Transparency News 2/2/17
Thursday, February 2, 2017
State and Local Stories
State and Local Stories
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee yesterday shot down a bill that would have taken foreclosure sale notices out of newspapers. The same committee passed an anti-SLAPP (anti “strategic lawsuit against public participation”) bill, but not before tinkering with it. The bill originally covered not only statements on policy and politics, but it also covered product/service reviews. The committee deleted that part of it and reported the rest on a 13-2 vote.
Despite having tabled two previous versions, the House Courts of Justice Criminal Law Subcommittee unanimously reported a third version of a bill to restrict access to juror information. The bill now says that names and addresses are to be released, but additional information about jurors will generally be off limits.
The House General Laws Committee will hear HB2043 today, the bill that would criminalize release of a police officer’s name within 6 months of a shooting or use of excessive force claim. The committee meets 30 minutes after adjournment of the full House session, probably around 2:00.
A Fredericksburg police officer pulled over Travis J. Blair and fatally shot him after a chase and struggle in March. Soon after, Police Chief David Nye authorized public release of the officer's identity: Christopher Brossmer. Blair had a warrant for failing to appear in court on a drug charge and his father told The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg he held no animosity toward the officer who shot his son. Release of the officer's name wasn't required by state law, but it was not prohibited, either. While many Virginia police agencies don't release an officer's name until the investigation of a shooting is over, a 2015 Fredericksburg police policy says officers will be named within 72 hours of a shooting unless their safety is threatened. Del. Jackson H. Miller, R-Manassas, wants such police policies to end.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
A bill limiting the ability of public employees to release information about police officers under investigation is making its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 2043 alters the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to prohibit public officials and employees from releasing information about a police officer “who is the subject of an official investigation that involves the discharge of a firearm or use of force” for the first six months of that investigation. The bill requires the officer’s name be released to the public if he is charged with a criminal offense as a result of the investigation, but the information can be indefinitely withheld if he or she is not charged with a criminal offense. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government testified against the new bill when it came up in subcommittee last week. Current law already gives local police departments the discretion to withhold identifying information. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said on Wednesday that the proposed legislation “would not only prohibit the release of a name for six months, it would make release prior to that time a Class 1 misdemeanor.”
Winchester Star
A civil case fought over ten dollars and some change has cost a tiny town more than $46,000. The Virginia Supreme Court denied an appeal by former Claremont Town Council member Donna Skinner over money she wanted returned concerning a series of Freedom of Information Act requests. Skinner also wanted the town to overturn a town resolution that dealt with charges for copies of documents. The case, which was initially heard last year in Surry County Circuit Court, and was found in favor of the town, has ultimately resulted in the town spending $46,444 in legal fees, said Town Council member Brigid Jones.
Smithfield Times
National Stories
Michigan and Louisiana are the only two states that don’t apply their public records laws to the legislature and the governor’s office. A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers have rolled out bills to change that. Michigan is ranked among the worst states in the country when it comes to government ethics and access laws. State House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) says, at the same time, the public is demanding more accountability at every level of government. The bills would require the Legislature and the governor to open more records and communications to anyone who asks for them. State Representative Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) says local governments in Michigan already live under these rules.
WMUK
Editorials/Columns
Residents of the Peninsula, who spent $700,000 of their money making TowneBank whole after People Express Airlines stopped flying, and taxpayers across Virginia who kicked in another $3.55 million toward that same high public purpose, owe the Peninsula Airport Commission a big vote of thanks. That's because, without the commission's behind-closed-door deliberations concerning the wisdom of guaranteeing a line of credit to a start-up airline, Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne might not have been inspired to move quite as quickly to tighten up the state's handouts to its airports. Thank you. We won't say it was worth every penny.
Daily Press
Despite having tabled two previous versions, the House Courts of Justice Criminal Law Subcommittee unanimously reported a third version of a bill to restrict access to juror information. The bill now says that names and addresses are to be released, but additional information about jurors will generally be off limits.
The House General Laws Committee will hear HB2043 today, the bill that would criminalize release of a police officer’s name within 6 months of a shooting or use of excessive force claim. The committee meets 30 minutes after adjournment of the full House session, probably around 2:00.
A Fredericksburg police officer pulled over Travis J. Blair and fatally shot him after a chase and struggle in March. Soon after, Police Chief David Nye authorized public release of the officer's identity: Christopher Brossmer. Blair had a warrant for failing to appear in court on a drug charge and his father told The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg he held no animosity toward the officer who shot his son. Release of the officer's name wasn't required by state law, but it was not prohibited, either. While many Virginia police agencies don't release an officer's name until the investigation of a shooting is over, a 2015 Fredericksburg police policy says officers will be named within 72 hours of a shooting unless their safety is threatened. Del. Jackson H. Miller, R-Manassas, wants such police policies to end.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
A bill limiting the ability of public employees to release information about police officers under investigation is making its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 2043 alters the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to prohibit public officials and employees from releasing information about a police officer “who is the subject of an official investigation that involves the discharge of a firearm or use of force” for the first six months of that investigation. The bill requires the officer’s name be released to the public if he is charged with a criminal offense as a result of the investigation, but the information can be indefinitely withheld if he or she is not charged with a criminal offense. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government testified against the new bill when it came up in subcommittee last week. Current law already gives local police departments the discretion to withhold identifying information. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said on Wednesday that the proposed legislation “would not only prohibit the release of a name for six months, it would make release prior to that time a Class 1 misdemeanor.”
Winchester Star
A civil case fought over ten dollars and some change has cost a tiny town more than $46,000. The Virginia Supreme Court denied an appeal by former Claremont Town Council member Donna Skinner over money she wanted returned concerning a series of Freedom of Information Act requests. Skinner also wanted the town to overturn a town resolution that dealt with charges for copies of documents. The case, which was initially heard last year in Surry County Circuit Court, and was found in favor of the town, has ultimately resulted in the town spending $46,444 in legal fees, said Town Council member Brigid Jones.
Smithfield Times
National Stories
Michigan and Louisiana are the only two states that don’t apply their public records laws to the legislature and the governor’s office. A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers have rolled out bills to change that. Michigan is ranked among the worst states in the country when it comes to government ethics and access laws. State House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) says, at the same time, the public is demanding more accountability at every level of government. The bills would require the Legislature and the governor to open more records and communications to anyone who asks for them. State Representative Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) says local governments in Michigan already live under these rules.
WMUK
Editorials/Columns
Residents of the Peninsula, who spent $700,000 of their money making TowneBank whole after People Express Airlines stopped flying, and taxpayers across Virginia who kicked in another $3.55 million toward that same high public purpose, owe the Peninsula Airport Commission a big vote of thanks. That's because, without the commission's behind-closed-door deliberations concerning the wisdom of guaranteeing a line of credit to a start-up airline, Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne might not have been inspired to move quite as quickly to tighten up the state's handouts to its airports. Thank you. We won't say it was worth every penny.
Daily Press
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