Bill Text: VA HB940 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled

---

Bill Title: Freedom of Information Act Ombudsman; created, Attorney General to appoint.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in General Laws [HB940 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2018-HB940-Prefiled.html

---

18103816D
HOUSE BILL NO. 940 Offered January 10, 2018 Prefiled January 9, 2018 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-501.1, relating to the Office of the Attorney General; Freedom of Information Act Ombudsman created. ---------- Patron-- Roem ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-501.1 as follows:

§2.2-501.1. Freedom of Information Act Ombudsman.

A. As used in this section, "state agency" means any authority, board, department, instrumentality, institution, agency, or other unit of state government. "State agency" does not include any county, city, or town or any local or regional governmental authority.

B. The Attorney General shall appoint a Freedom of Information Act Ombudsman (Ombudsman) to promote compliance by state agencies with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (§2.2-3700 et seq.). The Ombudsman shall assist state agencies by providing advice regarding (i) the appropriate application of exclusions, (ii) the appropriate redaction of information in the public record, and (iii) the production of a public record in a timely manner.