Sec. 1-200. (Formerly Sec. 1-18a). Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, except where such terms
are used in a context which clearly indicates the contrary: Sec. 1-201. (Formerly Sec. 1-19c). Division of Criminal Justice deemed not to
be public agency, when. For the purposes of subdivision (1) of section 1-200, the
Division of Criminal Justice shall not be deemed to be a public agency except in respect
to its administrative functions. Sec. 1-202. (Formerly Sec. 1-20e). Application of freedom of information provisions to agency committee composed entirely of individuals who are not members
of the agency. Any public agency may petition the Freedom of Information Commission
before establishing a committee of the public agency which is to be composed entirely
of individuals who are not members of the agency, to determine whether such committee
may be exempted from the application of any provision of the Freedom of Information
Act. If the commission, in its judgment, finds by reliable, probative and substantial
evidence that the public interest in exempting the committee from the application of
any such provision clearly outweighs the public interest in applying the provision to the
committee, the commission shall issue an order, on appropriate terms, exempting the
committee from the application of the provision. Secs. 1-203 and 1-204. Reserved for future use. Sec. 1-205. (Formerly Sec. 1-21j). Freedom of Information Commission. (a)
There shall be a Freedom of Information Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of either house of the General
Assembly, who shall serve for terms of four years from the July first of the year of their
appointment, except that of the members appointed prior to and serving on July 1, 1977,
one shall serve for a period of six years from July 1, 1975, one shall serve for a period
of four years from July 1, 1975, and one shall serve for a period of six years from July
1, 1977. Of the two new members first appointed after July 1, 1977, one shall serve
from the date of such appointment until June 30, 1980, and one shall serve from the
date of such appointment until June 30, 1982. No more than three members shall be
members of the same political party. Sec. 1-206. (Formerly Sec. 1-21i). Denial of access to public records or meetings. Appeals. Notice. Orders. Civil penalty. Service of process upon commission.
Frivolous appeals. (a) Any denial of the right to inspect or copy records provided for
under section 1-210 shall be made to the person requesting such right by the public
agency official who has custody or control of the public record, in writing, within four
business days of such request, except when the request is determined to be subject to
subsections (b) and (c) of section 1-214, in which case such denial shall be made, in
writing, within ten business days of such request. Failure to comply with a request to
so inspect or copy such public record within the applicable number of business days
shall be deemed to be a denial. Secs. 1-207 to 1-209. Reserved for future use. Sec. 1-210. (Formerly Sec. 1-19). Access to public records. Exempt records. (a)
Except as otherwise provided by any federal law or state statute, all records maintained or
kept on file by any public agency, whether or not such records are required by any law
or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right
to inspect such records promptly during regular office or business hours or to receive
a copy of such records in accordance with the provisions of section 1-212. Any agency
rule or regulation, or part thereof, that conflicts with the provisions of this subsection
or diminishes or curtails in any way the rights granted by this subsection shall be void.
Each such agency shall keep and maintain all public records in its custody at its regular
office or place of business in an accessible place and, if there is no such office or place
of business, the public records pertaining to such agency shall be kept in the office of
the clerk of the political subdivision in which such public agency is located or of the
Secretary of the State, as the case may be. Any certified record hereunder attested as a
true copy by the clerk, chief or deputy of such agency or by such other person designated
or empowered by law to so act, shall be competent evidence in any court of this state
of the facts contained therein. Each such agency shall make, keep and maintain a record
of the proceedings of its meetings. Sec. 1-211. (Formerly Sec. 1-19a). Disclosure of computer-stored public records. Contracts. Acquisition of system, equipment, software to store or retrieve
nonexempt public records. (a) Any public agency which maintains public records in
a computer storage system shall provide, to any person making a request pursuant to
the Freedom of Information Act, a copy of any nonexempt data contained in such records,
properly identified, on paper, disk, tape or any other electronic storage device or medium
requested by the person, if the agency can reasonably make such copy or have such
copy made. Except as otherwise provided by state statute, the cost for providing a copy
of such data shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 1-212. Sec. 1-212. (Formerly Sec. 1-15). Copies of public records, fees. (a) Any person
applying in writing shall receive, promptly upon request, a plain or certified copy of
any public record. The fee for any copy provided in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act: Sec. 1-213. (Formerly Sec. 1-19b). Agency administration. Disclosure of personnel, birth and tax records. Judicial records and proceedings. (a) The Freedom
of Information Act shall be: Sec. 1-214. (Formerly Sec. 1-20a). Public employment contracts as public record. Objection to disclosure of personnel or medical files. (a) Any contract of employment to which the state or a political subdivision of the state is a party shall be
deemed to be a public record for the purposes of section 1-210. Sec. 1-215. (Formerly Sec. 1-20b). Record of an arrest as public record. Exception. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, and except
as otherwise provided in this section, any record of the arrest of any person, other than
a juvenile, except a record erased pursuant to chapter 961a, shall be a public record from
the time of such arrest and shall be disclosed in accordance with the provisions of section
1-212 and subsection (a) of section 1-210, except that disclosure of data or information
other than that set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be subject
to the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 1-210. Any personal
possessions or effects found on a person at the time of such person's arrest shall not be
disclosed unless such possessions or effects are relevant to the crime for which such
person was arrested. Sec. 1-216. (Formerly Sec. 1-20c). Review and destruction of records consisting of uncorroborated allegations of criminal activity. Except for records the
retention of which is otherwise controlled by law or regulation, records of law enforcement agencies consisting of uncorroborated allegations that an individual has engaged
in criminal activity shall be reviewed by the law enforcement agency one year after
the creation of such records. If the existence of the alleged criminal activity cannot be
corroborated within ninety days of the commencement of such review, the law enforcement agency shall destroy such records. Sec. 1-217. (Formerly Sec. 1-20f). Nondisclosure of residential addresses of
certain individuals. (a) No public agency may disclose, under the Freedom of Information Act, the residential address of any of the following persons: Secs. 1-218 to 1-224. Reserved for future use. Sec. 1-225. (Formerly Sec. 1-21). Meetings of government agencies to be public. Recording of votes. Schedule and agenda of meetings to be filed. Notice of special
meetings. Executive sessions. (a) The meetings of all public agencies, except executive
sessions, as defined in subdivision (6) of section 1-200, shall be open to the public. The
votes of each member of any such public agency upon any issue before such public
agency shall be reduced to writing and made available for public inspection within forty-
eight hours and shall also be recorded in the minutes of the session at which taken, which
minutes shall be available for public inspection within seven days of the session to which
they refer. Sec. 1-226. (Formerly Sec. 1-21a). Recording, broadcasting or photographing
meetings. (a) At any meeting of a public agency which is open to the public, pursuant
to the provisions of section 1-225, proceedings of such public agency may be recorded,
photographed, broadcast or recorded for broadcast, subject to such rules as such public
agency may have prescribed prior to such meeting, by any person or by any newspaper,
radio broadcasting company or television broadcasting company. Any recording, radio,
television or photographic equipment may be so located within the meeting room as to
permit the recording, broadcasting either by radio, or by television, or by both, or the
photographing of the proceedings of such public agency. The photographer or broadcaster and its personnel, or the person recording the proceedings, shall be required to
handle the photographing, broadcast or recording as inconspicuously as possible and
in such manner as not to disturb the proceedings of the public agency. As used herein
the term television shall include the transmission of visual and audible signals by cable. Sec. 1-227. (Formerly Sec. 1-21c). Mailing of notice of meetings to persons
filing written request. Fees. The public agency shall, where practicable, give notice
by mail of each regular meeting, and of any special meeting which is called, at least one
week prior to the date set for the meeting, to any person who has filed a written request
for such notice with such body, except that such body may give such notice as it deems
practical of special meetings called less than seven days prior to the date set for the
meeting. Such notice requirement shall not apply to the General Assembly, either house
thereof or to any committee thereof. Any request for notice filed pursuant to this section
shall be valid for one year from the date on which it is filed unless a renewal request is
filed. Renewal requests for notice shall be filed within thirty days after January first of
each year. Such public agency may establish a reasonable charge for sending such notice
based on the estimated cost of providing such service. Sec. 1-228. (Formerly Sec. 1-21d). Adjournment of meetings. Notice. The public agency may adjourn any regular or special meeting to a time and place specified in
the order of adjournment. Less than a quorum may so adjourn from time to time. If all
members are absent from any regular meeting the clerk or the secretary of such body
may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place and shall cause a written
notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided in section 1-225,
for special meetings, unless such notice is waived as provided for special meetings. A
copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be conspicuously posted on or near the
door of the place where the regular or special meeting was held, within twenty-four
hours after the time of the adjournment. When an order of adjournment of any meeting
fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall be held at
the hour specified for regular meetings, by ordinance, resolution, by law or other rule. Sec. 1-229. (Formerly Sec. 1-21e). Continued hearings. Notice. Any hearing
being held, or noticed or ordered to be held, by the public agency at any meeting may
by order or notice of continuance be continued or recontinued to any subsequent meeting
of such agency in the same manner and to the same extent set forth in section 1-228,
for the adjournment of meeting, provided, that if the hearing is continued to a time less
than twenty-four hours after the time specified in the order or notice of hearing, a copy
of the order or notice of continuance of hearing shall be posted on or near the door of
the place where the hearing was held immediately following the meeting at which the
order or declaration of continuance was adopted or made. Sec. 1-230. (Formerly Sec. 1-21f). Regular meetings to be held pursuant to
regulation, ordinance or resolution. The public agency shall provide by regulation,
in the case of a state agency, or by ordinance or resolution in the case of an agency of
a political subdivision, the place for holding its regular meetings. If at any time any
regular meeting falls on a holiday, such regular meeting shall be held on the next business
day. If it shall be unsafe to meet in the place designated, the meetings may be held at
such place as is designated by the presiding officer of the public agency; provided a
copy of the minutes of any such meeting adequately setting forth the nature of the
emergency and the proceedings occurring at such meeting shall be filed with the Secretary of the State or the clerk of the political subdivision, as the case may be, not later
than seventy-two hours following the holding of such meeting. Sec. 1-231. (Formerly Sec. 1-21g). Executive sessions. (a) At an executive session of a public agency, attendance shall be limited to members of said body and persons
invited by said body to present testimony or opinion pertinent to matters before said
body provided that such persons' attendance shall be limited to the period for which
their presence is necessary to present such testimony or opinion and, provided further,
that the minutes of such executive session shall disclose all persons who are in attendance
except job applicants who attend for the purpose of being interviewed by such agency. Sec. 1-232. (Formerly Sec. 1-21h). Conduct of meetings. In the event that any
meeting of a public agency is interrupted by any person or group of persons so as to
render the orderly conduct of such meeting unfeasible and order cannot be restored by
the removal of individuals who are wilfully interrupting the meetings, the members of
the agency conducting the meeting may order the meeting room cleared and continue
in session. Only matters appearing on the agenda may be considered in such a session.
Duly accredited representatives of the press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to attend any session held pursuant to this section.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit such public agency from establishing a procedure
for readmitting an individual or individuals not responsible for wilfully disturbing the
meeting. Secs. 1-233 to 1-239. Reserved for future use. Sec. 1-240. (Formerly Sec. 1-21k). Penalties. (a) Any person who wilfully, knowingly and with intent to do so, destroys, mutilates or otherwise disposes of any public
record without the approval required under section 1-18 or unless pursuant to chapter
47 or 871, or who alters any public record, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor
and each such occurrence shall constitute a separate offense. Sec. 1-241. (Formerly Sec. 1-21l). Injunctive relief from frivolous, unreasonable or harassing freedom of information appeals. A public agency, as defined in
subdivision (1) of section 1-200, may bring an action to the Superior Court against any
person who was denied leave by the Freedom of Information Commission to have his
appeal heard by the commission under subsection (b) of section 1-206 because the
commission determined and found that such appeal or the underlying request would
perpetrate an injustice or would constitute an abuse of the commission's administrative
process. The action authorized under this section shall be limited to an injunction prohibiting such person from bringing any further appeal to the commission which would
perpetrate an injustice or would constitute an abuse of the commission's administrative
process. If, after such an injunction is ordered, the person subject to the injunction brings
a further appeal to the Freedom of Information Commission and the commission determines that such appeal would perpetrate an injustice or would constitute an abuse of
the commission's administrative process, such person shall be conclusively deemed to
have violated the injunction and such agency may seek further injunctive and equitable
relief, damages, attorney's fees and costs, as the court may order. Secs. 1-242 to 1-259. Reserved for future use.
(1) "Public agency" or "agency" means any executive, administrative or legislative
office of the state or any political subdivision of the state and any state or town agency,
any department, institution, bureau, board, commission, authority or official of the state
or of any city, town, borough, municipal corporation, school district, regional district
or other district or other political subdivision of the state, including any committee of,
or created by, any such office, subdivision, agency, department, institution, bureau,
board, commission, authority or official, and also includes any judicial office, official,
or body or committee thereof but only in respect to its or their administrative functions.
"Public agency" includes an "implementing agency" as defined in section 32-222.
(2) "Meeting" means any hearing or other proceeding of a public agency, any convening or assembly of a quorum of a multimember public agency, and any communication by or to a quorum of a multimember public agency, whether in person or by means
of electronic equipment, to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public agency
has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power. "Meeting" shall not include:
Any meeting of a personnel search committee for executive level employment candidates; any chance meeting, or a social meeting neither planned nor intended for the
purpose of discussing matters relating to official business; strategy or negotiations with
respect to collective bargaining; a caucus of members of a single political party notwithstanding that such members also constitute a quorum of a public agency; an administrative or staff meeting of a single-member public agency; and communication limited to
notice of meetings of any public agency or the agendas thereof. A quorum of the members
of a public agency who are present at any event which has been noticed and conducted
as a meeting of another public agency under the provisions of the Freedom of Information
Act shall not be deemed to be holding a meeting of the public agency of which they are
members as a result of their presence at such event.
(3) "Caucus" means a convening or assembly of the enrolled members of a single
political party who are members of a public agency within the state or a political subdivision.
(4) "Person" means natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or society.
(5) "Public records or files" means any recorded data or information relating to the
conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, received or retained by a public
agency, whether such data or information be handwritten, typed, tape-recorded, printed,
photostated, photographed or recorded by any other method.
(6) "Executive sessions" means a meeting of a public agency at which the public
is excluded for one or more of the following purposes: (A) Discussion concerning the
appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee, provided that such individual may require that discussion be held at
an open meeting; (B) strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims or pending
litigation to which the public agency or a member thereof, because of his conduct as a
member of such agency, is a party until such litigation or claim has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled; (C) matters concerning security strategy or the deployment
of security personnel, or devices affecting public security; (D) discussion of the selection
of a site or the lease, sale or purchase of real estate by a political subdivision of the state
when publicity regarding such site, lease, sale, purchase or construction would cause a
likelihood of increased price until such time as all of the property has been acquired or
all proceedings or transactions concerning same have been terminated or abandoned;
and (E) discussion of any matter which would result in the disclosure of public records
or the information contained therein described in subsection (b) of section 1-210.
(7) "Personnel search committee" means a body appointed by a public agency,
whose sole purpose is to recommend to the appointing agency a candidate or candidates
for an executive-level employment position. Members of a "personnel search committee" shall not be considered in determining whether there is a quorum of the appointing
or any other public agency.
(8) "Pending claim" means a written notice to an agency which sets forth a demand
for legal relief or which asserts a legal right stating the intention to institute an action
in an appropriate forum if such relief or right is not granted.
(9) "Pending litigation" means (A) a written notice to an agency which sets forth
a demand for legal relief or which asserts a legal right stating the intention to institute
an action before a court if such relief or right is not granted by the agency; (B) the
service of a complaint against an agency returnable to a court which seeks to enforce
or implement legal relief or a legal right; or (C) the agency's consideration of action to
enforce or implement legal relief or a legal right.
(10) "Freedom of Information Act" means this chapter.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 1; P.A. 77-421; 77-609, S. 1, 8; P.A. 83-67, S. 1; 83-372; P.A. 84-546, S. 3, 173; P.A. 87-568, S. 1,
2; P.A. 90-307, S. 2, 5; P.A. 91-140, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-195, S. 1; P.A. 95-79, S. 2, 189; P.A. 97-47, S. 1; P.A. 00-136, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 77-421 deleted reference to court of common pleas, probate court and juvenile court in Subsec. (a); P.A.
77-609 redefined "meeting" and "executive sessions"; P.A. 83-67 amended Subsec. (a) by including any state, municipal
or district authority within the meaning of "agency" or "public agency"; P.A. 83-372 included within the definition of
"agency" or "public agency" any committee formed by a body previously defined as an agency or public agency; P.A. 84-
546 included committees of authorities in definition of "public agency"; P.A. 87-568 excluded from definition of "meeting"
any "meeting of a personnel search committee for executive level employment candidates" and added Subsec. (f), defining
"personnel search committee"; P.A. 90-307 added Subsec. (g) re exception to meeting provisions; P.A. 91-140 inserted
new Subsecs. (g) and (h), defining "pending claim" and "pending litigation", and relettered former Subsec. (g) as Subsec.
(i); P.A. 93-195 inserted ", or created by," in definition of "public agency" or "agency" in Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-79 redefined
"person" to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 97-47 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators
with numbers, transferred quorum provisions (formerly Subdiv. (i)) to Subdiv. (2), defining "meeting", and added Subdiv.
(10) defining "Freedom of Information Act"; Sec. 1-18a transferred to Sec. 1-200 in 1999; P.A. 00-136 redefined "public
agency" in Subdiv. (1) to include implementing agencies, as defined in Sec. 32-222.
Annotations to former section 1-18a:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 182 C. 142, 170, 171. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235,
245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623;
205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592;
212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210
C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
Id. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−
201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq.
cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218,
222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act
cited. Id., 482, 485. Cited. Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 227 C. 641, 653. Cited. Id., 848, 849. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279. Cited. 234
C. 704, 705. Cited. 240 C. 1.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210
C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539−541, 544; 20 CA 671,
674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA
821, 822, 824. Cited. 31 CA 690, 691. Cited. 35 CA 111, 113−119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited.
42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133. Cited. 51 CA 100.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 27, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270. Cited. 42 CS 84, 88, 90, 91. Freedom of
Information Act cited. Id. P.A. 91-140, Sec. 1 cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. 129, 138, 140. Cited. Id.,
291, 293−295. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.
Subsec. (a):
Woodstock Academy deemed a "public agency" within meaning of statute. 181 C. 544, 546, 549, 550, 553. Rules
committee of superior court does not perform "administrative functions" within meaning of the statute and is not subject
to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. 192 C. 234, 235, 238−241, 243, 246. Cited. 204 C. 609, 612. Exercise
of administrative functions and adjudication discussed. 209 C. 204, 205, 207−210. Cited. 212 C. 100, 102, 103. Connecticut
Humane Society not a public agency within meaning of section; applications of section discussed. 218 C. 757−760, 762,
763. "Committee" under section refers only to subunits composed entirely of public agency members. 219 C. 685−687,
690−692, 694, 697, 698. P.A. 83-372 cited. Id. Cited. 221 C. 217, 232. Cited. Id. 300, 305. Cited. 227 C. 848, 849. Cited.
240 C. 1. Cited. Id., 835.
Cited. 18 CA 291−294. Cited. 19 CA 352, 355. Cited. 36 CA 155, 157. Cited. 42 CA 519. Cited. Id., 700; judgment
reversed, see 240 C. 835 et seq. Cited. 43 CA 133. Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, Inc. not a public
agency within meaning of statute; "functional equivalent" test discussed. 47 CA 466. Gathering of four selectmen, chairman
of board of finance and town controller to discuss future meeting of board of selectmen not a meeting of the board of
selectmen since less than a quorum of board present at the gathering. 48 CA 529.
Cited. 39 CS 257, 258. Cited. 42 CS 84, 88; Id., 129, 130, 138, 140, 142; Id., 291, 295. Cited. 44 CS 230.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 201 C. 685, 693. Cited. 230 C. 441, 444, 445. Cited. 231 C. 922. Cited. 234 C. 704, 707, 710−713. Section must
be construed to contemplate a bifurcated grievance hearing; judgments of appellate court in Waterbury Teachers Assn. v.
Freedom of Information Commission, 42 CA 700 et seq. reversed. 240 C. 835.
Cited. 19 CA 352, 354−357. Cited. 35 CA 111, 114−116. Cited. 42 CA 402. Grievance hearings involve "negotiations
with respect to collective bargaining" pursuant to the statutory exception of the section. Id., 700; judgment reversed, see
240 C. 835 et seq. Grievance arbitration hearings before Board of Mediation and Arbitration are not public meetings within
the meaning of the section. 43 CA 133.
Gathering of Republican members of board of aldermen attended by persons other than Republicans was not a caucus
under this subsection but a public meeting subject to the notice and record requirements of sections 1-7 to 1-21k. 36 CS
117, 120, 121. When members of a public agency who are of the same political party gather for the limited purpose of
discussing and deciding the party's position on matters to come before the agency, that gathering is a caucus under this
subsection. Id. Cited. 39 CS 56, 59. Cited. 42 CS 84, 86−88.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 221 C. 217, 228. Cited. 222 C. 361, 366. Cited. 234 C. 624, 644.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 204 C. 609, 612. Cited. 208 C. 442, 446, 447, 453. Cited. 214 C. 312, 317. Cited. 216 C. 253, 266. Cited. 228
C. 158, 162, 166.
Cited. 4 CA 216, 219. Cited. 44 CA 622. Certain affidavits of town employees and officers prepared by the town
attorney's office to assist town attorney in defending the town against complaint not public records since prepared by town
attorney who is not town employee for his use and not for use of public agency. 48 CA 522.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 181 C. 324, 328. Cited. 182 C. 138, 139. Cited. 192 C. 183, 190. Subdiv. (1) cited. 182 C. 138, 140. Cited. 192
C. 183, 185, 187. Cited. 198 C. 498, 499. Subdiv. (5) cited. Id., 498, 500. Subdiv. (1) cited. 199 C 451, 452. Cited. 213 C.
216, 218. Subdiv. (1): Court interpreted "appointment" to include term "filling a vacancy" used in Sec. 10-219. Id., 216,
217, 219. Subdiv. (5) cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 157, 163. Cited. Id., 153, 156, 158. Subdiv. (2): Term "pending claim"
discussed. Id., 153, 156−163. Cited. 221 C. 217, 220−222, 235. Subdiv. (1) cited. 234 C. 704, 714. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
704, 713. Subdiv. (1) cited. 240 C. 835. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 602. Cited. 14 CA 380−382; judgment reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Cited. 19 CA 539, 541,
545. Subdivs. (1) and (5) cited. 20 CA 671, 674. Cited. 31 CA 690, 693. Cited. 42 CA 402.
Cited. 41 CS 267, 269. Subdiv. (1): "Filling a vacancy" as used in Sec. 10-219 constitutes "appointment" within meaning
of this section. Id., 267−270. Subdiv. (2) cited. 42 CS 84−86, 88−90. Cited. Id., 84, 87. Subdiv. (5) cited. Id., 84, 92.
Subsec. (h):
Any action, not restricted to legal action, to implement legal relief or enforce a legal right concerns "pending litigation".
243 C. 427.
Annotations to present section:
Subdiv. (2):
Grievance arbitration proceedings are not meetings within meaning of section. 244 C. 487.
Predisciplinary employee conference is not a "meeting". 48 CA 424.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 84-406, S. 12, 13; P.A. 00-66, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 84-406 effective November 28, 1984, upon certification by secretary of the state of vote on constitutional
amendment re appointment of state's attorneys; Sec. 1-19c transferred to Sec. 1-201 in 1999; P.A. 00-66 changed the
reference to Sec. 1-200(1).
Annotations to former section 1-19c:
Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, Secs. 1-7−1-21k, cited. 206 C. 449, 452. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act,
cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited.
218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235,
255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235. Cited.
Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id.; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of
Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627,
630. Cited. 227 C. 641, 644, 645, 650. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−
174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821,
822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec.
1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information
Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140. Cited. Id., 291, 293−295, 300. Freedom of
Information Act cited. Id.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 93-195, S. 2; P.A. 97-47, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 97-47 substituted "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections; Sec. 1-20e transferred to Sec. 1-
202 in 1999.
Annotation to former section 1-20e:
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15
et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Each member shall receive fifty dollars per day for each day such member is
present at a commission hearing or meeting, and shall be entitled to reimbursement for
actual and necessary expenses incurred in connection therewith, in accordance with the
provisions of section 4-1.
(c) The Governor shall select one of its members as a chairman. The commission
shall maintain a permanent office at Hartford in such suitable space as the Commissioner
of Public Works provides. All papers required to be filed with the commission shall be
delivered to such office.
(d) The commission shall, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information
Act promptly review the alleged violation of said Freedom of Information Act and issue
an order pertaining to the same. Said commission shall have the power to investigate
all alleged violations of said Freedom of Information Act and may for the purpose of
investigating any violation hold a hearing, administer oaths, examine witnesses, receive
oral and documentary evidence, have the power to subpoena witnesses under procedural
rules adopted by the commission to compel attendance and to require the production
for examination of any books and papers which the commission deems relevant in any
matter under investigation or in question. In case of a refusal to comply with any such
subpoena or to testify with respect to any matter upon which that person may be lawfully
interrogated, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of the
commission, may issue an order requiring such person to comply with such subpoena
and to testify; failure to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court
as a contempt thereof.
(e) The Freedom of Information Commission, and the Department of Information
Technology with respect to access to and disclosure of computer-stored public records,
shall conduct training sessions, at least annually, for members of public agencies for
the purpose of educating such members as to the requirements of sections 1-7 to 1-14,
inclusive, 1-16 to 1-18, inclusive, 1-200 to 1-202, inclusive, 1-205, 1-206, 1-210 to 1-
217, inclusive, 1-225 to 1-232, inclusive, 1-240, 1-241 and 19a-342.
(f) Not later than December 31, 2001, the Freedom of Information Commission
shall create, publish and provide to the chief elected official of each municipality a model
ordinance concerning the establishment by any municipality of a municipal freedom of
information advisory board to facilitate the informed and efficient exchange of information between the commission and such municipality. The commission may amend the
model ordinance from time to time.
(g) When the General Assembly is in session, the Governor shall have the authority
to fill any vacancy on the commission, with the advice and consent of either house of
the General Assembly. When the General Assembly is not in session any vacancy shall
be filled pursuant to the provisions of section 4-19. A vacancy in the commission shall
not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the commission and three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
(h) The commission shall, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, employ such
employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The commission may enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary for the discharge
of its duties, within the limits of its appropriated funds and in accordance with established
procedures.
(i) The commission shall make available to the public the printed reports of its
decisions, opinions and related materials at a reasonable cost not to exceed the actual
cost thereof to said commission but not less than twenty-eight dollars per item.
(j) The Freedom of Information Commission shall not be construed to be a commission or board within the meaning of section 4-9a.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 15, 19; P.A. 77-609, S. 7, 8; 77-614, S. 73, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 8, 127; 78-315, S. 3, 4; P.A. 79-560,
S. 1, 39; 79-575, S. 1, 4; P.A. 86-390, S. 1, 2, 4; P.A. 87-496, S. 5, 110; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 89-251, S. 57, 203;
P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-347, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4−6; P.A. 97-47, S. 13; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-9, S. 27, 50; P.A. 00-136, S. 8, 10.)
History: P.A. 77-609 increased the number of commission members to five, changed the terms of members to four
years, provided that not more than three members belong to the same political party and added Subsecs. (e) and (f); P.A.
77-614 changed "public works commissioner" to "commissioner of administrative services"; P.A. 78-280 changed "court
of common pleas for the county of Hartford" to "superior court for the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 78-
315 added Subsec. (i); P.A. 79-560 changed "fiscal and budgetary" purposes to "administrative" purposes; P.A. 79-575
changed per diem to fifty dollars, allowed for reimbursement for expenses and added Subsecs. (g) and (h); P.A. 86-390
deleted provision in Subsec. (a) placing commission within the office of the secretary of the state for administrative purposes
only and deleted provision in Subsec. (c) requiring secretary of the state to provide secretarial assistance to the commission;
P.A. 87-496 substituted public works commissioner for administrative services commissioner in Subsec. (c); P.A. 88-230
replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A.
89-251 set the fee for documents at not less than twenty-eight dollars per item; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of
P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 91-347 inserted "and the office of information and
technology with respect to access to and disclosure of computer-stored public records" in Subsec. (e), effective July 1,
1992; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective
June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998,
effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (d) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections;
June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 amended Subsec. (e) by substituting "Department of Information Technology" for "Office of
Information and Technology", effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 1-21j transferred to Sec. 1-205 in 1999; P.A. 00-136 inserted
new Subsec. (f) re a model ordinance for a municipal freedom of information advisory board, and redesignated former
Subsecs. (f) to (i), inclusive, as (g) to (j), respectively, effective July 1, 2000.
Annotations to former section 1-21j:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 182 C. 140, 170, 171. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235,
245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623;
205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442, 445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592;
212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442, 445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210
C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
Id., Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); cited. Id., 193−201.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id.,
757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224,
225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.,
482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 228 C. 158, 160,
163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Cited. 228 C. 271, 272, 275−279. Freedom
of Information Act cited. Id.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (d):
Subsection specifies sections of general statutes to which Freedom of Information Commission is subject. 181 C. 324,
340. Cited. 192 C. 183, 191. Cited. 208 C. 453, 454.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) (1) Any person denied the right to inspect or copy records under section 1-210
or wrongfully denied the right to attend any meeting of a public agency or denied any
other right conferred by the Freedom of Information Act may appeal therefrom to the
Freedom of Information Commission, by filing a notice of appeal with said commission.
A notice of appeal shall be filed within thirty days after such denial, except in the case
of an unnoticed or secret meeting, in which case the appeal shall be filed within thirty
days after the person filing the appeal receives notice in fact that such meeting was held.
For purposes of this subsection, such notice of appeal shall be deemed to be filed on
the date it is received by said commission or on the date it is postmarked, if received
more than thirty days after the date of the denial from which such appeal is taken.
Upon receipt of such notice, the commission shall serve upon all parties, by certified
or registered mail, a copy of such notice together with any other notice or order of such
commission. In the case of the denial of a request to inspect or copy records contained
in a public employee's personnel or medical file or similar file under subsection (c) of
section 1-214, the commission shall include with its notice or order an order requiring
the public agency to notify any employee whose records are the subject of an appeal,
and the employee's collective bargaining representative, if any, of the commission's
proceedings and, if any such employee or collective bargaining representative has filed
an objection under said subsection (c), the agency shall provide the required notice to
such employee and collective bargaining representative by certified mail, return receipt
requested or by hand delivery with a signed receipt. A public employee whose personnel
or medical file or similar file is the subject of an appeal under this subsection may
intervene as a party in the proceedings on the matter before the commission. Said commission shall, after due notice to the parties, hear and decide the appeal within one
year after the filing of the notice of appeal. The commission shall adopt regulations
in accordance with chapter 54, establishing criteria for those appeals which shall be
privileged in their assignment for hearing. Any such appeal shall be heard within thirty
days after receipt of a notice of appeal and decided within sixty days after the hearing.
If a notice of appeal concerns an announced agency decision to meet in executive session
or an ongoing agency practice of meeting in executive sessions, for a stated purpose,
the commission or a member or members of the commission designated by its chairperson shall serve notice upon the parties in accordance with this section and hold a preliminary hearing on the appeal within seventy-two hours after receipt of the notice, provided
such notice shall be given to the parties at least forty-eight hours prior to such hearing.
If after the preliminary hearing the commission finds probable cause to believe that the
agency decision or practice is in violation of sections 1-200 and 1-225, the agency shall
not meet in executive session for such purpose until the commission decides the appeal.
If probable cause is found by the commission, it shall conduct a final hearing on the
appeal and render its decision within five days of the completion of the preliminary
hearing.
(2) In any appeal to the Freedom of Information Commission under subdivision (1)
of this subsection or subsection (c) of this section, the commission may confirm the
action of the agency or order the agency to provide relief that the commission, in its
discretion, believes appropriate to rectify the denial of any right conferred by the Freedom of Information Act. The commission may declare null and void any action taken
at any meeting which a person was denied the right to attend and may require the production or copying of any public record. In addition, upon the finding that a denial of any
right created by the Freedom of Information Act was without reasonable grounds and
after the custodian or other official directly responsible for the denial has been given
an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e
to 4-184, inclusive, the commission may, in its discretion, impose against the custodian
or other official a civil penalty of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one thousand
dollars. If the commission finds that a person has taken an appeal under this subsection
frivolously, without reasonable grounds and solely for the purpose of harassing the
agency from which the appeal has been taken, after such person has been given an
opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to
4-184, inclusive, the commission may, in its discretion, impose against that person a
civil penalty of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. The
commission shall notify a person of a penalty levied against him pursuant to this subsection by written notice sent by certified or registered mail. If a person fails to pay the
penalty within thirty days of receiving such notice, the superior court for the judicial
district of Hartford shall, on application of the commission, issue an order requiring the
person to pay the penalty imposed. If the executive director of the commission has reason
to believe an appeal under subdivision (1) of this subsection or subsection (c) of this
section (A) presents a claim beyond the commission's jurisdiction; (B) would perpetrate
an injustice; or (C) would constitute an abuse of the commission's administrative process, the executive director shall not schedule the appeal for hearing without first seeking
and obtaining leave of the commission. The commission shall provide due notice to the
parties and review affidavits and written argument that the parties may submit and grant
or deny such leave summarily at its next regular meeting. The commission shall grant
such leave unless it finds that the appeal: (i) Does not present a claim within the commission's jurisdiction; (ii) would perpetrate an injustice; or (iii) would constitute an abuse
of the commission's administrative process. Any party aggrieved by the commission's
denial of such leave may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford,
within fifteen days of the commission meeting at which such leave was denied, for an
order requiring the commission to hear such appeal.
(3) In making the findings and determination under subdivision (2) of this subsection the commission shall consider the nature of any injustice or abuse of administrative
process, including but not limited to: (A) The nature, content, language or subject matter
of the request or the appeal; (B) the nature, content, language or subject matter of prior
or contemporaneous requests or appeals by the person making the request or taking the
appeal; and (C) the nature, content, language or subject matter of other verbal and written
communications to any agency or any official of any agency from the person making
the request or taking the appeal.
(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, in the case of
an appeal to the commission of a denial by a public agency, the commission may, upon
motion of such agency, confirm the action of the agency and dismiss the appeal without
a hearing if it finds, after examining the notice of appeal and construing all allegations
most favorably to the appellant, that (A) the agency has not violated the Freedom of
Information Act, or (B) the agency has committed a technical violation of the Freedom
of Information Act that constitutes a harmless error that does not infringe the appellant's
rights under said act.
(c) Any person who does not receive proper notice of any meeting of a public agency
in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act may appeal under
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. A public agency of the state shall be
presumed to have given timely and proper notice of any meeting as provided for in said
Freedom of Information Act if notice is given in the Connecticut Law Journal or a
Legislative Bulletin. A public agency of a political subdivision shall be presumed to
have given proper notice of any meeting, if a notice is timely sent under the provisions
of said Freedom of Information Act by first-class mail to the address indicated in the
request of the person requesting the same. If such commission determines that notice
was improper, it may, in its sound discretion, declare any or all actions taken at such
meeting null and void.
(d) Any party aggrieved by the decision of said commission may appeal therefrom,
in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 4-183, in any such appeal of a decision of the commission, the court may conduct
an in camera review of the original or a certified copy of the records which are at issue
in the appeal but were not included in the record of the commission's proceedings, admit
the records into evidence and order the records to be sealed or inspected on such terms
as the court deems fair and appropriate, during the appeal. The commission shall have
standing to defend, prosecute or otherwise participate in any appeal of any of its decisions
and to take an appeal from any judicial decision overturning or modifying a decision
of the commission. If aggrievement is a jurisdictional prerequisite to the commission
taking any such appeal, the commission shall be deemed to be aggrieved. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3-125, legal counsel employed or retained by said commission shall represent said commission in all such appeals and in any other litigation
affecting said commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section
4-183 and section 52-64, all process shall be served upon said commission at its office.
Any appeal taken pursuant to this section shall be privileged in respect to its assignment
for trial over all other actions except writs of habeas corpus and actions brought by or
on behalf of the state, including informations on the relation of private individuals.
Nothing in this section shall deprive any party of any rights he may have had at common
law prior to January 1, 1958. If the court finds that any appeal taken pursuant to this
section or section 4-183 is frivolous or taken solely for the purpose of delay, it shall
order the party responsible therefor to pay to the party injured by such frivolous or
dilatory appeal costs or attorney's fees of not more than one thousand dollars. Such
order shall be in addition to any other remedy or disciplinary action required or permitted
by statute or by rules of court.
(e) Within sixty days after the filing of a notice of appeal alleging violation of any
right conferred by the Freedom of Information Act concerning records of the Department
of Environmental Protection relating to the state's hazardous waste program under sections 22a-448 to 22a-454, inclusive, the Freedom of Information Commission shall,
after notice to the parties, hear and decide the appeal. Failure by the commission to hear
and decide the appeal within such sixty-day period shall constitute a final decision
denying such appeal for purposes of this section and section 4-183. On appeal, the court
may, in addition to any other powers conferred by law, order the disclosure of any such
records withheld in violation of the Freedom of Information Act and may assess against
the state reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in an
appeal in which the complainant has prevailed against the Department of Environmental
Protection.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 14; P.A. 76-435, S. 25, 82; P.A. 77-403; 77-603, S. 2, 125; 77-609, S. 6, 8; P.A. 78-331, S. 57, 58;
P.A. 81-431, S. 2, 3; P.A. 83-129, S. 1, 2; 83-587, S. 69, 96; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-31, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-112, S. 2, 3; 84-
136; 84-311, S. 1, 3; P.A. 86-408, S. 1, 4; P.A. 87-285, S. 2; 87-526, S. 4; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-317, S. 39, 107; 88-
353, S. 2, 4; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; 90-307, S. 1, 5; P.A. 92-207, S. 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-191, S. 1, 4; P.A. 95-220,
S. 4−6; P.A. 97-47, S. 10−12; P.A. 00-136, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 76-435 made technical changes; P.A. 77-403 changed "person" to "party"; P.A. 77-603 required that
court appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-609 changed provisions for appeals to freedom of information
commission and provided that legal counsel represent the commission in court appeals; P.A. 78-331 made technical changes,
reiterating amendments of P.A. 77-603; P.A. 81-431 added provisions in Subsec. (b) clarifying time of filing of notice of
appeal and authorizing imposition of civil penalties for unreasonable denials, added a provision in Subsec. (d) re service
of process upon the commission and deleted reference to commission's authority to impose fines for wilful and unreasonable
denials; P.A. 83-129 amended Subsec. (b) to allow the commission to penalize those who bring frivolous appeals and
amended Subsec. (d) by allowing the court to order those engaged in dilatory or frivolous appeals to pay the injured party's
costs or attorney's fees; P.A. 83-587 made technical change in Subsec. (c); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-31 established an
expedited hearing procedure for appeals involving executive sessions, effective July 1, 1984; P.A. 84-112 increased civil
penalty for denial of right of access to records from five hundred to one thousand dollars; P.A. 84-136 provided for extended
appeal period in the case of an unnoticed or secret meeting; P.A. 84-311 added provision re commission standing in appeals
in Subsec. (d); P.A. 86-408 changed time limit for hearing and decision on appeal to one year after filing of notice and
required that commission adopt regulations establishing criteria for privileged assignment for hearing for certain appeals
which must be decided within ninety days after filing; P.A. 87-285 amended Subsec. (b) to require notice to the employee
of any appeal to the commission regarding denial of access to his personnel or medical files, and to allow the employee
to intervene as a party in the proceedings; P.A. 87-526 amended Subsec. (d) to allow court to conduct in camera review
of records which are at issue in appeal but not included in record of commission's proceedings; P.A. 88-230 replaced
"judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 88-317
amended references to Ch. 54 and Secs. 4-177 to 4-184 in Subsec. (b) to include new sections added to Ch. 54 and substituted
"subsection (c) of section 4-183" for "subsection (b) of section 4-183" in Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 1989, and applicable
to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 88-353 added requirement in Subsec. (b) re notice to
collective bargaining representative; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to
September 1, 1993; P.A. 90-307, S. 1, re appeals re records of environmental protection department relating to state
hazardous waste program, was added editorially as Subsec. (e) in 1991; P.A. 92-207 amended Subsec. (a) to allow ten
days for the denial of the right to inspect and copy records and to require that denial be made in writing pursuant to Subsecs.
(b) and (c) of Sec. 1-20a; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September
1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-191 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. designations, adding Subdiv. (2)
provision regarding appeals which present a claim beyond the commission's jurisdiction, would perpetrate an injustice or
would constitute an abuse of the commission's administrative process, adding Subdiv. (3) regarding considerations in
determining injustice or abuse of administrative process, and adding Subdiv. (4) regarding dismissal without hearing,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1,
1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsecs. (b), (c) and (e) by substituting "the Freedom of Information
Act" for list of sections; Sec. 1-21i transferred to Sec. 1-206 in 1999; P.A. 00-136 amended Subdiv. (b)(4) to insert Subpara.
(A) designator and to add new language as Subpara. (B) re technical violations that constitute harmless error.
See Sec. 1-2a re construing of references to "United States mail" or "postmark" to include references to any delivery
service designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any
successor to the code, as amended, and to any date recorded or marked as described in said Section 7502 by a designated
delivery service and construing of "registered or certified mail" to include any equivalent designated by the Secretary of
the Treasury pursuant to said Section 7502.
Annotations to former section 1-21i:
Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 182 C. 142, 170, 171. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310,
311, 314, 315, 317. Cited. 198 C. 498, 501. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623;
205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592;
212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210
C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA,
Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Cited.
218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited.
Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222,
224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235 Cited. Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id.; Id., 393−
395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−
174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279. Cited. 240 C. 835.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601, 603. Cited. 4 CA 216, 219. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14
CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Board of pardons not an aggrieved party. Id. Freedom of
Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited.
37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Cited. Id., 700; judgment reversed, see
240 C. 835 et seq. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 204 C. 609, 611. Cited. 208 C. 442, 444, 445. Cited. 218 C. 256, 259, 261, 262.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 181 C. 324, 326. Cited. 182 C. 138, 141. Time requirements are mandatory. 198 C. 498, 499, 501, 503−505.
Time limits mandatory. 199 C. 451, 452. Cited. 201 C. 421−428. Cited. Id., 448, 453, 454. Cited. 204 C. 609, 614. Cited.
205 C. 767, 769. Where successive requests made for records are denied, appeals may be made within thirty days of any
denial. 208 C. 442, 444, 445, 449−451. Cited. 209 C. 204, 207. "... affords a right to appeal to the FOIC any denial, whether
written or statutory, of a request for disclosure of public records." 218 C. 256, 258−262. Cited. 221 C. 217, 221, 222, 224.
Subdiv. (1) cited. 233 C. 28, 32, 44. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 28, 35. Cited. 234 C. 704, 706. Subdiv. (1) cited. 240 C. 1.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 603, 604. Cited. 16 CA 49, 52. Cited. 35 CA 111, 114. Cited. 42 CA 700; judgment reversed, see 240
C. 835 et seq.
Failure of commission to hold a hearing and issue a decision on complaint within time periods prescribed by this
subsection did not void its jurisdiction, those time limits being directory, not mandatory. 36 CS 117, 120. Cited. 39 CS
56, 62. A finding that commission violated the law is equivalent to a finding that commission individually and collectively
violated the law and therefore were the individuals "directly responsible for such denial". 40 CS 233−235.
Subsec. (c):
An appeal to superior court under this statute is the route to test whether Freedom of Information Commission acted
erroneously in failing to order a public hearing. 2 CA 600, 604.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310, 312, 313. Cited. 177 C. 584; 181 C. 324, 326. Cited. 198 C. 498, 500, 501. Cited. 201 C. 421,
423. Cited. 204 C. 609, 619. Cited. 205 C. 767, 771. Cited. 210 C. 590, 593. Board of pardons v. FOIC, 14 CA 380,
judgment reversed on issue of aggrievement. Id., 646, 648, 649. Cited. 213 C. 126, 131; Id., 216, 219. Cited. 217 C. 153,
158. Cited. 218 C. 256, 258; Id., 335, 344. Party status not necessary to standing for appeal of FOIC decision, only
aggrievement by the decision must be shown. 221 C. 217, 219, 222−224, 226−231. Cited. Id., 300, 307, 308. Cited. 222
C. 621, 623. Cited. 227 C. 848, 851. Cited. 234 C. 624, 643−646. Cited. 240 C. 1. Cited. Id., 824. Cited. 242 C. 79.
Plaintiff as intervenor, not party, without standing to appeal pursuant to section. 13 CA 315, 319. Cited. 14 CA 380,
382; judgment reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Cited. 19 CA 489, 491, 492. Cited. 36 CA 155. Cited. 41 CA 641, 646;
judgment reversed, see 240 C. 824 et seq. Cited. 42 CA 39; judgment reversed, see 241 C. 310 et seq.
Cited. 35 CS 186, 187, 190, 192. Cited. 39 CS 176, 177. Cited. Id., 257, 258. Cited. 41 CS 267, 268. Cited. 42 CS 84;
Id., 129, 130; Id., 291, 301. Cited. 43 CS 246−248. Cited. 44 CS 230.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Nothing in the Freedom of Information Act shall be construed to require disclosure of:
(1) Preliminary drafts or notes provided the public agency has determined that the
public interest in withholding such documents clearly outweighs the public interest in
disclosure;
(2) Personnel or medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute an invasion of personal privacy;
(3) Records of law enforcement agencies not otherwise available to the public which
records were compiled in connection with the detection or investigation of crime, if the
disclosure of said records would not be in the public interest because it would result in
the disclosure of (A) the identity of informants not otherwise known or the identity of
witnesses not otherwise known whose safety would be endangered or who would be
subject to threat or intimidation if their identity was made known, (B) signed statements
of witnesses, (C) information to be used in a prospective law enforcement action if
prejudicial to such action, (D) investigatory techniques not otherwise known to the
general public, (E) arrest records of a juvenile, which shall also include any investigatory
files, concerning the arrest of such juvenile, compiled for law enforcement purposes,
(F) the name and address of the victim of a sexual assault under section 53a-70, 53a-
70a, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b or 53a-73a, or injury or risk of injury, or impairing of
morals under section 53-21, or of an attempt thereof, or (G) uncorroborated allegations
subject to destruction pursuant to section 1-216;
(4) Records pertaining to strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims
or pending litigation to which the public agency is a party until such litigation or claim
has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled;
(5) (A) Trade secrets, which for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, are
defined as information, including formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices,
methods, techniques, processes, drawings, cost data, or customer lists that (i) derive
independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to,
and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain
economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) are the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain secrecy; and
(B) Commercial or financial information given in confidence, not required by
statute;
(6) Test questions, scoring keys and other examination data used to administer a
licensing examination, examination for employment or academic examinations;
(7) The contents of real estate appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates and
evaluations made for or by an agency relative to the acquisition of property or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until such time as all of the property has
been acquired or all proceedings or transactions have been terminated or abandoned,
provided the law of eminent domain shall not be affected by this provision;
(8) Statements of personal worth or personal financial data required by a licensing
agency and filed by an applicant with such licensing agency to establish the applicant's
personal qualification for the license, certificate or permit applied for;
(9) Records, reports and statements of strategy or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining;
(10) Records, tax returns, reports and statements exempted by federal law or state
statutes or communications privileged by the attorney-client relationship;
(11) Names or addresses of students enrolled in any public school or college without
the consent of each student whose name or address is to be disclosed who is eighteen
years of age or older and a parent or guardian of each such student who is younger than
eighteen years of age, provided this subdivision shall not be construed as prohibiting
the disclosure of the names or addresses of students enrolled in any public school in a
regional school district to the board of selectmen or town board of finance, as the case
may be, of the town wherein the student resides for the purpose of verifying tuition
payments made to such school;
(12) Any information obtained by the use of illegal means;
(13) Records of an investigation or the name of an employee providing information
under the provisions of section 4-61dd;
(14) Adoption records and information provided for in sections 45a-746, 45a-750
and 45a-751;
(15) Any page of a primary petition, nominating petition, referendum petition or
petition for a town meeting submitted under any provision of the general statutes or
of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, until the required processing and
certification of such page has been completed by the official or officials charged with
such duty after which time disclosure of such page shall be required;
(16) Records of complaints, including information compiled in the investigation
thereof, brought to a municipal health authority pursuant to chapter 368e or a district
department of health pursuant to chapter 368f, until such time as the investigation is
concluded or thirty days from the date of receipt of the complaint, whichever occurs first;
(17) Educational records which are not subject to disclosure under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g;
(18) Records, the disclosure of which the Commissioner of Correction, or as it
applies to Whiting Forensic Division facilities of the Connecticut Valley Hospital, the
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, has reasonable grounds to
believe may result in a safety risk, including the risk of harm to any person or the
risk of an escape from, or a disorder in, a correctional institution or facility under the
supervision of the Department of Correction or Whiting Forensic Division facilities.
Such records shall include, but are not limited to:
(A) Security manuals, including emergency plans contained or referred to in such
security manuals;
(B) Engineering and architectural drawings of correctional institutions or facilities
or Whiting Forensic Division facilities;
(C) Operational specifications of security systems utilized by the Department of
Correction at any correctional institution or facility or Whiting Forensic Division facilities, except that a general description of any such security system and the cost and quality
of such system may be disclosed;
(D) Training manuals prepared for correctional institutions and facilities or Whiting
Forensic Division facilities that describe, in any manner, security procedures, emergency plans or security equipment;
(E) Internal security audits of correctional institutions and facilities or Whiting Forensic Division facilities;
(F) Minutes or recordings of staff meetings of the Department of Correction or
Whiting Forensic Division facilities, or portions of such minutes or recordings, that
contain or reveal information relating to security or other records otherwise exempt
from disclosure under this subdivision;
(G) Logs or other documents that contain information on the movement or assignment of inmates or staff at correctional institutions or facilities; and
(H) Records that contain information on contacts between inmates, as defined in
section 18-84, and law enforcement officers;
(19) Records, the disclosure of which the Commissioner of Public Works or, in the
case of records concerning Judicial Department facilities, the Chief Court Administrator,
has reasonable grounds to believe may result in a safety risk, including the risk of harm
to any person, any state-owned or leased institution or facility or any fixture or appurtenance and equipment attached to, or contained in, such institution or facility. Such records shall include, but are not limited to:
(A) Security manuals or reports, including emergency plans contained or referred
to in such security manuals;
(B) Engineering and architectural drawings of state-owned or leased institutions or
facilities;
(C) Operational specifications of security systems utilized at any state-owned or
leased institution or facility, except that a general description of any such security system
and the cost and quality of such system, may be disclosed;
(D) Training manuals prepared for state-owned or leased institutions or facilities
that describe, in any manner, security procedures, emergency plans or security
equipment;
(E) Internal security audits of state-owned or leased institutions or facilities;
(F) Minutes or recordings of meetings of the Department of Public Works or the
Judicial Department, or portions of such minutes or recordings, that contain or reveal
information relating to security or other records otherwise exempt from disclosure under
this subdivision; and
(G) Logs or other documents that contain information on the movement or assignment of security personnel at state-owned or leased institutions or facilities;
(20) Records of standards, procedures, processes, software and codes, not otherwise
available to the public, the disclosure of which would compromise the security or integrity of an information technology system.
(c) Whenever a public agency receives a request from any person confined in a
correctional institution or facility or a Whiting Forensic Division facility, for disclosure
of any public record under the Freedom of Information Act, the public agency shall
promptly notify the Commissioner of Correction or the Commissioner of Mental Health
and Addiction Services in the case of a person confined in a Whiting Forensic Division
facility of such request, in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, before complying
with the request as required by the Freedom of Information Act. If the commissioner
believes the requested record is exempt from disclosure pursuant to subdivision (18) of
subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may withhold such record from such
person when the record is delivered to the person's correctional institution or facility
or Whiting Forensic Division facility.
(d) Whenever a public agency, except the Judicial Department, receives a request
from any person for disclosure of any records described in subdivision (19) of subsection
(b) of this section under the Freedom of Information Act, the public agency shall
promptly notify the Commissioner of Public Works of such request, in the manner
prescribed by the commissioner, before complying with the request as required by the
Freedom of Information Act. If the commissioner believes the requested record is exempt from disclosure pursuant to subdivision (19) of subsection (b) of this section, the
commissioner may direct the agency to withhold such record from such person. In any
appeal brought under the provisions of section 1-206 of the Freedom of Information
Act for denial of access to records for any of the reasons described in subdivision (19)
of subsection (b) of this section, such appeal shall be against the Commissioner of Public
Works, exclusively, or, in the case of records concerning Judicial Department facilities,
the Chief Court Administrator.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (16) of subsection (b)
of this section, disclosure shall be required of:
(1) Interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters, advisory opinions, recommendations or any report comprising part of the process by which governmental decisions and policies are formulated, except disclosure shall not be required of a preliminary
draft of a memorandum, prepared by a member of the staff of a public agency, which
is subject to revision prior to submission to or discussion among the members of such
agency;
(2) All records of investigation conducted with respect to any tenement house, lodging house or boarding house as defined in section 19a-355, or any nursing home, residential care home or rest home, as defined in section 19a-490, by any municipal building
department or housing code inspection department, any local or district health department, or any other department charged with the enforcement of ordinances or laws
regulating the erection, construction, alteration, maintenance, sanitation, ventilation or
occupancy of such buildings; and
(3) The names of firms obtaining bid documents from any state agency.
(1957, P.A. 428, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 260; 1967, P.A. 723, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 193; 1971, P.A. 193; P.A. 75-342, S. 2; P.A.
76-294; P.A. 77-609, S. 2, 8; P.A. 79-119; 79-324; 79-575, S. 2, 4; 79-599, S. 3; P.A. 80-483, S. 1, 186; P.A. 81-40, S. 2;
81-431, S. 1; 81-448, S. 2; P.A. 83-436; P.A. 84-112, S. 1; 84-311, S. 2, 3; P.A. 85-577, S. 22; P.A. 90-335, S. 1; P.A. 91-
140, S. 2, 3; P.A. 94-246, S. 14; P.A. 95-233; P.A. 96-130, S. 37; P.A. 97-47, S. 4; 97-112, S. 2; 97-293, S. 14, 26; P.A.
99-156, S. 1; P.A. 00-66, S. 5; 00-69, S. 3, 4; 00-134, S. 1; 00-136, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1, S. 20, 46.)
History: 1963 act required that public records be kept in accessible place at regular office and at office of town clerk
or secretary of the state if no regular office exists; 1967 act excluded certain records from definition of "public record" for
disclosure purposes and required public agencies to keep records of proceedings; 1969 act provided that certified copies
would be admitted as evidence in court proceedings; 1971 act required disclosure of records of investigations re tenement,
lodging or boarding houses; P.A. 75-342 changed "town clerk" to "clerk of any political subdivision," rewrote provisions
regarding exclusion of certain records from consideration as public records for disclosure purposes and specifically required
disclosure of records of investigations re nursing or rest homes or homes for the aged; P.A. 76-294 clarified meaning of
"arrest records of a juvenile"; P.A. 77-609 prohibited requiring disclosure of names and addresses of public school or
college students; P.A. 79-119 replaced provision in Subsec. (a) which had allowed inspection or copying of records at
reasonable time determined by their custodian with provision allowing inspection during office or business hours and
copying as provided in Sec. 1-15; P.A. 79-324 clarified Subsec. (c); P.A. 79-575 provided exception to disclosure of
students' names and addresses for use by towns in verifying tuition payments and prohibited requiring disclosure of
information obtained illegally; P.A. 79-599 prohibited requiring disclosure of records or name of state employee providing
information for "whistle blowing" investigation; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 81-40 amended Subsec. (b)
to exclude adoption records and information provided for in Secs. 45-68e and 45-68i from disclosure requirements; P.A.
81-431 amended Subsec. (c) to specifically require disclosure of memoranda and other documents which constitute part
of the process by which governmental decisions and policies are formulated with a limited exception for preliminary drafts
of memoranda, rather than of "all records of investigation..." as previously provided; P.A. 81-448 protected from disclosure
name and address of victim of sexual assault, injury or risk of injury or impairing or attempting to impair morals; P.A. 83-
436 amended Subsec. (c) to require disclosure of names of firms obtaining bid documents from any state agency; P.A. 84-
112 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that agency rules or regulations that conflict with that subsection or diminish rights
granted by that subsection are void; P.A. 84-311 amended disclosure exemption for trade secrets in Subsec. (b) by eliminating limitation to information obtained from the public; P.A. 85-577 added Subdiv. (15) of Subsec. (b) regarding pages of
a primary petition, a nominating petition, a referendum petition or a petition for a town meeting; P.A. 90-335 amended
Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (3)(F) re uncorroborated allegations subject to destruction pursuant to Sec. 1-20; P.A. 91-
140 substituted "pending claims or pending litigation" for "pending claims and litigation" in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-246
amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (b) to add provision in Subpara. (A) re disclosure of "the identity of witnesses not otherwise
known whose safety would be endangered or who would be subject to threat or intimidation if their identity was made
known" and insert a new Subpara. (B) re disclosure of "signed statements of witnesses", relettering the remaining Subparas.
accordingly; P.A. 95-233 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (16) re records of municipal health authorities and district
departments of health complaints; P.A. 96-130 amended Subsec. (b)(14) by adding reference to Sec. 45a-751; P.A. 97-47
amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections; P.A. 97-112 substituted "residential care home" for "home for the aged" in Subsec. (c); P.A. 97-293 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (17) re educational
records, effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 1-19 transferred to Sec. 1-210 in 1999; P.A. 99-156 amended Subsec. (b) by adding
Subdiv. (18) re records that Commissioner of Correction believes may result in safety risk if disclosed and added new
Subsec. (c) re requests for disclosure by persons confined in correctional institutions or facilities, relettering former Subsec.
(c) as Subsec. (d); P.A. 00-66 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(18); P.A. 00-69 amended Subsec. (b) to add new
Subdiv. (19) re certain records that may result in a safety risk, inserted new Subsec. (d) re requests under Subdiv. (b)(19)
made to a public agency other than the Judicial Department, and redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e), effective
May 16, 2000; P.A. 00-134 amended Subsec. (b)(8) to substitute "the applicant's" for "his" and to add new Subdiv. (20)
re records not otherwise available to the public, the disclosure of which would compromise the security or integrity of an
information technology system; P.A. 00-136 redefined trade secrets in Subsec. (b)(5) and added Subpara. and clause
designators in Subsec. (b)(5); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1 amended Subsec. (b)(18) and Subsec. (c) to add references to
Whiting Forensic Division facilities of Connecticut Valley Hospital and to Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction
Services, effective June 21, 2000.
See Sec. 10-151c re records of teacher performance and evaluation not public records.
See Sec. 10a-154a re performance and evaluation records of faculty and professional staff members of the constituent
units of the state system of higher education not public records.
See Sec. 11-25(b) re confidentiality of public library circulation records.
See Sec. 16a-14 re exemption for certain commercial and financial information.
See Secs. 52-165, 52-166, 52-167 re copies of records.
Annotations to former section 1-19:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 176 C. 622, 623, 627. Statute provides for exceptions under federal and state statutes.
178 C. 700−703. Cited. 181 C. 324−326. Sales tax delinquent lists are public records not exempt from disclosure under
statute. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 166, 178; Id., 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Cited. 201 C. 421,
429, 430, 432. Autopsy reports are not records accessible to general public under this section; judgment of appellate court
reversed. Id., 448, 452, 454, 455, 458, 459, 461. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611−613, 616, 617, 619,
621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 700, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454;
209 C. 204, 206−208, 210; 210 C. 590−593 (see 217 C. 193 et seq., which overruled Board of Education v. Freedom of
Information Commission (210 C. 590 et seq.) to the extent that it required a balancing test for the interpretation of the
exemptions contained in Sec. 1-19(b)(2)); 212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−
450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 206−208, 210; 210 C. 590−593 (see 217 C. 193 et seq., which overruled Board of Education
v. Freedom of Information Commission (210 C. 590 et seq.) to the extent that it required a balancing test for the interpretation
of the exemptions contained in Sec. 1-19(b)(2)); Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id.,
216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Cited. Id., 322, 328. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260,
261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., C. 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260,
262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−
308, 314. Cited. 22 C. 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Freedom of Information
Act cited. Id., 482, 485. Cited. Id., 549, 550, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 227 C. 641, 653. Cited. Id., 751, 765. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279. Freedom of Information Act cited.
Id. Cited. 233 C. 28, 29. Cited. 240 C. 1.
Cited. 1 CA 384, 395. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 473, 475, 479, 482, 484. Cited. 8 CA
216, 238. Freedom of Information Act cited. 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53. Cited. 18 CA 212, 213, 217. Freedom of Information Act cited. 19 CA 539−541,
544; Id., 352, 353, 355; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Cited. 31 CA 178, 198. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Cited. 36 CA 155, 157. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589,
610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133. Statute
requires evidentiary showing that the records sought are to be used in a law enforcement action and that disclosing such
records would be prejudicial to the law enforcement action. 51 CA 100.
Cited. 31 CS 392. Construed as permitting public access to raw real estate assessment data. 32 CS 583. Document need
not be connected with an official or completed transaction to be a public record. 32 CS 588. Cited. 38 CS 675, 679. Cited.
39 CS 176, 180. Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270. Freedom of Information Act
cited. 42 CS 84, 86, 88; Cited. Id., 129, 138−141. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Cited. Id., 291, 293−295. Freedom
of Information Act cited. Id. Cited. 43 CS 246, 247.
Presumed legislature, by insertion of exception clause, intended to exclude from operation of statute exclusive power
over admission to bar vested in superior court by section 51-80. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 313, 321. State's right to inspect records
relating to building permits cannot be defeated by city ordinance. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 511, 513, 515. Section construed broadly
in conjunction with statutes creating state boards of registration for professional engineers and architects. Id. Medical files
public record, when. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 633.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 181 C. 324, 329. Woodstock Academy deemed a "public agency" within meaning of statute. 181 C. 544, 545,
549. Cited. 201 C. 421, 430; Id., 448, 449, 452, 454−456. Disclosure requirements do not apply to information that may
be released under Sec. 29-170. 204 C. 609, 610, 618, 619, 621, 622. Cited. 205 C. 767, 769, 770. Cited. 207 C. 698, 701.
Cited. 208 C. 442, 446, 447, 453. Cited. 211 C. 339, 342, 347. Cited. 213 C. 126, 131. Secs. 5-225 and 5-237 provide
exceptions to this section. 214 C. 312, 313, 316, 317, 319−321. Cited. 216 C. 253, 265, 266. Cited. 217 C. 322, 325, 327.
Cited. 219 C. 685, 691. Cited. 221 C. 300−303, 306, 314. Cited. Id., 393, 395. Cited. 222 C. 98, 105. Cited. 227 C. 641,
643, 648, 649, 653, 654, 659, 662. Cited. 228 C. 158, 159, 165. Cited. 240 C. 1. Cited. 241 C. 310.
Cited. 4 CA 468, 470, 472, 473, 476, 479, 480, 484. General disclosure requirement of Sec. 1-19(a) does not prevail
over specific limitation of disclosure obligations under Sec. 1-83. 18 CA 212, 215, 218. Cited. Id., 291, 294. Cited. 22 CA
316, 320. Cited. 29 CA 821, 832. Cited. 35 CA 384, 388. Cited. 39 CA 154, 157. Cited. 41 CA 67−69, 71, 75. Cited. 44
CA 611. Cited. Id., 622. Cited. 45 CA 413.
Cited. 42 CS 129, 130, 139, 141−144. Cited. Id., 291, 293, 295, 296, 299.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 181 C. 324, 328, 331. Cited. 182 C. 142, 170, 172. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Subdiv. (1): Term "preliminary drafts
or notes" relates to advisory opinions, recommendations and deliberations comprising part of process by which government
decisions and policies are formulated; they reflect that aspect of the agency's function that precedes formal and informal
decision making. 181 C. 324, 327, 329−333, 339. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Subdiv. (2): Cited. 182 C. 142, 170. Cited. 190
C. 235, 245. Subdiv. (3): Cited. 186 C. 153, 157. Cited. 192 C. 310, 316, 317. Subdiv. (3): Cited. 197 C. 698, 708. Subdiv.
(10): Cited. 198 C. 498, 500. Cited. 201 C. 448, 460. Subdiv. (1): Cited. Id. Subdiv. (2): Cited. Id., 421, 422, 424, 430−
435; Id., 448, 452, 460, 461. Subdiv. (3)(B): Cited. 204 C. 609, 613. Subdiv. (4): Commission's order of disclosure proper
after city failed to establish on record that information falls within exemption. 205 C. 767, 768, 770, 772−774, 777. Subdiv.
(10): Cited. Id., 767, 770. Subdiv. (2): Cited. 210 C. 590, 592−595 (see 217 C. 193 et seq., which overruled Board of
Education v. Freedom of Information Commission (210 C. 590 et seq.) to the extent that it required a balancing test for
the interpretation of the exemptions contained in this Subdiv.). Subdiv. (1): Cited. 211 C. 339−342, 344−346. Subdiv. (2):
Cited. 214 C. 312, 318, 321. Cited. 216 C. 253, 256. Subdiv. (10) cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 163. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 193,
200. Subdiv. (2): Ruling in Board of Education v. Freedom of Information Commission (210 C. 590 et seq.) overruled to
the extent that it required a balancing test for the interpretation of the exemptions contained in this Subdiv. 217 C. 193−
197, 200−202. Subdiv. (11): Permits withholding of names of employees whose student status is a condition of their
employment. Id., 322−325, 327, 329. Subdiv. (2): Section purports to protect an individual's personal privacy; retirees
should be afforded opportunity to show a reasonable expectation of privacy in their addresses. 218 C. 256−259, 262, 263,
265; Subdiv. (2) does not prevent disclosure of substance of public agency vote on motion concerning personnel matter.
221 C. 217, 221, 222, 234, 235. Subdiv. (4) cited. Id., 300, 304. Subdiv. (3) cited. 300, 304, 313. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
393, 395, 396, 398, 400; Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 578. Subdiv. (2): Municipal permits to carry pistols or revolvers in public
are not "similar" files entitled to exemption from disclosure under this section. 222 C. 621, 622, 625−630. Subdiv. (2)
cited. 224 C. 325, 335. Subdiv. (3)(E) cited. 226 C. 618, 621. Subdiv. (3)(B) cited. 227 C. 641, 644, 650. Subdiv. (4) cited.
Id., 641, 644, 650. Cited. Id., 641, 644, 653, 655. Subdiv. (3)(A) cited. Id., 641, 650. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 641, 654. Subdiv.
(2) cited. Id., 751, 761, 764−766. Subdiv. (2): Records request under FOIA for disclosure of numerical data concerning
employees' attendance records including sick leave does not constitute invasion of personal privacy within meaning of
the statute. 228 C. 158−160, 162, 163, 167, 168, 172−175, 177. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 271, 272, 275, 277−280. Subdiv. (2)
cited. 233 C. 28, 29, 33, 34, 36−38, 40−43. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 28, 37. Subdiv. (9) cited. 234 C. 704, 714. Subdiv. (4):
Section applicable to bar disclosure of the report in question; judgment of appellate court in Stamford v. Freedom of
Information Commission, 42 CA 39 et seq. reversed. 241 C. 310. Subdiv. (2) cited. 242 C. 79. Subdiv. (1): Unfinished
report by attorney hired by municipality, as well as interview summaries and affidavits created solely to serve as supporting
documentation for that report, constituted "preliminary drafts or notes". 245 C. 149. Subdiv. (10): Documents prepared
by attorney hired by a public agency are protected from disclosure as privileged attorney-client communications if certain
conditions are met. Id.
Subdiv. (4): Cited. 4 CA 216, 218, 220. Subdiv. (10): Cited. Id., 216, 218, 219. Subdiv. (1): Cited. Id., 468, 470, 471,
480. Subdiv. (2): Cited. Id., 468, 470, 471, 480−482. Subdiv. (3): Autopsy report was not exempt from disclosure under
this statute. Id., 468, 470, 472, 480, 483, 484. Cited. 4 CA 468, 472, 481, 483. Subdiv. (2): Cited. 14 CA 380, 382; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Cited. 19 CA 489, 491. Subdiv. (5): Cited. Id., 489, 491. Cited. Id., 539, 541, 545.
Subdiv. (2): Shield of confidentiality protects records of prisoner applicants for pardons. Id., 539, 541, 542, 544, 546, 547.
Subdiv. (10): Cited. 671, 674. Subdiv. (2) cited. 23 CA 479, 484, 486. Subdiv. (2) cited. 31 CA 178, 198. Subdiv. (9) cited.
35 CA 384−389, 391. Cited. Id., 384, 389. Subdiv. (2) cited. 39 CA 154, 155, 158−161. Subdiv. (7) cited. 41 CA 67−69,
71−74. Cited. Id., 649, 655. Subdiv. (4) cited. 42 CA 39; judgment reversed, see 241 C. 310 et seq. Subdiv. (9) cited. 43
CA 133. Subdiv. (1) cited. 44 CA 611. Subdiv. (10) cited. Id. Cited. Id., 622. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.
Subdiv. (3) cited. Id. Subdiv. (3)(G) cited. Id. Disclosure of the names of employees disciplined by Department of Children
and Families in connection with death of infant who was the subject of department investigation does not constitute an
invasion of their personal privacy. 48 CA 467. Freedom of Information Act and rules of discovery provide independent
methods of obtaining information except when it would limit discovery rights; legislative change from "effect" to "limit"
discussed. 52 CA 12.
Subdiv. (2): Cited. 39 CS 176, 180, 182−184. Subdiv. (6): Test questions and examination data already administered
as well as those not yet administered are included in the exemption from disclosure. The exemption is characterized as
"absolute". Id., 257, 258, 260, 262−264. Subdiv. (2): Cited. Id., 257, 260. Subdiv. (4) cited. 42 CS 84, 90. P.A. 91-140
cited. Id. Subdiv. (10) cited. Id., 84, 92. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 129, 141. Subdiv. (3)(B) cited. Id., 291, 293, 296, 297, 301.
Subdiv. (4) cited. Id., 291, 293, 300, 301. Subdiv. (3)(A) cited. Id., 291, 296, 301.
Subsec. (c):
Subdiv. (1): Cited. 211 C. 339−342, 346, 348. Cited. 227 C. 641, 655. Subdiv. (1): Legislature did not intend to require
disclosure of drafts of memoranda prepared by persons who, although not staff members of the public agency, are hired
on a contractual basis to perform tasks that are indistinguishable from those which may be performed by agency personnel.
245 C. 149.
Subdiv. (1) cited. 44 CA 611.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by state statute, no public agency shall enter into
a contract with, or otherwise obligate itself to, any person if such contract or obligation
impairs the right of the public under the Freedom of Information Act to inspect or copy
the agency's nonexempt public records existing on-line in, or stored on a device or
medium used in connection with, a computer system owned, leased or otherwise used
by the agency in the course of its governmental functions.
(c) On and after July 1, 1992, before any public agency acquires any computer
system, equipment or software to store or retrieve nonexempt public records, it shall
consider whether such proposed system, equipment or software adequately provides for
the rights of the public under the Freedom of Information Act at the least cost possible
to the agency and to persons entitled to access to nonexempt public records under the
Freedom of Information Act. In meeting its obligations under this subsection, each state
public agency shall consult with the Department of Information Technology as part of
the agency's design analysis prior to acquiring any such computer system, equipment
or software. The Department of Information Technology shall adopt written guidelines
to assist municipal agencies in carrying out the purposes of this subsection. Nothing in
this subsection shall require an agency to consult with said department prior to acquiring
a system, equipment or software or modifying software, if such acquisition or modification is consistent with a design analysis for which such agency has previously consulted
with said department. The Department of Information Technology shall consult with
the Freedom of Information Commission on matters relating to access to and disclosure
of public records for the purposes of this subsection. The provisions of this subsection
shall not apply to software modifications which would not affect the rights of the public
under the Freedom of Information Act.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 4; P.A. 90-307, S. 3, 5; P.A. 91-347, S. 1, 5; P.A. 97-47, S. 5; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 26, 50.)
History: P.A. 90-307 added Subsec. (b) re disclosure of copy of voter registration data maintained in a computer storage
system; P.A. 91-347 repealed former Subsec. (a) which had required agencies to provide printouts of data, relettered former
Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (a), amending provisions to apply to "public records" instead of "voter registration records", to
substitute "nonexempt data contained in such records" for "voter registration data", to add clause "if the agency can
reasonably make such copy or have such copy made" and to add a sentence re cost for a copy, added new Subsec. (b) re
prohibition on contracts and obligations impairing public's right to inspect or copy computerized nonexempt public records,
and added Subsec. (c) re agency requirements before acquiring computer system, equipment or software to store or retrieve
nonexempt public records, effective July 1, 1992; P.A. 97-47 substituted "the Freedom of Information Act" for "this
chapter"; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting "Department of Information Technology" for
"Office of Information and Technology", effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 1-19a transferred to Sec. 1-211 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-19a:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 234, 237;
Id., 310, 311, 314−317, 319. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767,
768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−
102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102,
105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315; 216
C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom
of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626,
627, 630. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information
Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210
C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 542, 544; 20 CA
671, 674, 675. Printout copies, not computer diskettes, are appropriate responses to information requests. 22 CA 316−320.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited.
37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43
CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90. Cited. Id., 129, 138−140.
Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Cited. Id., 291, 293−295, 299. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1) By an executive, administrative or legislative office of the state, a state agency
or a department, institution, bureau, board, commission, authority or official of the state,
including a committee of, or created by, such an office, agency, department, institution,
bureau, board, commission, authority or official, and also including any judicial office,
official or body or committee thereof but only in respect to its or their administrative
functions, shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page; and
(2) By all other public agencies, as defined in section 1-200, shall not exceed fifty
cents per page. If any copy provided in accordance with said Freedom of Information
Act requires a transcription, or if any person applies for a transcription of a public record,
the fee for such transcription shall not exceed the cost thereof to the public agency.
(b) The fee for any copy provided in accordance with subsection (a) of section 1-
211 shall not exceed the cost thereof to the public agency. In determining such costs
for a copy, other than for a printout which exists at the time that the agency responds
to the request for such copy, an agency may include only:
(1) An amount equal to the hourly salary attributed to all agency employees engaged
in providing the requested computer-stored public record, including their time performing the formatting or programming functions necessary to provide the copy as
requested, but not including search or retrieval costs except as provided in subdivision
(4) of this subsection;
(2) An amount equal to the cost to the agency of engaging an outside professional
electronic copying service to provide such copying services, if such service is necessary
to provide the copying as requested;
(3) The actual cost of the storage devices or media provided to the person making
the request in complying with such request; and
(4) The computer time charges incurred by the agency in providing the requested
computer-stored public record where another agency or contractor provides the agency
with computer storage and retrieval services. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this section, the fee for any copy of the names of registered voters shall not exceed three
cents per name delivered or the cost thereof to the public agency, as determined pursuant
to this subsection, whichever is less. The Department of Information Technology shall
monitor the calculation of the fees charged for copies of computer-stored public records
to ensure that such fees are reasonable and consistent among agencies.
(c) A public agency may require the prepayment of any fee required or permitted
under the Freedom of Information Act if such fee is estimated to be ten dollars or more.
The sales tax provided in chapter 219 shall not be imposed upon any transaction for
which a fee is required or permissible under this section or section 1-227.
(d) The public agency shall waive any fee provided for in this section when:
(1) The person requesting the records is an indigent individual;
(2) The records located are determined by the public agency to be exempt from
disclosure under subsection (b) of section 1-210; or
(3) In its judgment, compliance with the applicant's request benefits the general
welfare.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, the fee for any person who has the custody
of any public records or files for certifying any copy of such records or files, or certifying
to any fact appearing therefrom, shall be for the first page of such certificate, or copy
and certificate, one dollar; and for each additional page, fifty cents. For the purpose of
computing such fee, such copy and certificate shall be deemed to be one continuous
instrument.
(f) The Secretary of the State, after consulting with the chairperson of the Freedom
of Information Commission, the Commissioner of Correction and a representative of the
Judicial Department, shall propose a fee structure for copies of public records provided to
an inmate, as defined in section 18-84, in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.
The Secretary of the State shall submit such proposed fee structure to the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration, not later than January 15, 2000.
(1949 Rev., S. 3625; 1959, P.A. 352, S. 1; P.A. 75-342, S. 5; P.A. 77-609, S. 3, 8; P.A. 89-251, S. 56, 203; P.A. 90-
307, S. 4, 5; P.A. 91-347, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-188, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-112, S. 1; P.A. 95-144, S. 1; P.A. 97-47, S. 2, 3; June 18
Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 25, 50; P.A. 99-71, S. 2; 99-156, S. 2; P.A. 00-66, S. 6.)
History: 1959 act doubled fees for certifying copies of records; P.A. 75-342 provided that copies of public records be
provided upon written request, that fees for copies, printouts or transcriptions of public records not exceed their cost and
that fees be waived in certain cases; P.A. 77-609 differentiated between fees charged for copies and fees charged for
printouts or transcriptions, allowed agencies to require prepayment of fees and prohibited charging sales tax for fees
estimated to be $10.00 or more; P.A. 89-251 increased the maximum fee for copies from twenty-five cents per page to
fifty cents per page; P.A. 90-307 deleted provisions re maximum fee for a "printout" and added sentence re maximum fees
for copies provided under Sec. 1-19a(b); P.A. 91-347 divided section into Subsecs., deleted reference to Subsec. (a) of
Sec. 1-19a in Subsec. (a) and added provisions in Subsec. (b) re costs for a copy other than a printout, effective July 1,
1992; P.A. 93-188 amended Subsec. (b) to apply provisions re agency determination of costs to printout which does not
exist at time agency responds to request for a copy and delete provisions giving secretary of office of policy and management
jurisdiction over fee disputes re computer-stored records, effective June 23, 1993; P.A. 94-112 amended Subsec. (a) by
deleting reference to Sec. 1-21j, adding reference to Sec. 1-21l, adding Subdiv. (1) re offices for which the fee for providing
copies shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page and adding reference to "all other public agencies" in Subdiv. (2), and
added new Subsec. (f) re fee structure proposal; P.A. 95-144 added implied reference to "1-21j" and deleted "1-21l" in
Subsec. (a); P.A. 97-47 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections
and for "this chapter", respectively; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "Department of
Information Technology" for "Office of Information and Technology", effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 1-15 transferred to
Sec. 1-212 in 1999; P.A. 99-71 deleted former Subsec. (f) which had required Secretary of the State to propose fee structure
for copies of public records; P.A. 99-156 added Subsec. (g), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (f), re proposed fee structure
for copies provided to inmates; P.A. 00-66 made a technical change in Subsec. (f).
Annotations to former section 1-15:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 182 C. 138, 139. Cited. (Reference made to Public Acts 1977,
No. 77-609.) Id., 142, 170, 171. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information
Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611−613, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 770, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701.
Cited. 208 C. 442−450, 453, 454. Cited. 210 C. 590, 592. Cited. 212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited.
208 C. 442−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126,
127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315, 316. Cited. 216 C. 253,
258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153,
156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 217 C. 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260,
261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−
308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 227 C. 641, 648, 654, 659. Cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−
168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272,
275−277, 279. Cited. 240 C. 1.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210
C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 544; 20 CA 671,
674, 675. Cited. 22 CA 316−320. Printout copies, not computer diskettes, are appropriate responses to information requests.
Id. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Cited. 29 CA 547, 548. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id.,
821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Cited. 36 CA 155, 157. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Cited. 41 CA 67, 71. Freedom of Information Act, Sec.
1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270. Freedom of Information Act cited. 42 CS
84, 88, 90. Cited. Id., 129, 138, 140, 143. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id. Cited. Id., 291, 293−296. Cited. 43 CS
246, 247.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 228 C. 158, 165. Cited. 240 C. 1. Cited. 241 C. 310.
Cited. 41 CA 67, 71.
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(1) Construed as requiring each public agency to open its records concerning the
administration of such agency to public inspection; and
(2) Construed as requiring each public agency to disclose information in its personnel files, birth records or confidential tax records to the individual who is the subject of
such information.
(b) Nothing in the Freedom of Information Act shall be deemed in any manner to:
(1) Affect the status of judicial records as they existed prior to October 1, 1975, nor
to limit the rights of litigants, including parties to administrative proceedings, under the
laws of discovery of this state; or
(2) Require disclosure of any record of a personnel search committee which, because of name or other identifying information, would reveal the identity of an executive
level employment candidate without the consent of such candidate.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 3; P.A. 79-118; P.A. 87-568, S. 3; P.A. 94-246, S. 15; P.A. 97-47, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 79-118 provided that Secs. 1-15, 1-18a, 1-19 to 1-19b and 1-21 to 1-21k be construed to require public
agencies to open records concerning their administration and to disclose personnel, birth and tax records to individuals;
P.A. 87-568 added Subdiv. (2) to Subsec. (b), specifying when disclosure of any record of a personnel search committee
not required; P.A. 94-246 amended Subsec. (b) to replace in Subdiv. (1) "affect the rights of litigants" with "limit the rights
of litigants"; P.A. 97-47 substituted "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections; Sec. 1-19b transferred to Sec.
1-213 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-19b:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325, 339. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310,
311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449,
452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of
Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650;
212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C.
312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. FOIA, Freedom of
Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C.
225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232,
233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id.,
549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 227 C. 641, 644. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271,
272, 275−277, 279.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210
C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 542, 544; 20 CA
671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29
CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 213 C. 126, 131. Cited. 221 C. 300, 304. Cited. 227 C. 641, 644, 650, 662, 665. Cited.
233 C. 28, 37. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 28, 36. Subdiv. (1) cited. 241 C. 310.
Subdiv. (1) cited. 42 CA 39; judgment reversed, see 241 C. 310 et seq.
Cited. 42 CS 291, 293, 298−301.
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(b) Whenever a public agency receives a request to inspect or copy records contained in any of its employees' personnel or medical files and similar files and the agency
reasonably believes that the disclosure of such records would legally constitute an invasion of privacy, the agency shall immediately notify in writing (1) each employee concerned, provided such notice shall not be required to be in writing where impractical
due to the large number of employees concerned and (2) the collective bargaining representative, if any, of each employee concerned. Nothing herein shall require an agency
to withhold from disclosure the contents of personnel or medical files and similar files
when it does not reasonably believe that such disclosure would legally constitute an
invasion of personal privacy.
(c) A public agency which has provided notice under subsection (b) of this section
shall disclose the records requested unless it receives a written objection from the employee concerned or the employee's collective bargaining representative, if any, within
seven business days from the receipt by the employee or such collective bargaining
representative of the notice or, if there is no evidence of receipt of written notice, not
later than nine business days from the date the notice is actually mailed, sent, posted or
otherwise given. Each objection filed under this subsection shall be on a form prescribed
by the public agency, which shall consist of a statement to be signed by the employee
or the employee's collective bargaining representative, under the penalties of false statement, that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief there is good ground to
support it and that the objection is not interposed for delay. Upon the filing of an objection
as provided in this subsection, the agency shall not disclose the requested records unless
ordered to do so by the Freedom of Information Commission pursuant to section 1-206.
Failure to comply with a request to inspect or copy records under this section shall
constitute a denial for the purposes of section 1-206. Notwithstanding any provision of
this subsection or subsection (b) of section 1-206 to the contrary, if an employee's
collective bargaining representative files a written objection under this subsection, theÏ
employee may subsequently approve the disclosure of the records requested by submitting a written notice to the public agency.
(P.A. 73-271; P.A. 78-331, S. 1, 58; P.A. 87-285, S. 1; P.A. 88-353, S. 1, 4; P.A. 92-207, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 78-331 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 1-20; P.A. 87-285 added Subsecs. (b) and (c), granting employees
the right to object to the disclosure of their personnel or medical files and establishing standards and procedures for such
objections; P.A. 88-353 added Subdiv. (2) to Subsec. (b), re notice to collective bargaining representative, and amended
Subsec. (c) to allow collective bargaining representative to object to disclosure of records, to require objection to be on
agency form signed under penalties of false statement and to allow employee to approve disclosure if collective bargaining
representative objects; P.A. 92-207 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the number of days for receiving a written objection
from an employee or collective bargaining representative re disclosure of records from four to seven and increasing the
time limit re the nonreceipt of the written notice from seven to nine; Sec. 1-20a transferred to Sec. 1-214 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-20a:
Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, Secs. 1-7−1-21k, cited. 206 C. 449, 452. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act,
cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited.
218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235,
255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id.,
300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Cited. 227 C. 751, 760, 761, 764, 766. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Cited. Id., 271−273, 275−277, 279. Freedom
of Information Act cited. Id. Cited. 233 C. 28, 31.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 16 CA 49−53; 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id., 291, 293−295.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 228 C. 271, 273.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 228 C. 158, 161. Cited. Id., 271, 273.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 228 C. 271, 273. Cited. 233 C. 28, 31.
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(b) For the purposes of this section, "record of the arrest" means (1) the name and
address of the person arrested, the date, time and place of the arrest and the offense for
which the person was arrested, and (2) at least one of the following, designated by the
law enforcement agency: The arrest report, incident report, news release or other similar
report of the arrest of a person.
(P.A. 83-272, S. 1; P.A. 94-117, S. 4; 94-246, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 94-117 added provision prohibiting disclosure of personal possessions or effects found on person at time
of arrest unless such possessions or effects are relevant to the crime; P.A. 94-246 divided Sec. into Subsecs., amended
Subsec. (a) to add exception that disclosure of data or information other than that set forth in Subsec. (b)(1) is subject to
Sec. 1-19(b)(3) and amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (2) re arrest report, incident report, news release or other similar
report of the arrest of a person; Sec. 1-20b transferred to Sec. 1-215 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-20b:
Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, Secs. 1-7−1-21k, cited. 206 C. 449, 452. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act,
cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited.
218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235,
255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id.,
300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Section provides for both a requirement of disclosure
and a limit on the extent of that disclosure. It does not require full disclosure of arrest reports during pendency of a criminal
prosecution. 227 C. 641, 644, 645, 650, 653−655, 658, 659, 661, 662, 666. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228
C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 16 CA 49−53; 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140. Cited. Id., 291, 293−297. Freedom of Information
Act cited. Id.
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(P.A. 88-227, S. 2, 4.)
History: P.A. 88-227 effective July 1, 1989; Sec. 1-20c transferred to Sec. 1-216 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-20c:
FOIA, Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−
201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq.
cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218,
222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act
cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271,
272, 275−277, 279.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821,
822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec.
1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information
Act cited. 43 CA 133. Cited. 44 CA 622. P.A. 88-227 cited. Id.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id., 291, 293−295.
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(1) A federal court judge, federal court magistrate, judge of the Superior Court,
Appellate Court or Supreme Court of the state, or family support magistrate;
(2) A sworn member of a municipal police department or a sworn member of the
Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety;
(3) An employee of the Department of Correction;
(4) An attorney-at-law who represents or has represented the state in a criminal
prosecution;
(5) An attorney-at-law who is or has been employed by the Public Defender Services
Division;
(6) An inspector employed by the Division of Criminal Justice;
(7) A firefighter;
(8) An employee of the Department of Children and Families; or
(9) A member or employee of the Board of Parole.
(b) The business address of any person described in this section shall be subject to
disclosure under section 1-210. The provisions of this section shall not apply to Department of Motor Vehicles records described in section 14-10.
(P.A. 95-163; P.A. 96-83, S. 1, 3; P.A. 97-219, S. 2; P.A. 99-26, S. 27, 39; 99-77, S. 1; 99-156, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 96-83 added Subdiv. (6) re nondisclosure of residential address of inspector employed by Division of
Criminal Justice (Revisor's note: In 1997 references throughout the general statutes to "Motor Vehicle(s) Commissioner"
and "Motor Vehicle(s) Department" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles"
or "Department of Motor Vehicles", as the case may be, for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 97-219
added Subdiv. (7) re nondisclosure of residential address of a firefighter; Sec. 1-20f transferred to Sec. 1-217 in 1999; P.A.
99-26 added Subdiv. (8) re nondisclosure of residential address of an employee of the Department of Children and Families,
effective May 7, 1999; P.A. 99-77 inserted Subsec. indicators and amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (8) re nondisclosure
of residential address of a member or employee of the Board of Parole and delete provision requiring any of the enumerated
persons who seeks nondisclosure of such person's residential address to submit a written request for such nondisclosure
and furnish his business address to the executive head of the department, agency, board, council, commission or institution;
P.A. 99-156 substituted "public agency" for "state department, agency, board, council, commission or institution" in
introductory provision.
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(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Each such public agency of the state shall file not later than January thirty-first
of each year in the office of the Secretary of the State the schedule of the regular meetings
of such public agency for the ensuing year, except that such provision shall not apply
to the General Assembly, either house thereof or to any committee thereof. Any other
provision of the Freedom of Information Act notwithstanding, the General Assembly
at the commencement of each regular session in the odd-numbered years, shall adopt,
as part of its joint rules, rules to provide notice to the public of its regular, special,
emergency or interim committee meetings. The chairperson or secretary of any such
public agency of any political subdivision of the state shall file, not later than January
thirty-first of each year, with the clerk of such subdivision the schedule of regular meetings of such public agency for the ensuing year, and no such meeting of any such public
agency shall be held sooner than thirty days after such schedule has been filed. The
chief executive officer of any multitown district or agency shall file, not later than January thirty-first of each year, with the clerk of each municipal member of such district
or agency, the schedule of regular meetings of such public agency for the ensuing year,
and no such meeting of any such public agency shall be held sooner than thirty days
after such schedule has been filed.
(c) The agenda of the regular meetings of every public agency, except for the General Assembly, shall be available to the public and shall be filed, not less than twenty-
four hours before the meetings to which they refer, in such agency's regular office or
place of business or, if there is no such office or place of business, in the office of the
Secretary of the State for any such public agency of the state, in the office of the clerk
of such subdivision for any public agency of a political subdivision of the state or in the
office of the clerk of each municipal member of any multitown district or agency. Upon
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of a public agency present and voting,
any subsequent business not included in such filed agendas may be considered and acted
upon at such meetings.
(d) Notice of each special meeting of every public agency, except for the General
Assembly, either house thereof or any committee thereof, shall be given not less than
twenty-four hours prior to the time of such meeting by filing a notice of the time and
place thereof in the office of the Secretary of the State for any such public agency of
the state, in the office of the clerk of such subdivision for any public agency of a political
subdivision of the state and in the office of the clerk of each municipal member for any
multitown district or agency. The secretary or clerk shall cause any notice received
under this section to be posted in his office. Such notice shall be given not less than
twenty-four hours prior to the time of the special meeting; provided, in case of emergency, except for the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee thereof,
any such special meeting may be held without complying with the foregoing requirement
for the filing of notice but a copy of the minutes of every such emergency special meeting
adequately setting forth the nature of the emergency and the proceedings occurring at
such meeting shall be filed with the Secretary of the State, the clerk of such political
subdivision, or the clerk of each municipal member of such multitown district or agency,
as the case may be, not later than seventy-two hours following the holding of such
meeting. The notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the
business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meetings by
such public agency. In addition, such written notice shall be delivered to the usual place
of abode of each member of the public agency so that the same is received prior to such
special meeting. The requirement of delivery of such written notice may be dispensed
with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the
clerk or secretary of the public agency a written waiver of delivery of such notice. Such
waiver may be given by telegram. The requirement of delivery of such written notice
may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at
the time it convenes. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any agency
from adopting more stringent notice requirements.
(e) No member of the public shall be required, as a condition to attendance at a
meeting of any such body, to register the member's name, or furnish other information,
or complete a questionnaire or otherwise fulfill any condition precedent to the member's
attendance.
(f) A public agency may hold an executive session, as defined in subdivision (6) of
section 1-200, upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of such body
present and voting, taken at a public meeting and stating the reasons for such executive
session, as defined in section 1-200.
(g) In determining the time within which or by when a notice, agenda, record of
votes or minutes of a special meeting or an emergency special meeting are required to
be filed under this section, Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays and any day on which
the office of the agency, the Secretary of the State or the clerk of the applicable political
subdivision or the clerk of each municipal member of any multitown district or agency,
as the case may be, is closed, shall be excluded.
(1957, P.A. 468, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 723, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 499; P.A. 75-342, S. 6; P.A. 76-435, S. 63, 82; P.A. 77-609, S.
4, 8; P.A. 83-67, S. 2; 83-148; P.A. 84-546, S. 4, 173; P.A. 85-613, S. 3, 154; P.A. 97-47, S. 8; P.A. 99-71, S. 1; P.A. 00-
66, S. 7.)
History: 1967 act required filing schedules for meetings of public bodies with secretary of the state or clerks in political
subdivisions of the state and made provisions regarding special meetings; 1971 act required that votes taken in closed
executive sessions be available for public inspection and recorded in the minutes; P.A. 75-342 excluded the general assembly
and its committees from provision requiring that schedule of meetings be filed, expanded provisions re special meetings
and changed vote margin required to hold closed executive session from simple majority to two-thirds majority; P.A. 76-
435 made technical changes; P.A. 77-609 required that the general assembly provide in its joint rules for giving notice of
meetings, made provisions regarding agendas for regular public meetings and required that written notice of special meetings be sent to agency members; P.A. 83-67 required multitown districts and agencies to notify their member towns of the
schedule of regular and special meetings and to file minutes of such meetings; P.A. 83-148 added a new Subsec. (b) which
clarifies the method to be used in determining the time in which a notice or agenda is required to be given, deleting provisions
in former language, now Subsec. (a), made redundant by its inclusion and adding provisions in Subsec. (a) requiring
secretary or clerk to post notice in his office and requiring that notice be given at least twenty-four hours before time of
special meeting; P.A. 84-546 amended Subsec. (b) to apply provisions to "offices of the clerk of each municipal member
of any multitown district or agency"; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes, deleting reference to Sec. 2-45; P.A. 97-47
substituted "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections; Sec. 1-21 transferred to Sec. 1-225 in 1999; P.A. 99-71
amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "record of votes or minutes of a special meeting or an emergency special meeting
are" for "or other information is" and repealing "given, made available, posted or" before "filed"; P.A. 00-66 divided
former Subsec. (a) into multiple subsections, relettered former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (g) and made technical changes.
See Secs. 1-227 to 1-231, inclusive, for requirements applicable with respect to public meetings, hearings and executive
sessions of public agencies.
Annotations to former section 1-21:
Where statute requires vote of each board member be recorded, absence of record of dissenting vote indicated affirmative
vote. 148 C. 622. Cited. 170 C. 588, 590, 592−595, 597−601. Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325, 338. Cited.
182 C. 138, 139; Id., 142, 170, 171. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 183, 187; Id., 234, 236−
238; Id., 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Cited. 198 C. 498, 500. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617,
619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454;
210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C.
204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA), Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761. Cited 219 C. 685, 688. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18 et
seq. cited. 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 220, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232−235. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id.; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information
Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.,
271, 272, 275−277, 279. Cited. 234 C. 704−706, 710. Cited. 240 C. 835. Notice under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
was adequate for a site inspection under the Inland Wetlands Act. 243 C. 266.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601, 603. Cited. 4 CA 216. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA
380, 382, 383; judgment reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53;
19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA
316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Cited. 31 CA 690, 691. Cited. 35 CA 111, 113−
119. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA
589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Cited. Id., 700; judgment reversed, see 240 C.
835 et seq. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133. Cited. Id., 227.
Plaintiff newspaper reporter as a member of the public has standing to challenge the closing of a town council meeting
without required vote. Provision of the Enfield charter that all meetings of the town council be open to the public must
yield to state statutes. Where council is exercising its administrative and executive powers, it may close its sessions. 31
CS 329. The commission's interpretation that an emergency meeting may be held only when there is no time for a special
meeting notice to be posted twenty-four hours in advance was considered reasonable. 39 CS 56, 59, 60. Cited. 40 CS 233,
235. Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 268, 270. Cited. Id. Cited. 42 CS 84−86, 88,
90. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id., 291, 293−295.
Presumed legislature, by insertion of exception clause in section 1-19, intended to exclude from operation of "right to
know" statutes exclusive power over admission to bar vested in superior court by section 51-80. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 313, 321.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 212 C. 100−102. Cited. 213 C. 216, 218. Cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 157. Cited. 218 C. 757, 758. Cited. 219 C. 685,
691. Cited. 221 C. 217, 221, 232, 235; Id., 393, 399. Cited. 230 C. 441, 443, 445. Cited. 234 C. 704, 711.
Cited. 19 CA 352−354. Cited. Id., 539, 541. Cited. 35 CA 111, 114. Cited. 42 CA 402. Cited. 43 CA 133. Cited. Id., 227.
Cited. 42 CS 84, 87.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 42 CS 84, 89.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 221 C. 217, 225.
Cited. 39 CS 56−58.
Annotations to present section:
Subsec. (a):
Section's open meeting requirements inapplicable to grievance arbitration proceedings. 244 C. 487.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Any such public agency may adopt rules governing such recording, photography
or the use of such broadcasting equipment for radio and television stations but, in the
absence of the adoption of such rules and regulations by such public agency prior to the
meeting, such recording, photography or the use of such radio and television equipment
shall be permitted as provided in subsection (a).
(c) Whenever there is a violation or the probability of a violation of subsections (a)
and (b) of this section the superior court, or a judge thereof, for the judicial district in
which such meeting is taking place shall, upon application made by affidavit that such
violation is taking place or that there is reasonable probability that such violation will
take place, issue a temporary injunction against any such violation without notice to the
adverse party to show cause why such injunction should not be granted and without the
plaintiff's giving bond. Any person or public agency so enjoined may immediately
appear and be heard by the court or judge granting such injunction with regard to dissolving or modifying the same and, after hearing the parties and upon a determination that
such meeting should not be open to the public, said court or judge may dissolve or
modify the injunction. Any action taken by a judge upon any such application shall be
immediately certified to the court to which such proceedings are returnable.
(1967, P.A. 851, S. 1, 2; 1969, P.A. 706; P.A. 74-183, S. 161, 291; P.A. 75-342, S. 12; P.A. 76-435, S. 24, 82; 76-436,
S. 562, 681; P.A. 77-609, S. 5, 8; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: 1969 act added Subsec. (c); P.A. 74-183 changed "circuit court" to "court of common pleas" and "circuit" to
"county or judicial district"; P.A. 75-342 amended section to specifically include photography and newspaper coverage
of open meetings and cable transmissions; P.A. 76-435 made technical changes; P.A. 76-436 changed "court of common
pleas" to "superior court", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-609 allowed recording equipment at open meetings; P.A. 78-
280 deleted "county"; Sec. 1-21a transferred to Sec. 1-226 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21a:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 182 C. 142, 170, 171. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235,
245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623;
205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592;
212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210
C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
Id. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−
201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited.
Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222,
224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited.
Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271,
272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 42 CA 402. Parties to a grievance arbitration hearing do not have right pursuant to the section to tape record the
proceedings. 43 CA 133.
Annotations to present section:
Subsec. (a):
Section's recording provisions inapplicable to grievance arbitration proceedings. 244 C. 487.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 75-342, S. 7.)
History: Sec. 1-21c transferred to Sec. 1-227 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21c:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 234, 236,
237; Id., 310, 311, 314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C.
767, 768, 775, 778; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212
C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C.
590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA,
Freedom of Information Act cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Cited. Id., 757−761. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et
seq. cited. Id.; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222,
224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited.
Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271,
272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
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(P.A. 75-342, S. 8.)
History: Sec. 1-21d transferred to Sec. 1-228 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21d:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646,
648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA, Freedom of
Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C.
225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232,
233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id.,
549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
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(P.A. 75-342, S. 9.)
History: Sec. 1-21e transferred to Sec. 1-229 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21e:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646,
648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA, Freedom of
Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C.
225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232,
233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id.,
549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
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(P.A. 75-342, S. 10.)
History: Sec. 1-21f transferred to Sec. 1-230 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21f:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646,
648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA, Freedom of
Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C.
225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232,
233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id.,
549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
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(b) An executive session may not be convened to receive or discuss oral communications that would otherwise be privileged by the attorney-client relationship if the
agency were a nongovernmental entity, unless the executive session is for a purpose
explicitly permitted pursuant to subdivision (6) of section 1-200.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 11; P.A. 81-431, S. 5; P.A. 86-226; P.A. 97-47, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 81-431 exempted names of job applicants interviewed during executive session from disclosure; P.A.
86-226 added Subsec. (b) prohibiting convening of executive session to receive or discuss oral communications that would
otherwise be privileged by the attorney-client privilege unless session is for a purpose explicitly permitted under Sec. 1-
18a(e); P.A. 97-47 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); Sec. 1-21g transferred to Sec. 1-231 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21g:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646,
648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260, 265−268. FOIA, Freedom of
Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 157, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom of
Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−761;
220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225, 228,
232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482, 485;
Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 34 CA 772−774, 784. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.
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(P.A. 75-342, S. 13.)
History: Sec. 1-21h transferred to Sec. 1-232 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21h:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701; 206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C.
590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105. Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208,
210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646, 648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130; Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) cited. 214 C. 312, 313, 315. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 216 C. 253, 258, 260,
265−268. FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 157, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
Id., 193−201. Freedom of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et
seq. cited. Id., 757−761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217,
218, 222, 224, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information
Act cited. Id., 482, 485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id.,
271, 272, 275−277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 16 CA 49−53; 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540,
542, 544; 20 CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) cited. 29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42
CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
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(b) Any member of any public agency who fails to comply with an order of the
Freedom of Information Commission shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor and each
occurrence of failure to comply with such order shall constitute a separate offense.
(P.A. 75-342, S. 16; P.A. 79-631, S. 24, 111; P.A. 82-188, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 79-631 made technical changes; P.A. 82-188 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the exception of records
destroyed pursuant to chapter 871; Sec. 1-21k transferred to Sec. 1-240 in 1999.
Annotations to former section 1-21k:
Cited. 174 C. 308, 310. Cited. 181 C. 324, 325. Cited. 184 C. 102, 104. Cited. 190 C. 235, 245. Cited. 192 C. 310, 311,
314, 315, 317. Freedom of Information Act cited. 204 C. 609, 611, 612, 617, 619, 621, 623; 205 C. 767, 768, 775, 778;
206 C. 449, 452; 207 C. 698, 701. Cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 210 C. 590, 592; 212 C. 100−102, 105.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 208 C. 442−445, 448−450, 453, 454; 209 C. 204, 208, 210; 210 C. 590, 592; Id., 646,
648, 650; 212 C. 100−102, 105; 213 C. 126, 127, 129, 130, Id., 216, 217, 219. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
214 C. 312, 313, 315. Cited. 216 C. 253, 257, 258, 260, 265−268. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id. FOIA,
Freedom of Information Act, cited. 217 C. 153, 156, 160. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. Id., 193−201. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 218 C. 256, 260, 261. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-18a et seq. cited. Id., 757−
761; 220 C. 225, 226, 235, 255, 259, 260, 262. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 221 C. 217, 218, 222, 224, 225,
228, 232, 233, 235; Id., 300, 301, 303−308, 314; Id., 393−395, 398, 399, 401. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 482,
485; Id., 549, 577, 578. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 222 C. 621, 626, 627, 630. Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) cited. 228 C. 158, 160, 163−168, 170, 172−174, 177. Freedom of Information Act cited. Id., 271, 272, 275−
277, 279.
Cited. 2 CA 600, 601. Freedom of Information Act cited. 4 CA 468, 469, 472, 479, 484; 14 CA 380, 382, 383; judgment
reversed, see 210 C. 646, 648, 649. Freedom of Information Act cited. 19 CA 352, 353, 355; Id., 539, 540, 542, 544; 20
CA 671, 674, 675. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 22 CA 316−320. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited.
29 CA 821, 822, 824. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cited. 35 CA 111, 113, 115−119. Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom
of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
Freedom of Information Act cited. 41 CS 31, 37, 39−41, 48; Id., 267, 270; 42 CS 84, 88, 90; Id., 129, 138, 140; Id.,
291, 293−295.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 198 C. 498, 502. Cited. 210 C. 646, 650.
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(P.A. 93-191, S. 2, 4; P.A. 97-47, S. 14.)
History: P.A. 93-191 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-47 made a technical change; Sec. 1-21l transferred to Sec. 1-241
in 1999.
Annotation to former section 1-21l:
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sec. 1-15 et seq. cited. 37 CA 589, 610. Freedom of Information Act, Sec. 1-15
et seq. cited. 42 CA 402. Freedom of Information Act cited. 43 CA 133.
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