HB308: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; use of government email accounts required.

HOUSE BILL NO. 308

Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled January 4, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3702 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-3704.2, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; use of government email accounts required.
Patron-- Morris

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2.2-3702 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-3704.2 as follows:

§ 2.2-3702. Notice of chapter; use of government email accounts required.

A. Any person elected, reelected, appointed or reappointed to any public body not excepted from this chapter shall (i) be furnished by the public body's administrator or legal counsel with a copy of this chapter within two weeks following election, reelection, appointment or reappointment and (ii) read and become familiar with the provisions of this chapter.

B. Any person elected, reelected, appointed or reappointed to any public body not excepted from this chapter shall use only official government-provided email accounts to conduct public business as set forth in § 2.2-3704.2.

§ 2.2-3704.2. Use of government email accounts required by public officers, appointees, and employees.

Public officers, appointees, and employees shall use only official government-provided email accounts to conduct public business. However, if a public officer, appointee, or employee inadvertently uses a nongovernment email account to conduct public business, then the email and email address shall be forwarded to the appropriate official for retention as designated by the public body.