CURRENT ISSUES:

1. What are your thoughts on telephone voting by state and local legislative bodies, boards, and commissions? Do public agencies that hold meetings by telephone or other electronic equipment have to adhere to notice and agenda requirements? How can the public access these meetings?

2. The Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee is considering a bill that would exempt home and business alarm registry lists from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). What are your views on attempts to keep information confidential in order to protect citizens?

3. The GAE Committee is also considering a bill that would require public agencies to tape record executive sessions. The recordings would not be subject to disclosure unless the agency failed to comply with FOIA. What are your thoughts on this bill?

4. The GAE Committee is also considering a bill that would provide for the disclosure of autopsy reports of certain people who die as a result of police action. What are your thoughts on this bill?

5. What protections do private citizens have that public employees will not sell or otherwise unlawfully disclose private information?

ISSUES RELATED TO AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1. The commission hears complaints of alleged FOIA violations in the order that they are received, unless the executive director makes a decision to do otherwise and the commission approves it. What circumstances necessitate expedited proceedings?

2. Do you think that the commission’s standard procedure for hearing complaints can be improved? If so, in what ways?

3. The commission held the first training for its liaison program in January of 2002 with the intention of creating a statewide network of resources for the residents of Connecticut. What is the status of this program?

4. What role should the commission play in educating Connecticut residents about their rights under FOIA and about resources in the state?

KS: ts