Lawmakers propose more than 50 exceptions to state transparency laws
TALLAHASSEE — Amid a lawsuit alleging state leaders violated the Sunshine Law in firing Florida's top law enforcement officer, lawmakers in the Capitol are considering more than 50 proposals to limit Floridians' access to public records.
Bills filed for the session that began this month could make it harder for members of the public to obtain email addresses from government agencies, surveillance video from public buildings and records from presidential searches at state universities.
Senators and representatives who sponsor bills limiting access to records say they're trying to protect public privacy, but open government advocates argue that the changes will make it harder for journalists and other watchdog groups to do their jobs.
"We've seen . . . no more than three bills passed that enhance public access in 24 years," said Barbara Petersen, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for greater transparency in government.
Petersen said there are now more than 1,100 exceptions to Florida public records and open meetings laws, widely considered some of the most permissive in the country. And last year was a record-breaking year for protecting government agencies from public requests.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/lawmakers-propose-more-than-50-exceptions-to-state-transparency-laws/2221476
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Secrecy thy name is government!
