New Funding Options Now Available
Access (or lack thereof) to police misconduct and other public records remain in the spotlight. Meanwhile. the Federal Government actively works to get ARPA funding in the hands of state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in effort to turn the tide on the pandemic.
Subscribe to the Peers in Public Records Newsletter
Let GovQA do the heavy lifting and receive the latest trends in public record requests and government transparency initiatives around the U.S., right to your inbox.
Share your expertise, a ‘quick tip’, or a positive story to be featured in Peers in Public Records. Send your submissions to peers@govqa.com
Featured
Public records requests for audio, video spiked during pandemic
An ever-increasing amount of audio and video data compiled daily into state and local public records, along with a spike in public records requests during the COVID-19 pandemic, has forced government agencies to spend 286% more time processing requests over the past year than normally, according to new data from government software provider GovQA.
Read More | State Scoop
Litigation
Kentucky closes loophole allowing embattled officers to keep their certification
New changes to Kentucky laws will prevent officers who violate their oath from serving in law enforcement again.
Previously, officers mainly had to be convicted of a felony in order to lose their state-issued Peace Officer Professional Standards (POPS) certification, which is required to have a sworn law enforcement position. Senate Bill 80 has already been put to work, and allowing the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council the flexibility to decertify an officer for other things, such as a misdemeanor.
Agencies across Kentucky are now required to report the names of officers who quit, retire, or are fired during any type of investigation to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC). The KLEC reviews those files and makes a call if they believe that officer shouldn’t represent the profession.
Read More | WAVE 3 News
Litigation
New York judge rules 50a repeal not retroactive
A recent court ruling by a state Supreme Court justice in Western New York has broken with the consensus on the repeal of 50a, the law that protected police officers’ records from the public and could lead to New York’s Supreme Court setting precedence.
“[It could] potentially go to the highest court in the state because you may very well have, out of the different departments, different views on the issue,” said Goshen attorney Michael Sussman.
Sussman says this was a case of Judge Ann Marie Taddeo interpreting the language in the law’s repeal as not being explicitly retroactive. She issued a permanent injunction on behalf of the Brighton Police Patrolman Association, ruling that the repeal should only count for files after the repeal date of June 12, 2020. Sussman says this could also lead to legislators rewriting this law with clearer language.
Read More | Spectrum News 1
Peer Resource
The American Rescue Plan Act (and its Impact on Public Records) Explained
What is ARPA?
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides a substantial infusion of resources to eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to help turn the tide on the pandemic; address its economic fallout; and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Free eCourse – ARPA and public records
This 8-part eCourse will provide resources to help you convince others in your organization of the value of investing in a public records solution using ARPA funds.
To keep up with the pace of increasing volume and complexity of public records – you are going to need to modernize your technology and deliver more government services – like public records – digitally.
Read More | GovQA
The Peers in Public Records Newsletter (formerly FOIA News) is a bi-monthly e-newsletter brought to you by GovQA. It is a collection of the latest trends in public record requests and government transparency initiatives, shared stories, informative case studies, and actionable knowledge that will help you calm the chaos and keep your organization compliant. Send your comments to peers@govqa.com.
