Which law governs public access to meeting records such as minutes?

Which law governs public access to meeting records such as minutes?

• A. Freedom of Information Law
• B. Open Meetings Law
• C. Privacy Act
• D. Public Records Statute

Answer: (A)

Public access to government records is governed by the Freedom of Information Law, which gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by state and local agencies, including meeting minutes, subject to specific exemptions. The Open Meetings Law sits separately and governs the conduct of meetings themselves, ensuring they are open to the public, but it doesn’t control access to the records after a meeting. The Privacy Act is a federal statute and not the mechanism for NY public access to state or local records, and there isn’t a separate NY “Public Records Statute” competing with FOIL. Since minutes are records created by a public body, FOIL is the law that provides access to them.

Public access to government records is governed by the Freedom of Information Law, which gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by state and local agencies, including meeting minutes, subject to specific exemptions. The Open Meetings Law sits separately and governs the conduct of meetings themselves, ensuring they are open to the public, but it doesn’t control access to the records after a meeting. The Privacy Act is a federal statute and not the mechanism for NY public access to state or local records, and there isn’t a separate NY “Public Records Statute” competing with FOIL. Since minutes are records created by a public body, FOIL is the law that provides access to them.