SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2014 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 787 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; application to the State Corporation Commission, exemptions.

Introduced by: James M. LeMunyon | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Freedom of Information Act; application to the State Corporation Commission; exemptions; proceedings for enforcement. Provides that the State Corporation Commission (Commission) is a public body for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but exempts records of the Commission to the extent such records relate to activities of the Commission other than administrative activities. The bill provides, however, that disclosure of records related to the Commission's administrative activities shall not be required if (i) such records are otherwise covered by applicable legal privileges; (ii) disclosure of such records could threaten the safety or security of the Commission's employees, physical plant, or information technology assets or data; or (iii) such records are not publicly available from other public bodies under the laws of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides that records held by the clerk of the Commission related to business entities shall be held confidential in accordance with laws and regulations applicable specifically to such records. The bill defines "administrative activities" as matters related to the Commission's operational responsibilities and operational functions, including its revenues, expenditures, financial management and budgetary practices, personnel policies and practices, and procurement policies and practices. "Administrative activities" does not include the Commission's formal or informal regulatory or legal proceedings or activities, records related to which shall be governed, inter alia, by laws and regulations applicable specifically to such regulatory and legal proceedings or activities or in accordance with applicable legal privileges. The bill also grants the Commission certain exemptions from the open meeting provisions of FOIA. Finally, the bill designates the venue for FOIA petitions against the Commission. The bill reverses a case holding that FOIA is not applicable to the Commission (Christian v. State Corporation Commission, November 2011).


FULL TEXT

HISTORY