CREATING THE ALABAMA OPEN RECORDS STUDY TASK FORCE.
WHEREAS, the average citizen has difficulty in obtaining public records under current open records statutes; and
WHEREAS, there is no uniform process for the request for public records, and a reform of Alabama open records laws would give the public easy access to public information and documents; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That there is hereby created the Alabama Open Public Records Study Task Force to study current Alabama law and provide for new proposed legislation to reform access to public records in Alabama. The membership of the task force shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.
The task force shall be composed of the following members:
(1) One member appointed by the Governor.
(2) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of which one shall be a co-chair of the task force.
(3) One member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a co-chair.
(4) One member appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore.
(5) One member appointed by the Chief Administrator of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
(6) One member appointed by the Director of the Alabama Homeland Security Department.
(7) One member appointed by the Executive Secretary of the Alabama Education Association.
(8) One member appointed by the Director of the Alabama Public Library Service.
(9) One member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
(10) One member appointed by the President of the Alabama Public Service Commission.
(11) One member appointed by the Secretary of State.
(12) One member appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
(13) One member appointed by the Attorney General of Alabama.
(14) One member appointed by the Director of the Department of Archives and History.
(15) One member appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Safety.
(16) One member appointed by the Association of County Commissioners.
(17) One member appointed by the Alabama Probate Judges Association.
(18) One member appointed by the Alabama League of Municipalities.
(19) One member appointed by the Administrative Office of Courts.
(20) One member appointed by the Alabama Association of School Boards.
(21) One member appointed by the Alabama Center for Open Government.
(22) One member appointed by the Alabama Press Association.
(23) One member appointed by the Alabama Broadcasters Association.
(24) One member appointed by the Alabama Circuit Judges Association.
(25) One member appointed by the Alabama Chiefs of Police Association.
(26) One member appointed by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.
(27) One member appointed by the Alabama League of Women Voters.
(28) One member appointed by the Alabama Law Institute.
(29) One member appointed by the Examiners of Public Accounts.
The task force shall hold its first meeting within 45 days of passage of this resolution at a time and place designated by the co-chairs. Each appointing authority named herein shall be provided a copy of this resolution upon its passage.
Each member of the task force may be reimbursed for expenses related to attending meetings consistent with the policies of the various appointing authorities.
Upon the request of the chair, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall provide necessary clerical assistance for the work of the task force. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for proposed reform legislation to the Legislature not later than the third legislative day of the 2006 Regular Session, whereupon the task force shall stand dissolved and discharged of any further duties and liabilities. Each legislative member of the task force shall be entitled to his or her regular legislative compensation, his or her per diem, and travel expenses for each day he or she attends a meeting of the task force. These payments shall be paid out of any funds appropriated to the use of the Legislature by means of warrants drawn by the State Comptroller on the State Treasury. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member shall receive additional legislative compensation or per diem when the Legislature is in session or if a member is being paid any other payments on the same dates for attendance on other state business. The total expenditures of the committee shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).