Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands coverage for freedom of information authorization requests (FOIA) in Michigan.

Highlights:

• Requires the speaker of the house to appoint an individual to be the FOIA coordinator of the house (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Senate majority leader to also appoint an individual to be the FOIA coordinator for the Senate (Sec. 6).

• Requires the FOIA coordinator to process any requests for public records and consent to any requests that were not approved (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the individual who received a denial on their request to submit an appeal to the individual designated by the House or Senate to respond to appeals, depending on the circumstances (Sec. 10).

• Requires all appeals to be granted a date and time for a hearing or trial to determine whether the public record can be released (Sec. 10).

• Requires the public body to pay a fine of $1000 to the general fund of the state treasury in the instance they are found to be violating the provisions of this act (Sec. 10).

• Specifies that the public body can be exempt from disclosure in the following cases (Sec. 13):

• Information of a personal nature and an invasion of privacy;

• Endangers the physical safety of law enforcement personnel;

• Breaks the anonymity of a party in a civil action suit; and

• Trade secrets or financial information are distributed to a state legislative body or other agency.

• Specifies that unless the public interest in disclosure is greater than that of nondisclosure, public records could release information related to law enforcement and identifying informants as well as disclosing operational procedures (Sec. 13). 

• Authorizes the governor and lieutenant governor to be exempt from disclosure of information related to their employees or the following topics (Sec. 13):

• Appointments and removals of individuals to office;

• Granting pardons;

• Budget and expenditure changes; and

• Records used by the governor or lieutenant governor that could impact personal security.

Full Bill Text