This bill amends RSA 91-A to require that any record, report, or other material generated during investigations funded in whole or in part with public money be subject to disclosure under the right-to-know law. The new legal language inserted into the law specifies that public bodies or agencies may only redact portions of these records that are necessary to comply with federal or state laws protecting personal privacy, such as FERPA and HIPAA. Additionally, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and factual summaries must not be withheld in their entirety based on privacy exemptions, and public officials and employees acting in their official capacities will have no right to personal privacy in such investigations.

The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in publicly funded investigations, addressing concerns that secrecy undermines public trust. However, it is anticipated that the implementation of this bill will lead to increased expenditures for state and local agencies due to the additional workload associated with reviewing and redacting records. The fiscal impact is indeterminable, but estimates suggest that costs could range from $130,000 to $500,000 annually for state agencies, with local municipalities potentially facing similar increases in expenditures depending on the volume of records requests. The bill does not provide funding to cover these anticipated costs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 91-A:4
HB1746 text: 91-A:4