Group submits fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG after third rejection

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A government transparency group sent a fourth draft of proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act on Thursday after Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected its third proposal.

In his opinion, Griffin cited a “misleading provision” of the text of the proposed act and ballot title. Previous submissions contained the same problem that “was unidentified previously and is the only remaining issue standing in the way of certification,” Griffin wrote.

“If you resolve this issue and resubmit with no other changes, I will expedite the response,” he wrote.

Group submits fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG after third rejection

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Gov. Sarah Sanders shares a laugh with Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs on Sept. 14, 2023, after signing a number of bills at the end of a special legislative session, including one that hides from the public certain information about security for her and other state officials.

Arkansas transparency group unveils new drafts for FOIA constitutional amendment, initiated act

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The government transparency group hoping to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution released a second draft of a proposed amendment with an accompanying citizen-initiated act Monday.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) unveiled its first draft of the proposed amendment last month, with the goal of qualifying for the 2024 statewide ballot. The nonpartisan group formed after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders advocated for several exemptions to the FOIA and signed one into law after a special legislative session in September.

The seven members of ACT’s drafting committee realized they could better achieve their goals of creating enforceable government transparency policy by proposing an act as well as an amendment, they said in a statement Tuesday.

Arkansas transparency group unveils new drafts for FOIA constitutional amendment, initiated act

Jacob Kauffman/Little Rock Public Radio

Transparency advocates hear public input on proposal to enshrine FOIA in Arkansas Constitution

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Members of a government transparency group answered questions from a small crowd in Little Rock on Thursday about their effort to bolster the state’s public records and open meetings law that they hope will appear on the 2024 Arkansas ballot.

Last month, Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) unveiled a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution. ACT members said they will create and make public at least one more draft before submitting it to Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, who must approve the ballot title and popular name.

The proposed amendment would specify government transparency as a constitutional right. It would also require a vote of the people to enact any future changes to restrict government openness — a direct response to September’s special legislative session that proposed several exemptions to the FOIA, one of which became law.

Transparency advocates hear public input on proposal to enshrine FOIA in Arkansas Constitution

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Several drafters of a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution participated in a public forum in Little Rock on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. From left: attorney David Couch, Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, attorney Jen Standerfer and former independent state representative Nate Bell.