Massachusetts Public Records Law is a law in Massachusetts detailing what kinds of documents are actually public records.[1] It is a state law that is similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act, which was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.[2] According to the Boston Globe newspaper in 2016, "Massachusetts is currently the one state in the country where the Legislature, judiciary, and governor’s office all claim to be completely exempt from the [public records] law."[3] Many voters would welcome more government transparency. For example, in 2020, a "ballot question in 16 house districts found overwhelming support for increasing transparency."[4] Interest groups focusing on the issue include Act on Mass and the New England First Amendment Coalition.[4]
Requirements
The government and other agencies are required under the Public Records Act to disclose records and documents upon request. There are exemptions to Public Records Act that the government can use to keep certain records private. The Massachusetts Public Records Law parallels FOIA. All records including photographs, memos, books, papers, maps, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data are considered public information in Massachusetts, unless they are withheld from public view under one of the sixteen exemptions.[5][6]
See also
References
- ↑ "Public Records", Massachusetts General Laws, Massachusetts General Court, retrieved August 12, 2020
- ↑ "A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law" (PDF).
- ↑ "How will new records law make Mass. more transparent?". Boston Globe. June 3, 2016.
- 1 2 Emma Platoff (July 4, 2021), "Months later, Beacon Hill has no agreement on contested transparency rules", Boston Globe
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC § 552". Archived from the original on May 16, 2008.
Further reading
- "Public records reform push gains momentum", Boston Globe, July 16, 2015 (about "bill updating and giving teeth to the Massachusetts’ public records law, described as one of the weakest in the country")
- Todd Wallack (July 18, 2015), "Often a national leader, Massachusetts ranks near the bottom in government transparency", Boston Globe. ("Agencies are charging exorbitant fees for records, effectively denying access by making it unaffordable")
- Todd Wallack (December 26, 2015), "Most localities in state fail test on records law", Boston Globe
- Todd Wallack (December 28, 2015), "Baker surprised by cities, towns failing public records law", Boston Globe
- "Legislature poised to pass public records legislation", Boston Globe, May 23, 2016
- "Mass. lawmakers give public records overhaul unanimous approval", Boston Globe, May 25, 2016
- "Beacon Hill whiffs on public records law reform". Boston Globe. January 11, 2019.
- "More sunshine, not less, needed with Massachusetts public records", Boston Globe, February 1, 2020, archived from the original on February 1, 2020
- "Should the Massachusetts Legislature be subject to the state's public records law?", Boston Globe, June 25, 2020
External links
- Massachusetts Public Records Act on Sunshine Review
- Open Government Guide to Massachusetts
- "Massachusetts", Open Government Guide, Washington, DC: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- "Massachusetts", State Copyright Resource Center, Harvard University,
Laws and legal sources that affect the copyright status of government documents
- Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association. "Media Law Resources". Masspublishers.org.