Local Government Response to Public Record Requests: Ensuring Compliance With FOIA and State Public Record Laws
Navigating Impact of Evolving Technology on Public Record Requests, Balancing Transparency Against Privacy in Response Protocols
Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
- work Practice Area
Government
- event Date
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
- schedule Time
1:00 PM E.T.
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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This CLE course will provide guidance to municipal attorneys on developing and administering effective policies and procedures regarding public record requests. The panel will discuss the latest developments in federal, state and local laws addressing public access to government records, the impact of new and evolving technology in this area, and best practices for balancing government transparency against privacy concerns when designing response protocols.
When municipalities receive requests from citizens or entities to review and copy public documents they created or have custody of, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and comparable state laws mandate specific actions or responses. Failure to respond to requests for access to public records is unlawful.
Evolving technology and a corresponding surge in the volume of requests over the past decade has municipalities grappling with how to stay in compliance with the law in this area.
To minimize compliance missteps, local governments must develop and maintain policies and procedures outlining how to respond to public record requests for council meeting minutes, local ordinances, budgets, policies, audits and similar documents. The policies should clearly define what constitutes a “public record” subject to disclosure, the types of information exempt from disclosure, and a “reasonable amount of time” to respond to public record requests.
In creating and implementing such policies, municipal attorneys must balance the public interest in government transparency and openness against legitimate privacy and other confidentiality concerns.
Listen as our authoritative panel of municipal attorneys discusses their perspectives and recommended best practices for responding to public record requests without violating FOIA or related state laws.
- Impact of evolving technology on public records requests—email, social media, etc.
- Developing and maintaining policies and procedures—best practices
- Balancing transparency vs. privacy
- Dealing with requests involving government trade secrets or confidential information
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- How has the growing use of technology impacted requests for access to public records?
- What are the components of an effective municipal policy for responding to requests for public records?
- How have municipalities balanced the public right to transparency against privacy concerns in implementing procedures for responding to public record requests?
