New Website Comparing State Openness Laws

The Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project recently announced the launch of its new web site. The new website compares openness laws among all the states, with a strong focus on how states have limited access to information in response to terrorism and security concerns. Visitors can easily examine and compare measures taken in different states to restrict access to information and meetings. The project uses legal research to examine individual statutory provisions controlling open meetings and open records in the 50 states. The project also evaluates relevant state appellate court decisions and constitutional provisions. The website provides resources on each state including links to the text of specific state access laws, state audits, and analysis and books covering the state's access policies. The Citizen Access Project hopes to eventually provide ratings, summaries, and the legal language of open meetings and public records of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Users will be able to research the laws of individual states, as well as compare the laws of different states.
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