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2009-10 Legislative Watch
Special thanks to Tom Clyde, of Dow Lohnes PLLC and David Hudson, of Hull, Towill, Norman, Barrett & Salley, P.C., and all the public interest organizations that have an interest in open government, for their help in compiling this legislative watch.
| Bill No. |
Intent |
O.C.G.A. Title and Article to be affected |
Comment |
Analysis |
| H.B. 39 |
|
O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(1) |
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Changes language of existing statute from exempting from disclosure docments which are required by "the federal government to be kept confidential" to those required "by federal statute or regulation to be kept confidential." |
| H.B. 124 |
Would make readaction of social security numbers mandatory, and remove the news media exception for access to social security numbers |
O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(11.1)(11.3A) |
Would decrease access. |
Would eliminate ability to do investigative reporting such as analysis of school bus drivers with DUI histories |
| H.B. 171 |
Would require the redaction of every individual's "name, home address, home telephone number, personal email" on any documents submitted to local government |
O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 |
Would decrease access. |
An overly broad, cumbersome, and detrimental amendment to the Open Records Act |
| S.B. 26 |
Would add firefighters to the list of public employees for whom records must be redacted that would reveal a home address or telephone number, social security number, or medical information |
O.C.G.A.
50-18-72(a)(13) |
Would decrease access. |
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| S.B. 79 |
Would limit access to the records of child abuse |
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Would decrease access. |
Closing access to identifying information where there has been a child fatality or a near fatality places hurdles to any type of public oversight of the work of a child protective agency in regard to a child that is killed or has been certified by a physician to have suffered a "near fatality." |
| S.B. 143 |
Would modify access provisions in open meetings law pertaining to future acquisition of real estate. |
O.C.G.A. 50-14-3(4) |
Would decrease access. |
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| S.B. 207 |
Changes to public access to juvenile hearings and records |
O.C.G.A. 15-11-78 |
Would increase access to juvenile court hearings, but continues to restrict access to juvenile records. |
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