• The Freedom of Information Commission consists of five members who the governor appoints for four-year, staggered terms. No more than three may be from the same political party. Either house of the General Assembly confirms.

• The commission staff is composed of (1) an executive director and general counsel, (2) a managing director and associate general counsel, and (3) other staff as the executive director deems necessary.

• The commission reviews complaints about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) violations and ensures that the public has access to government records and notice of public meetings.

• It can investigate allegations and, among other things, hold hearings, administer oaths, examine witnesses, receive oral and documentary evidence, and subpoena witnesses.

• The commission must conduct annual training sessions, together with the Department of Information Technology, to education state employees about FOIA.

QUESTIONS

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? As a commissioner, what role if any do you play in that process?

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

3. The commission’s 2005 Freedom of Information Conference included a round table discussion on FOI education and outreach in minority communities. What are your thoughts? What recommendations, if any, emerged from the discussion and how is the commission following up?

4. 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?

5. The Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee favorably reported a bill that prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from keeping permanently any personal information it collects, including e-mail addresses, to notify people of significant highway or railway incidents. It exempts from disclosure those e-mail addresses. What are your views on attempts to keep information confidential in order to protect citizens?

6. The same bill originally contained a provision requiring public agencies to tape record executive sessions. The recordings were not to be subject to disclosure unless the agency failed to comply with FOIA. Should the public have access to the content of executive sessions?

7. The state Senate recently passed a bill that exempts from disclosure under the FOIA information submitted as part of a mail-in voter registration application with the exception of the applicant’s name, address, date of birth, and telephone number. What are your thoughts?

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

9. 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?

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

11. What do you see as the most important long- and short-term goals for the commission?

12. What role should the commissioners play in commission decisions about alleged FOIA violations?

KS: ts