In the original California Public Records Act, the legislature exempted itself and the California courts from disclosure requirements. However, the separate Legislative Open Records Act grants public access to legislative records.
Court decisions have broadened such disclosure requirements. For example, "In December 2011, a Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled that the
California Assembly must disclose budget records of individual
lawmakers, handing a victory to newspapers that filed a lawsuit accusing
legislators of flouting the state's open records laws." http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/California_Public_Records_Act
Also, a California court rule mandates public disclosure of state court administrative records.
South Carolina is considering adding the legislature to the list of state government functions covered by its Freedom of Information Act.
Rep. Bill Herbkersman wrote recently, "We must reform and further define the rights of citizens and news
organizations in obtaining information, and the responsibilities of
public officials to provide appropriate information in a timely and
cost-effective manner."
He went on to say, "I am a strong advocate of open government and I fully support the
elimination of the blanket legislative exemption from FOIA. It is unfair
and unwise to excuse the lawmakers from the reach of the law."
http://savannahnow.com/bluffton-opinion/2013-03-30/still-tweaking-foia-bill-easter-break-under-way#.UVcMtjdc324
A bill to include the Michigan legislature in the disclosure requirements of the state's FOIA has been dormant for a long time.
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