An Act To Require All Government Documents To Be Posted on the Internet

Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §541, sub-§3  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §543  is enacted to read:

§ 543.  Public records electronically available

A public entity shall make all public records in the public entity's possession available for viewing on a publicly accessible site on the Internet.

Sec. 3. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, chapter 14-A, in the chapter headnote, the words "notice of information practices" are amended to read "information practices" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.

summary

This bill amends the laws concerning the information practices of public entities. Current law defines "public entity" to include the Legislature; the Judicial Department; a state agency or authority; the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Community College System; a county, municipality or school district or any regional or other political or administrative subdivision; and an advisory organization established, authorized or organized by law or resolve or by executive order issued by the Governor. This bill requires a public entity to make available on a publicly accessible site on the Internet all public records in the possession of the public entity.