The bill seeks to improve transparency and public access to legislative records within state government by appropriating $1 million from the General Fund, with specific allocations of $250,000 for the governor's office, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and joint legislative operations. It amends Chapter 3 of the General Laws to introduce new sections that define key terms related to legislative functions, such as "administrative functions," "constitutional functions," and "legislative records." The bill also grants the state auditor the authority to conduct audits of the Senate, House, and joint legislative operations, detailing the procedures for record requests and interviews during the audit process.

To facilitate public access, the bill mandates the appointment of legislative records access officers in both the Senate and House, who will coordinate responses to record requests and ensure timely production. It outlines the process for submitting requests, including various methods of communication, and establishes guidelines for assessing fees for record production. The bill also clarifies the definition of "agency" in relation to public records, introduces an appeals process for denied access, and places the burden of proof on the legislative records access officer to justify any withholding of records. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance accountability and accessibility of government operations while maintaining protections for sensitive information.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 4-7, 11-12, 66-6A