What's happening
This bill requires entities seeking Freedom of Information Law disclosure exceptions to reapply every three years or lose the exception.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and accountability. By requiring entities to reapply for FOIL disclosure exceptions every three years, the bill ensures that records do not remain confidential indefinitely without review, promoting more regular oversight of what information remains shielded from the public.
Prevents outdated or unnecessary secrecy. Entities must justify the need for ongoing exceptions and identify specific portions of records to be withheld, reducing the risk that outdated or irrelevant information stays hidden simply because an exception was granted in the past.
Creates new administrative responsibilities. Both entities seeking exceptions and state agencies must track expiration dates, process extension requests, and review justifications, potentially increasing administrative workload but also giving agencies more opportunities to reassess the necessity of exceptions.
Makes it easier to challenge secrecy. If an entity fails to reapply for an exception, the protection automatically expires, making it simpler for the public to access previously exempted records and reducing the burden on those seeking information to contest exceptions.
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Headline styles
Require Periodic FOIL Exception Renewal
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government 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.
Reapply for FOIL Exceptions
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
79
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring entities that submit records to state agencies that are excepted from disclosure under the freedom of information law to periodically re-apply for the exception
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 89 of the public officers law, as added by chapter 890 of the laws of 1981, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 403 of the laws of 2003, paragraph (d) as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
5. (a) (1) A person acting pursuant to law or regulation who, subsequent to the effective date of this subdivision, submits any information to any state agency may, at the time of submission, request that the agency except such information from disclosure under paragraph (d) of subdivision two of section eighty-seven of this article. Where the request itself contains information which if disclosed would defeat the purpose for which the exception is sought, such information shall also be excepted from disclosure.
(1-a) A person or entity who submits or otherwise makes available any records to any agency, may, at any time, identify those records or portions thereof that may contain critical infrastructure information, and request that the agency that maintains such records except such information from disclosure under subdivision two of section eighty-seven of this article. Where the request itself contains information which if disclosed would defeat the purpose for which the exception is sought, such information shall also be excepted from disclosure.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03845-01-7
S. 79 2
(2) (i) The request for an exception shall be in writing, shall specifically identify which portions of the record are the subject of the request for exception and state the reasons why the information should be excepted, for a defined period of time, from disclosure. The submitter may also provide a date by which such exception shall expire, provided that such date shall not exceed three years from the time of the agency's receipt of the request for an exception.
(ii) Not less than sixty days prior to the expiration of the then current term of the exception request, the submitter may apply to the agency for a three-year extension of its exception request. Upon timely receipt of a request for an extension of an exception request, an agency shall review the application and either grant or deny the extension request. A denial of an extension request may be appealed by the submitter pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision. If the submitter fails to apply for an extension, the exception shall be considered to have expired.
(3) Information submitted subsequent to the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand seventeen that amended this subdivision and as provided in subparagraphs one and one-a of this paragraph shall be excepted from disclosure for a defined period of time and be maintained apart by the agency from all other records until the expiration of the submitter's exception request or fifteen days after the entitlement to such exception has been finally determined or such further time as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) [On] During the effective period of an exception request under this subdivision, on the initiative of the agency at any time, or upon the request of any person for a record excepted from disclosure pursuant to this subdivision, the agency shall:
(1) inform the person who requested the exception of the agency's intention to determine whether such exception should be granted or continued;
(2) permit the person who requested the exception, within ten business days of receipt of notification from the agency, to submit a written statement of the necessity for the granting or continuation of such exception;
(3) within seven business days of receipt of such written statement, or within seven business days of the expiration of the period prescribed for submission of such statement, issue a written determination granting, continuing or terminating such exception and stating the reasons therefor; copies of such determination shall be served upon the person, if any, requesting the record, the person who requested the exception, and the committee on [public access to records] open government.
(c) A denial of an exception from disclosure under paragraph (b) of this subdivision may be appealed by the person submitting the information and a denial of access to the record may be appealed by the person requesting the record in accordance with this subdivision:
(1) Within seven business days of receipt of written notice denying the request, the person may file a written appeal from the determination of the agency with the head of the agency, the chief executive officer or governing body or their designated representatives.
(2) The appeal shall be determined within ten business days of the receipt of the appeal. Written notice of the determination shall be served upon the person, if any, requesting the record, the person who requested the exception and the committee on [public access to records] open government. The notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for the determination.
S. 79 3
(d) A proceeding to review an adverse determination pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision may be commenced pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules. Such proceeding, when brought by a person seeking an exception from disclosure pursuant to this subdivision, must be commenced within fifteen days of the service of the written notice containing the adverse determination provided for in subparagraph two of paragraph (c) of this subdivision.
(e) The person requesting an exception from disclosure pursuant to this subdivision shall in all proceedings have the burden of proving entitlement to the exception.
(f) Where the agency denies access to a record pursuant to paragraph [(d) of] (b) of this subdivision in conjunction with subdivision two of section eighty-seven of this article, the agency shall have the burden of proving that the record falls within the provisions of such exception.
(g) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to deny any person access, pursuant to the remaining provisions of this article, to any record or part excepted from disclosure upon the express written consent of the person who had requested the exception.
(h) As used in this subdivision the term "agency" or "state agency" means only a state department, board, bureau, division, council or office and any public corporation the majority of whose members are appointed by the governor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring entities that submit records to state agencies that are excepted from disclosure under the freedom of information law to periodically re-apply for the exception
Purpose or general idea of the bill
The purpose of this bill is to provide for greater disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would require that, subsequent to the effective date, when an entity submits a request to a state agency to have trade secrets excluded from release under the Freedom of Information Law, the request must specifically identify which portions of the record are to be excluded. The requester would also be able to set an expiration date for the exclusions, provided that such a date is not greater than 3 years. If the state agency agrees to the exclusions and the submitter did not set an expiration date, after 3 years the submitter must apply to the agency for a 3 year extension, upon which the agency must make a determination as to if the exclusions should be extended. If the submitter does not apply for the extension, the exclusion will be considered to have expired. The bill also makes some technical changes to the Public Meetings Law.
Justification
Under current law, when an entity submits records to a state agency, that entity may identify portions of those records that should be excluded from release under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) as trade secrets. If approved, the exclusion remains in force until a FOIL request is made for those records. The agency must then contact the entity to determine if the records must continue to be with- held or if they can be released. If no FOIL request is made, the exclusion remains in force indefinitely.
This bill would streamline this process by requiring entities to reapply for the exclusion every 3 years. If an entity does not re-apply, the exclusion is considered to be expired and the document can be released when a FOIL request is made.
Prior legislative history
S.2921-A of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Investigations & Government Operations A.6637-A of 2015-2016 (Englebright): Died in Governmental Operations A.6110 of 2013-2014 (Englebright): Died in Governmental Operations
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
The act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.