenile court with certain exceptions; to define certain terms; to authorize a juvenile court to close a hearing under certain circumstances; to require a written order to close certain hearings; to provide that the judge may order the media not to publicize the identifying information of any child involved in open juvenile court proceedings; to provide that certain records may be sealed; to provide for sharing of confidential information; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law juvenile proceedings senator wiles

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Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings, and Open Records Seminar

2009-04-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Freedom of Information Act (Open Meetings, Open Records, and Sunshine Laws) Introduction Seminar.

Hit this FOIA Video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3CtKpXrE1A

1. You will notice that we have compiled various FOIA, Open Meetings, Open Records, and Sunshine Laws of various state agencies on the navigation box to the right.

2. Specific State Guidelines and Information are available through the Open Government Guide located at this URL: http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/index.php

3. The Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press (FOIA Resources and Guides)
http://www.rcfp.org/foia/

4. Public Citizen has a Litigation Group that may be available for certain FOIA Litigation and Requests that are being denied available at this URL: http://www.citizen.org/litigation/foia_clinic/PubIntFOIARequestform.cfm

5. We have identified an excellent source of information at The FOIA Blog with the URL below:
http://thefoiablog.typepad.com/

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Agency FOIA Sites
http://www.citizen.org/public_citizen/litigation/foic/foiasite.html

This site offers links to several U.S. government agency FOIA web pages some agency FOIA reports.

Department of Defense FOIA
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/foi

This site offers access to the the reading room and the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Department of Health and Human Services FOIA
http://www.hhs.gov/about/foia/index.html

This site does not offer access to an electronic reading room or the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Department of the Interior FOIA
http://www.doi.gov/foia/

This site offers access to the the reading room.

Department of Justice FOIA Home Page
http://www.usdoj.gov/foia/

This site offers access to the DOJ FOIA Reference Guide, DOJ FOIA Regulations, FOIA Updates, DOJ FOIA contacts and much more.

Department of Justice FOIA Reading Rooms
http://www.usdoj.gov/foia/readingrooms

This site offers access to the reading rooms.

Department of Labor FOIA
http://www.dol.gov/dol/sol/public/foia/main.htm

This site offers access to the reading room.

Department of State FOIA
http://www.foia.state.gov

This site does not offer access to an electronic reading room or the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Department of Transportation FOIA
http://dms.dot.gov

This site does not offer access to an electronic reading room or the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Department of Treasury
http://www.treas.gov/foia/temp_err.htm

This site offers access to the the reading room.

Department of Veterans Affairs FOIA
http://www.va.gov/foia/default.htm

This site offers access to the the reading room.

EPA FOIA
http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/resource/foia.htm

This site offers the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

EPA Regional FOIA
http://www.epa.gov/earth100/records/a00258.html

This site offers the ability to do an electronic FOIA request for a couple of regions.

EPA Superfund FOIA
http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/sfd_foia.htm

This site offers access to existing online reports and the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

FDIC FOIA
http://www.fdic.gov/publish/efoia.html

This site offers access to the Public Information Center and the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

FEMA FOIA
http://www.fema.gov/library/

This site offers access to the electronic reading room.

Food and Drug Administration FOIA
http://www.fda.gov/foi/foia2.htm

This site offers access to the the electronic reading room.

General Services Administration
http://www.gsa.gov/staff/c/ca/cai/links.htm

This site offers access to the the reading room and the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Navy, FISC FOIA Program
http://www.sd.fisc.navy.mil/foia/freedom.html

This site offers access to the electronic reading room.

NASA FOIA
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/

This site offers access to the the reading room and the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

OMB FOIA
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OMB/html/foiares4.html

This site does not offer access to an electronic reading room or the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

SBA FOIA
http://www.sba.gov/foia/foiaonlineform.html

This site offers the ability to do an electronic FOIA request.

Social Security Administration FOIA
http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia.htm

This site offers access to the the electronic reading room.

USDA FOIA
http://www.usda.gov/news/foia/main.htm

This site offers access to the the electronic reading room.

Court Grants Media Status to Internet-Only Newsletter

2009-04-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

In a noteworthy opinion, Judge Reggie B. Walton of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has granted a fee waiver to a group called Federal Cure ("FedCure").

FedCure sought a fee waiver in its requests to the Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") about ion spectrometer scanning methods used in the prisons. The BOP denied the fee waiver request, the litigation was filed and the Court ultimately agreed with FedCure. In finding that the group met the requirements for a fee-waiver, the Court found that FedCure's internet activities (a sporadically published newsletter, and answers to requests on a Yahoo discussion group) met the requirement as a representative of the news media.