Virginia Freedom of Information Act; requests for records. (HB2125)

Introduced By

Del. Mark Keam (D-Vienna) with support from co-patron Del. Onzlee Ware (D-Roanoke)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; requests for records. Provides that FOIA requests may be made by any citizen of the United States and not just citizens of the Commonwealth. The bill also allows a public body to require prepayment before providing requested records when the cost for production of the records is likely to exceed $100. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/09/2013Committee
01/09/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13101987D
01/09/2013Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/14/2013Assigned GL sub: #2 FOIA/Procurement
01/15/2013Impact statement from DPB (HB2125)
01/24/2013Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/05/2013Left in General Laws

Comments

ACLU-VA Open Government, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

ACLU of Virginia supports allowing people living outside of Virginia to request information under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The law already allows out of state media companies to do so. There is no reason not to allow individuals from other states to request information. At the same time, the ACLU of Virginia is concerned that the language of the proposed bill limits the right to seek access to public information to "citizens." There is no reason to restrict the ability of any person in the country lawfully to access public records, including legal permanent residents, students here on student visas, and persons in the country lawfully to work.