SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 818 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; designation of officer, posting of rights and responsibilities.

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

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); designation of FOIA officer; posting of FOIA rights and responsibilities. Requires certain local public bodies to post a FOIA rights and responsibilities document on their respective public government website. The bill also requires all state public bodies, including state authorities, and all local public bodies that are subject to FOIA to designate and publicly identify one or more FOIA officers whose responsibility is to serve as a point of contact for members of the public in requesting public records and to coordinate the public body's compliance with the provisions of FOIA. The bill sets out where contact information for the designated FOIA officer is to be posted. The bill requires that any such FOIA officer shall possess specific knowledge of the provisions of FOIA and be trained at least annually by legal counsel for the public body or the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); designation of FOIA officer; posting of FOIA rights and responsibilities. Requires certain local public bodies to post a FOIA rights and responsibilities document on their respective public government website. The bill also requires all state public bodies created in the executive branch of state government, including state authorities, and all local public bodies that are subject to FOIA to designate and publicly identify one or more FOIA officers whose responsibility is to serve as a point of contact for members of the public in requesting public records and to coordinate the public body's compliance with the provisions of FOIA. The bill sets out where contact information for the designated FOIA officer is to be posted. The bill requires that any such FOIA officer shall possess specific knowledge of the provisions of FOIA and be trained at least annually by legal counsel for the public body or the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); designation of FOIA officer; posting of FOIA rights and responsibilities. Requires certain local public bodies to post a FOIA rights and responsibilities document on their respective public government website. The bill also requires all state public bodies created in the executive branch of state government, including state authorities, and all local public bodies that are subject to FOIA to designate and publicly identify one or more FOIA officers whose responsibility is to serve as a point of contact for members of the public in requesting public records and to oversee the public body's compliance with the provisions of FOIA. The bill sets out where contact information for the designated FOIA officer is to be posted. The bill requires that any such FOIA officer shall possess specific knowledge of the provisions of FOIA  and be trained at least annually by legal counsel for the public body or the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.