Posts Tagged ‘rti amendments’
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24 June 2014
Two US Senators Propose Bill to Strengthen FOIA
This article was posted on the website of the National Security Archive, FreedomInfo.org’s parent organization. Congress may actually take action this year to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, according to the National Security Archive’s posting June 24 of the new bipartisan bill by leading U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Cornyn (R-TX). The […]
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6 June 2014
California Voters Reinstate Local Records Law Coverage
California voters June 3 approved a ballot measure requiring local governments to comply with the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Proposition 42 received 61.5 percent for, 38.5 percent against. The measure also mandates that local governments pay the cost of complying with the records and meetings law, an expense the state previously was required to pay, according […]
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16 May 2014
Report Backs RTI Exemption for India’s National Banks
The “fragile” condition of India’s public sector banks requires urgent action, according to a new report, including an exemption from the right to information act. The 90-page report by a high-level committee includes numerous recommendations, such as lowering of the government’s holding in the several dozen banks to below 50 percent. The banks face a […]
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18 April 2014
Amendments Approved to Ukrainian Access Law
Amendments to the law in the Ukraine makes a variety of improvements related to access to information, according to a summary by the Media Law Institute on April 18. The Parliament of Ukraine on March 27 passed the draft law No 0947 and the president signed it April 17. “In terms of enhancing right to […]
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14 April 2014
Irish Groups Protest Plan to Impose Various FOI Fees
Plans to increase fees for freedom of information requests in Ireland have drawn objections from civic groups. Arguments against the proposed increased, part of a larger FOI amendment package, were voiced in a letter signed by about 30 groups that are part of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) civil society forum. It was sent to […]
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26 March 2014
Slovenia Assembly Approves Amendments to FOI Act
The Slovenian National Assembly on March 24 approved broadening the application of the Access to Public Information Act to cover private bodies performing public functions. The National Assembly’s action was the second vote for the reforms, required to override a vote against the changes by upper chamber. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) The Assembly vote was unanimous, […]
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26 March 2014
Connecticut Lawmakers Scale Back Right-to-Know Curbs
By Ed Jacovino Jacovino is a reporter with the Journal Inquirer, of Connecticut, where this article first appeared on March 25, 2014. Reprinted with permission. HARTFORD — A legislative committee on Monday balked at a measure that would have kept from the public certain crime scene photos and 911 calls, stripping several right-to-know restrictions from […]
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17 March 2014
UK Committee Recommends FOI Coverage of Contracting
The Public Accounts Committee of the UK Parliament on March 14 issued a report documenting the growth of contracting out public services to private contractors and calling for such activities to be covered by the freedom of information law. Half of all public spending on goods and services goes to private providers of contracted-out services, […]
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14 March 2014
Slovenia Upper House Stalls FOI Amendments Legislation
Slovenia’s National Council has opposed an expansion of the freedom of information law recently approved by the lower house, but under the Slovenian system the bill may still become law. The upper house “veto” was passed by a narrow margin March 13. The National Assembly, however, has the power to vote again and approve the […]
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7 March 2014
Colombia President Signs Information Access Law
President Juan Manuel Santos March 6 signed a new access to information law in Colombia saying it will help fight corruption. It will come into effect in six months for national government agencies and in a year for local governments. The law in May of 2013 was approved by the constitutional court with a few […]
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6 March 2014
Slovenian Assembly Expands Reach of Access Law
The Slovenian National Assembly March 6 unanimously voted to extend freedom of information disclosure requirements to state- and municipality-owned firms, according to Slovenian Press Agency report. An amendment to make public all non-performing loans at state banks was defeated. Senior executives of state-owned companies lobbied strongly against the proposed changes to the Access to Public […]
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28 February 2014
US House Approves Bill to Improve FOIA Operations
The US House Feb. 25 voted 410-0 to pass a bill (H.R. 1211) intended to improve the operation of the Freedom of Information Act. No similar bill exists in the Senate, but the Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to hold a hearing on FOIA on March 11. FOIA advocates are hoping that a Senate bill […]
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29 January 2014
Sufficient Number of States Support Mexican FOI Reforms
Having achieved sufficient support from the Mexican states, amendments to the Mexican Constitution making changes to the freedom of information law are another step closer to implementation. Eighteen state Congresses have ratified the reforms. The next stage, which could take a year, is for the Senate to write the implementation rules which later much be […]
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27 January 2014
Task Force Recommends Crime Victim Privacy
A Connecticut state task force Jan. 24 issued a report supporting restrictions on public access to crime scene information. The 17-person panel was formed in the wake of the 2013 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The legislature subsequently passed a law that blocked release of crime scene photos and videos to the public. It […]
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17 January 2014
US House Passes Bill on Presidential Records
The US House of Representatives on Jan. 14 unanimously passed a bill to ensure the timely release of presidential records and require the retention of emails. Twenty-three organizations wrote a letter of support for the bill, which is similar to legislation passed in previous years and which still needs approval from the Senate. Among other […]
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30 December 2013
Protestors in Denmark Carry Torches Over New FOI Law
Amendments to the Danish freedom of information law will create more darkness, according to about 1,500 protestors who carried torches in a silent protest Dec. 19. The rally outside Christiansborg Dec. 29 came in advance of the Jan. 1 effective date of the amended law, according to a Copenhagen Post account. The main concern is that […]
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30 December 2013
Paraguayan Senate Passes Access Law Amendments
The Paraguayan Senate has approved amendments to the law on access to public information and government transparency. The bill would establish new exemptions to the law, according to a Dec. 19 report (in Spanish) in Ultimahora.com. Confidentiality would be granted to information on public security or national defense, information that might prejudice international relations or […]
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18 December 2013
Indian Panel Advances Bill to Exempt Political Parties
A committee of the Indian Parliament Dec. 17 recommended that political parties be exempted from the Right to Information Act. One member dissented as the six major political parties followed through on their plans to overturn the June ruling of the Central Information Commission (CIC) that political parties are covered by the RTI act as “public […]
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5 December 2013
Swedish Parliament Passes Amendments to Access Law
By Staffan Dahllöf This article appeared first in Wobbing EU on Nov. 21. The Swedish parliament Riksdagen that in 1766 saw the birth of the first law on freedom of information ever, has adopted a new limitation of access to documents. Documents may be withheld in order not to ”deteriorate” Swedish interests in international relations. […]
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2 December 2013
Peru’s New Cybercrime Law Undermines Transparency Legislation
By Milagros Salazar This article was first published by Inter Press Service (Spanish version). LIMA, Nov 27 2013 (IPS) – A new law against cybercrime that restricts the use of data and freedom of information in Peru clashes with earlier legislation, on transparency, which represented a major stride forward in citizen rights. The advances made […]