Tuesday marked an important date in Arkansas history, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, often called, the people’s law, by then governor Winthrop Rockefeller. Considered one of the strongest and best models for open government, the intention of the FOIA is to keep government business and record open and accessible to all citizens of the state. It provides open access to the conduct of the public’s business at all levels of government in the state as well as ready access to public records in public facilities including county courthouses, city halls and schools. Tom Larimer, Executive Director of the Arkansas Press Association says the law not only gave the public access to what was conducted in the meetings but required meetings be announced in advance so those interested could attend.
Florida was the first state to adopt a Freedom of Information Act, according to Larimer. During the 50 years of the Arkansas FOIA, courts in the state have mostly rulled in its favor. The act, which is brief, written in plain language, and leaves little room for interpretation, has only been amended 23 times in it’s 50 years, according to Larimer, which he says is remarkable.
Larimer believe Arkansas is fortunate that the state’s Freedom of Information Act has been able to remain intact and citizens need to let their state and local representatives know how important it is that government business be conducted in public and records be made available to the public.
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