By Fran Silverman Consumer complaints filed against businesses can provide valuable information for both journalists and customers on how a company operates and treats its patrons. But not all New England states make this information filed with state consumer protection agencies readily available, according to a recently released report by Connecticut-based ad watchdog truthinadvertising.org, or TINA.org. […]
The following blog post is one of seven that the New England First Amendment Coalition will publish during Sunshine Week, highlighting the need for government transparency and addressing freedom of information concerns throughout the New England states. When posted, these articles can be read here. By Steven Brown Rhode Island got around to passing an Access […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition and four other local organizations dedicated to open government have raised concerns that rules proposed by the Rhode Island Judiciary to implement a new electronic filing system for court documents could lead to increased secrecy and limited access to […]
This is the second of two articles addressing a recent audit of Rhode Island’s Access to Public Records Act. The first article can be read here. By Linda Lotridge Levin An audit of the 2012 amendments to Rhode Island’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) shows that a number of state agencies and municipal departments, […]
This is the first of two articles addressing a recent audit of Rhode Island’s Access to Public Records Act. The second article can be read here. By Linda Lotridge Levin A recent audit of open government practices in Rhode Island has found that six municipalities and 10 out of 24 surveyed state and quasi-public agencies are […]
What fees are associated with requesting public documents? The fee per page shall not exceed 15 cents per page for documents that can be copied on standard business or legal size paper. The hourly costs for the search and retrieval of documents shall not cost more than $15 per hour. No costs are incurred for […]
Rhode Island’s Open Meetings Law (Title 42 chapter 46) delineates which meetings can be closed to the public, the type and timing of public notices required to announce government meetings, and the recourse available to citizens if they feel they were denied the opportunity to attend a public meeting. The law was enacted in 1976. The […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org With the option to hold virtual public meetings set to expire statewide on March 2025, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight today advanced a bill (H.4771) that would update the Open Meeting Law to require hybrid meetings, guaranteeing members of the public the ability […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will honor Connecticut resident Daniel Dunn with its 2024 Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award. The award is given to an individual from New England who has fought for information essential to the public’s understanding of what its government is doing […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will recognize Maine Trust for Local News later this month with its annual Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award. Maine Trust for Local News — which includes publications such as the Sun Journal, Portland Press Herald and Kennebec Journal […]