This bill requires that provisions excepting records from the definition of "public records" be reviewed to determine if the exceptions should be continued, modified or repealed. A cyclical review process is established for a legislative review committee, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters, to review and evaluate all the identified exceptions at least once every 10 years. Criteria are established for the review and evaluation. The legislative committees of jurisdiction will have an opportunity to participate in the review and evaluation process. The review committee is authorized to report out legislation that carries out the review committee's recommendations to continue, modify or repeal each exception reviewed and evaluated.

4. Resolve 2003, chapter 83 is amended to extend the reporting date of the Committee to Study Compliance with Maine's Freedom of Access Laws to November 3, 2004. Four additional meetings are authorized. The unexpended balance of the money originally appropriated for the study committee will be used to fund the completion of the study. The duties of the study committee are expanded to include several issues identified by the study committee. The issue of whether public employees' home contact information should be kept confidential, as proposed by Legislative Document 1727, is added as an issue for the study committee to review.

FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED

(See attached)