Government Transparency and Accountability, including Money in Politics
SB237 - the Alabama Open Records Act; to provide a process for access to public records; to provide procedures for making and responding to requests for access; to establish fees; to create the Office of the Public Access Counselor in the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts; to provide for his or her appointment, powers, and duties; to establish an appeals process and provide administrative and judicial remedies; to provide civil penalties for noncompliance; and to repeal Section 36-12-40, Code of Alabama 197
Sponsor(s): Senator Ward
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would establish the Alabama Open Records Act, and would provide a process to provide citizens with better access to public records. This bill would provide procedures for making and responding to requests for access to public records, ensuring that citizens could view public records at no charge, and would set the per page fees to be charged for copies. This bill would create the Office of the Public Access Counselor in the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, and would provide for the appointment of the Public Access Counselor, and would provide for his or her powers and duties. This bill would establish an appeals process and administrative and judicial remedies, and would provide civil penalties for noncompliance.
League Action and Justification: Support. The LWVAL supports an open and responsive government and public access to information.
Bill Progress in Legislature
Go here to get more information about the bill and changes in the bill as it progresses through the legislature.
SB237 - the Alabama Open Records Act; to provide a process for access to public records; to provide procedures for making and responding to requests for access; to establish fees; to create the Office of the Public Access Counselor in the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts; to provide for his or her appointment, powers, and duties; to establish an appeals process and provide administrative and judicial remedies; to provide civil penalties for noncompliance; and to repeal Section 36-12-40, Code of Alabama 197Sponsor(s): Senator Ward
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would establish the Alabama Open Records Act, and would provide a process to provide citizens with better access to public records. This bill would provide procedures for making and responding to requests for access to public records, ensuring that citizens could view public records at no charge, and would set the per page fees to be charged for copies. This bill would create the Office of the Public Access Counselor in the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, and would provide for the appointment of the Public Access Counselor, and would provide for his or her powers and duties. This bill would establish an appeals process and administrative and judicial remedies, and would provide civil penalties for noncompliance.
League Action and Justification: Support. The LWVAL supports an open and responsive government and public access to information.
Bill Progress in Legislature
Go here to get more information about the bill and changes in the bill as it progresses through the legislature.
| Calendar Date | Body | Amd/Sub | Matter | Committee | Nay | Yea | Abstain | Vote |
| 04/04/2019 | S | Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Governmental Affairs | GA | | | |
Contact information for legislators and committees that might be referenced in this bill:
Representatives Representatives Phone Directory Standing House Committees
Senators Senators Phone Directory Standing Senate Committees
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