HD19 - Report of the House Subcommittee Studying the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and Telecommunications

  • Published: 1983
  • Author: House Subcommittee Studying the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and Telecommunications
  • Enabling Authority: House Resolution 11 (Regular Session, 1982)

Executive Summary:
The following resolution, House Resolution No. 11, agreed to during the 1982 General Assembly Session, requested that a subcommittee study the effects of telecommunications on the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and the need for amendments to the Act as it relates to the advances of telecommunications.

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 11

Requesting the House General Laws Committee to study the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and the feasibility of legislation which would pertain to telecommunications under that Act.

WHEREAS, the General Assembly enacted Virginia's Freedom of Information Act in order to ensure that no activity of government which ought to be conducted in public was carried on in secrecy; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly enacted Virginia's Privacy Protection Act to ensure that no personal information in governmental hands was made public knowledge when it should have been kept confidential; and

WHEREAS, telecommunication has become an integral part of today's society; and

WHEREAS, meetings are often conducted by means of a conference telephone or similar communication devices which greatly benefit the participants in the meetings; and

WHEREAS, telephone conference calls are not specifically subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and

WHEREAS, the frequency and depth of governmental participation in such conference calls has increased in recent years; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the House General Laws Committee is requested to study the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and the feasibility of legislation which would pertain to telecommunications under that Act; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That a seven-member subcommittee be established to conduct this study, which would consist of three members of the House General Laws Committee, said members to be selected by the Chairman of the House General Laws Committee; one citizen member from the press, one citizen member from radio or television, one citizen member representing local government and one citizen member representing state government, the four citizen members to be selected by the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

The subcommittee shall complete its study in time to present its recommendations to the Governor and the 1983 Session of the General Assembly.

The cost of this study shall not exceed $3,000.

Delegate Ralph L. Axselle, Jr., was selected to chair the subcommittee. Other members of the House of Delegates chosen to serve on the subcommittee were Delegate Warren E. Barry and Delegate William T. Wilson. In addition, four citizens were appointed to serve on the subcommittee. They were: Mr. Paul Muse, representing the press; Mr. Linwood Judkins, representing the radio industry; Mr. L. Dale McGhee, the County Attorney for Henry County, representing local government; and Ms. Constance E. Ober, representing state government. Ms. Ober was selected as Vice-Chairman of the subcommittee.