BILL NUMBER: S2865
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to enacting the
integrity in government act
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure greater adherence to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and
Open Meetings Law (OML) by creating enforcement powers for New York's
Committee on Open Government (COOG).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The Committee on Open Government shall be vested with powers to enforce
FOIL and OMI, such as the authority to compel the release of records
that are being unlawfully withheld.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The large majority of public officials in state and local governments
work hard to abide by open government laws. In those instances, where
FOIL or OML is violated, however, current statute does not provide for
any opportunity to compel compliance other than a costly Article 78
proceeding.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2018 - S7245, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2020 - S1625, Advanced to Third Reading
2021-2022- S1816, Referred to Finance
Assembly
2018 - A1632 (Skoufis), Amend and Recommit to Governmental Operations
2020 - No Assembly Same-As
2021-2022- A1166, Referred to Government Operations
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall become law.