AG Nessel, MLive host Michigan Freedom of Information Act workshop

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Michigan Legal professional Common Dana Nessel led a workshop educating individuals about Michigan’s public data and open conferences legal guidelines on Monday, co-hosted by the Michigan Press Affiliation and MLive.

Public officers, common residents and folks from media retailers, faculties and nonprofits stuffed the Grand Rapids Press newsroom as Nessel continued a convention of Michigan attorneys common holding FOIA occasions that dates again to Frank Kelley, the AG from 1961 to 1999.

“These legal guidelines are important instruments within the reporting our journalists do in communities throughout the state to cowl the workings of consultant authorities in our communities,” stated John Hiner, MLive’s vice chairman of content material.

“They’re additionally vital elements of the connection of belief and accountability between residents and the individuals they elect to signify them.”

Nessel defined what falls below Michigan’s public data legal guidelines, and she or he guided individuals by means of the request course of, how you can take care of denials and how you can navigate charges. Nessel’s tips on drafting requests included phrasing it in knowledgeable, correct and noncombative method.

Michigan’s Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) and Open Conferences Act (OMA) apply to almost all public our bodies. Nessel referred to as it a “an actual disservice to the residents of our state” that the governor, legislature and Supreme Courtroom are exempt.

“You need to have the power to know what’s happening together with your tax {dollars} and inside the federal government our bodies that signify you,” she stated.

Be taught extra concerning the public data course of with the AG workplace’s FOIA handbook and extra info on its web site.

Michigan’s public transparency has ranked among the many lowest within the nation lately, together with an ‘F’ grade by the Heart for Public Integrity in 2015. However Nessel, who was elected in 2018, says her workplace has been working to make info and conferences simpler to entry.

That features ordering public boards in February to adjust to the Individuals with Disabilities Act and permit individuals to take part in digital conferences. And in Could, a easy change to her workplace’s FOIA system lets individuals pay charges on-line as a substitute of sending a verify within the mail.

Early in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s time period, she banned use of personal electronic mail to conduct state enterprise. Whitmer additionally directed every state division to have a transparency liaison to, amongst different issues, help residents in navigating FOIA and OMA.

“Our view is – and I hope that that is the view of most individuals – authorities has an obligation and a accountability to satisfy the spirit and the intent of the legislation,” Nessel stated, “ideally with out placing members of the general public by means of pointless hoops to get the data that they need.”

Learn extra from MLive:

2022 Michigan voter information by MLive, League of Girls Voters

Letter from the Editor: AG Nessel’s workshop underscores energy of open authorities and your function in it

Now you can use a bank card for Michigan Legal professional Common FOIA requests

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