Bill > S3244

This bill, titled "Site Information & Links," aims to clarify and expand public access to government records, particularly those of the General Court (the Massachusetts legislature), while also establishing protections for journalists and their confidential sources. Key provisions include defining "legislative record" to encompass a wide range of documents created by the General Court, such as bills, resolutions, committee reports, and financial records, while excluding information that could compromise security. The bill mandates that both the Senate and House of Representatives appoint "legislative records access officers" to manage and respond to public records requests, outlining specific procedures and timelines for providing access, including electronic delivery where feasible. It also details a process for handling requests that are deemed burdensome or frivolous, and establishes an internal review and reconsideration process for denied requests, with a pathway for judicial review in Suffolk Superior Court. Furthermore, the bill introduces protections for "journalists" and "news organizations," as defined within the legislation, preventing them from being compelled by courts or other bodies to disclose confidential sources or information that could identify them, except under very specific circumstances where the information is critical, unobtainable elsewhere, and there's an overriding public interest. This legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and will apply to records created or received on or after January 6, 2027.