Nebraska Public Records Law

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State sunshine
State laws
How to ask for records
Transparency headlines
Statutory changes
Notable FOIA requests
State Open Meeting Laws
State sunshine lawsuits
State court cases
E-mail access
Private agency, public dollars
The WikiFOIA portal

The Nebraska Public Records Law is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Nebraska. Sections 84-712 - 84-712.09 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes define the law.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act legislates the methods by which public meetings are conducted. Sections 84-1407 to 84-1414 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes define the law.

[edit] Nebraska's transparency report card

A 2008 study, BGA - Alper Integrity Index, conducted by the Better Government Association and sponsored by Alper Services, ranked Nebraska #6 in the nation with an overall percentage of 60.80%. [1]

A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave Nebraska 87 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of "B", and a ranking of 1 out of the 50 states.[2]

A 2002 study, Freedom of Information in the USA, conducted by IRE and BGA, ranked Nebraska's law as the best in the country, giving it a letter grade of "B".[3]

[edit] Public Records

Nebraska law guarantees it's citizens the right to examine documents and other records that the government produces in the course of carrying out public duties.

[edit] Open Meetings

Nebraska law declares "that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret. Every meeting of a public body shall be open to the public in order that citizens may exercise their democratic privilege of attending and speaking at meetings of public bodies".[4]

[edit] Who May Request Nebraska Records?

Any citizen of the state, or any person interested in the inner workings of government may request public records in Nebraska. "[A]ll citizens of this state, and all other persons interested in the examination of the public records... are hereby fully empowered and authorized to examine the same". [5]

For requester residency requirements in other states, see the list of who can make public record requests by state.

[edit] Relevant legal cases

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Integrity Index available for download here
  2. ↑ Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, 2007
  3. ↑ Freedom of Information in the USA, 2002
  4. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 84-1408
  5. ↑ Nebraska Revised Statutes, Section 84-712 (1)
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