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History
- Print number 7399a
- Amend and recommit to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes and directs the committee on open government to study proactive disclosure as a means of increasing transparency and access to government information
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Daniel L. Squadron
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A7399A
Title of bill
An act in relation to authorizing and directing the committee on open government to study proactive disclosure as a means of increasing transparency and access to government information
Purpose or general idea of bill
To authorize the State Committee on Open Government to conduct a feasibility study on requiring state and municipal agencies to proactively disclose documents that are available under Article 6 of the public officers law. The study would include:
* The feasibility of requiring agencies as defined in subdivision 3 of section 86 of the public officers law to proactively disclose documents available under Article 6 of that law.
* Specific findings and legislative recommendations relating to mandato- ry proactive disclosure by agencies.
* Estimated costs or savings of proactive disclosure.
The bill requires a report to the Governor, Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly no later than January 31, 2011.
Existing law
Article 6 of the Public Officers Law sets forth the Free- dom of Information Law.
Justification
As information technology throughout the world continues to develop by leaps and bounds, the availability and ease of retrieval of information of all types has become almost effortless. The goal of the original Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) was to promote the public good by disclosing information as widely as possible and without imped- iment, but it has its limitations because of the burden that it places on the public to make requests for information. While some state and local records are already available electronically, this information has been made public in a haphazard and uncoordinated fashion.
The Legislature, through this bill, has the opportunity to study the feasibility of requiring agencies to proactively disclose information in a responsible, comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective fashion. It requires the Committee on Open Government to develop a plan for mandatory proactive disclosure which will allow for the utilization of the new technology to allow a secure conduit for the public to access vital public information and documents that are available under the public officers law.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications to state and local government
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.