Virginia FOIA; public access to resumes and other information related to gubernatorial appointee. (HB220)

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): BILL 2 PASS? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NO. ARE THE SENATORS READY TO VOTE? HAVE ALL THE SENATORS VOTED? DO ANY SENATORS DESIRE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES? THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

[Unknown]: AYES 21, NOS 19. AYES 21, NOS 19. THE BILL PASSES. HOUSE BILL 220, A BILL RELATING TO THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESUMES AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS. REPORTING FROM THE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY. THE SENATOR FROM MACK MACK -- NEAR ROUGH THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE BILL PASS. HOUSE BILL 220 PROVIDES THAT PERSONNEL, WORKING PAPERS, CORRESPONDENT RECORDS EXCEPTIONS SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE THE WITHHOLDING OF ANY -- EXCUSE ME -- WITHHOLDING OF ANY RESUMES OR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR. THE BILL FURTHER PROVIDES THAT THE RESUMES FOR APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. ITS PROVISIONS APPLY TO THOSE APPOINTED AFTER JULY 1st, 2016. THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE SENATOR FROM ALEXANDRIA, SENATOR EBBIN. THANK YOU. SPEAKING TO THE BILL. SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR. I WOULD JUST TELL THE BODY THAT THIS BILL IS MORE THAN ABOUT RESUMES. IT'S ABOUT AN APPLICATION THAT THE GOVERNOR ACCEPTS FROM APPOINTEES WITH SOMETIMES SENSITIVE INFORMATION. WHEN I WAS A POLITICAL APPOINTEE, IT ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE IT DOES TODAY, HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED CREDIT DIFFICULTIES, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OR PLED GUILTY OR FORFEITED COLLATERAL FOR A CRIMINAL VIOLATION OTHER THAN A MINOR TRAFFIC OFFENSE? SO IF YOU HAD A MINOR OFFENSE 15, 20 YEARS AGO OUR SOMEONE YOU RECOMMENDED DID OR IF THEY HAD A CREDIT DIFFICULTY, WOULD THIS DISCOURAGE THEM FROM APPLYING? IF IT WERE JUST REMACE, THAT'S -- RESUMES, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT THIS IS ABOUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION IN MANY CASES FOR MORE THAN 3600 VIRGINIANS. IT COULD CAUSE THEM EITHER FROM BEING AVAILABLE TO SERVE THE COMMONWEALTH OR NOT OR DISCOURAGE THEM FROM BEING CANDID. ANOTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE BILL COULD BE TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION NO LONGER SOUGHT ON THIS FORM. SO THOUSANDS OF THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE FOR UNPAID CITIZEN MEMBERSHIPS ON BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS. THOSE ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN BEING A JUDGE. SO IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT THE POOL OF THOSE WHO WOULD APPLY, I WOULD SAY TO VOTE FOR THE BILL. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO GET A GOOD APPLICANT POOL WITH THE GOVERNOR HAVING SOME DISCRETION OVER ONES WHO PERHAPS COULD PRESENT A DIFFICULTY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL. (CAPTIONS WILL RESUME SHORTLY)

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