MAPLight and California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) are fighting for our rights to records. MAPLight filed suit against California’s Legislature. They are seeking access to the very database of records and transactions that the Legislature uses to function.
Keep in mind that the California State Legislature is not an “Agency” in terms of the California Public Records Act and thus their records are not considered “public records”, but under the Legislative Open Records Act their records are available to the public. Here’s a synopsis from MAPLight.org’s website:
Background: On July 1, 2008, MAPLight.org requested basic bill information–bill text, bill history, bill status, legislator voting records, legislative calendar, etc.–in electronic database format from the California Office of Legislative Counsel for use in its MAPLight.org California website. MAPLight.org’s request was made pursuant to the organization’s rights under the Legislative Open Records Act, the California Public Records Act (PRA) and California Government Code 10248, which states that the Office of Legislative Counsel is required to make available, for each current legislative session, certain bill information in electronic format. On July 16, 2008, MAPLight.org’s request was denied. On August 15, 2008, CFAC Executive Director Peter Scheer sent a letter to the Office of Legislative Counsel, under the PRA, requesting a copy of the same records requested by MAPLight.org . On August 18, 2008, CFAC’s request was denied. On October 9, 2008, legal counsel for CFAC and MAPLight.org had a telephone conversation with the Office of Legislative Counsel asking them to reconsider their denial of the PRA requests. On October 23, 2008, legal counsel for CFAC and MAPLight.org had a subsequent conversation with the Office of Legislative Counsel in which counsel was informed that the request had been reconsidered, but denied.
You can read the lawsuit for yourself and follow the case on the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento’s website. Maplight And California First Amendment Coalition v. Office Of The Legislative Counsel Of California, Sacramento County Superior Court Case No. 2008-80000105.
Several News organizations are following the story:
Suit seeks database on bills, lawmakers’ votes
2 Calif. groups file suit seeking voting records
Editorial: Data is public’s, and so is database
Advocacy Groups Sue for Release of Legislative Voting Database
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