CORE ISSUE

SUMMARY: With the dramatic acceleration of technological advances in the field of data transmission in recent years, opportunities to provide greater citizen involvement in the lawmaking process have increased. Some members of the Maryland General Assembly have begun to file bills to make public access to state documents easier and more affordable, and as legislators have become more comfortable with the rapid changes in information technology, they have become more willing to open up public records on the Internet.

In 1999, an MSBA-supported bill to provide on-line access to the Maryland Register, the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) and other documents passed after the Governor promised to budget funds for any shortfalls resulting from declines in subscriptions for these publications.  This trend toward greater public access continued in 2000 as legislation was approved to map out a broad range of information and services from executive branch agencies that will be open to Internet access during the next few years.

MSBA 2002 POSITION: Support legislation that would provide broader access to state documents through the Internet at no cost.

SAMPLE LEGISLATION:
Senate Bill 573, General Assembly of Maryland, 1998
Senate Bill 259, General Assembly of Maryland, 1999
Senate Bill 197, General Assembly of Maryland, 2000

NOTE: See MIDDLE RANGE ISSUE: Access to Court Records

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