HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4330        FILED ON: 3/28/2012

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Charles A. Murphy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
 Court assembled:

 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Update the Public Records Law.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Charles A. Murphy

21st Middlesex

3/28/2012

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

3/29/2012


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4330        FILED ON: 3/28/2012

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By Mr. Murphy of Burlington, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Charles A. Murphy and Geoff Diehl for legislation to establish a special commission to review and make recommendations relative to updating public records laws.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Twelve

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An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Update the Public Records Law.

 

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 There shall be a special commission to review and make recommendations to update the public

 records law. The commission shall consist of the governor or a designee; the secretary of state

 or a designee; the attorney general or a designee; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall

 be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority

 leader; and 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the

 speaker of the house and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house. The

 commission shall review the definition of public records in section 7 of chapter 4 of the General

 Laws and chapter 66 of the General Laws to determine what amendments need to be made to

 increase transparency in state government; provided, that the commission shall: (i) recommend

 that the public records exemption for the general court in section 18 of said chapter 66 be

 removed; (ii) clarify that the executive and judicial branches are subject to the public records

 law; and (iii) recommend reasonable fees for the duplication of records by the public.

 The commission shall hold a minimum of 3 public hearings and shall invite testimony from

 experts and the public.

 The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and

 study and its recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out

 such recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of

 representatives who shall forward the same to the chairs of the senate and house committees on

 post audit and oversight on or before September 1, 2012.