Here at CNHT we’ve often referred to RSA 91-A “right to know” law as the “sharpest tool in the box”.
And it’s undergoing some scrutiny and possible changes.
In 2014, the New Hampshire Legislature is considering seven bills making changes to the state’s Right to Know Law or access to public information.
One of them has cleared the House, three are pending and the other three have already been killed.
Here’s a summary of each and where they stand in the political process. The named legislator is the sponsor of this bill although committee action may have changed it somewhat.
HB 1156: State Rep. Kyle Tasker, R-Nottingham. Right-to-Know Oversight Commission: This creates an 11-person panel to review changes to the law and make recommendations to the Legislature in the future. It also adds “clarifying’’ exemptions to the Right-to-Know Law that include meeting secretly to review written advice from a public body’s lawyer and all student actions including disciplinary matters. Status: Pending in House; House Judiciary Committee recommends approval.
HB 1591: Rep. Kenneth Weyler, R-Kingston. Agenda Notice: This would expand to 72 hours from 24 hours presently the time an agenda must be posted publicly prior to a meeting. Status: Pending in House; House Judiciary recommends approval.
HB 685: Rep. Peter Leishman, D-Peterborough. Agency Disputes with Auditors. This would make the Legislative Fiscal Committee the final arbiter over whether an agency has the right to refuse to let legislative auditors look at what it considers to be private information. Current law gives the attorney general’s office this appellate authority. Status: House passed; pending in the State Senate.
HB 1379: House Deputy Majority Whip Jeff Goley, D-Manchester. Gun Permit Records. This would render confidential all personal records filed with the state or cities and towns regarding applications for gun permits. Status: Pending in House; House Judiciary Committee recommends the bill be killed.
HB 1470: Rep. Peter Sullivan, D-Manchester. Making Quorums Easier: This would allow a a governmental body to operate by having one or more of its members take part in the session electronically if those members had to travel 60 miles to attend the meeting. Status: House killed this bill.
HB 1450: Rep. Peter Sullivan, D-Manchester. Adding Quasi-public Contracts: This would make subject to public record any contracts communities have with private companies that seek to become part of a business improvement district. Status: House killed the bill.
HB 1153: Rep. Daniel McGuire, R-Epsom. Deposits to Get Records: This requires someone to pay a deposit before any public records are copied for the applicant. Status: House killed this bill.
Read more… A Sunshine Week bill that should pass