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U
S A 14. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ACCESS
TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION The federal Freedom of Information Act, which was first passed
in 1966, requires federal agencies to provide access to documents
that are in the public interest. Exceptions to the Freedom of Information
Act include the following: national security information; agencies?
internal rules and practices; matters specifically exempted from
disclosure by the statute; trade secrets or other confidential business
information; interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters; personnel
and medical files; law enforcement records; information related
to banks; and geological and geophysical information. The Federal Privacy Act of 1974 also prohibits federal agencies
from disclosing information about a person without his written permission
unless the FOIA provides that the type of information should be
disclosed. In addition to the FOIA at the federal level, each of
the 50 states has laws guaranteeing access to public records kept
by state, county or municipal agencies. In addition to those laws
granting access to records and documents, other laws, known as ?sunshine
laws,?? require state and federal agencies to open most meetings
to the public. The 1976 federal Government in the Sunshine Act applies to
federal government agencies. Every part of the agency?s meeting
must be open to the public unless the law specifically states otherwise,
such as where the agency is discussing a personnel matter. The agency
must announce in the Federal Register the time, place and subject
matter of the meeting, as well as the name and phone number of a
person to contact for more information, at least one week in advance.
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