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A 1410

Requires entities that submit records to state agencies that are excepted from disclosure under FOIL to periodically re-apply for the exception

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Harvey Epstein and 2 co-sponsors

Bill A 1410 requires entities to periodically re-apply for FOIL exemptions, enhancing transparency and ensuring ongoing justification for record confidentiality.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 1410

Summary of Bill A 1410

Bill Overview

Bill Number: A 1410
Title: Requires entities that submit records to state agencies that are excepted from disclosure under FOIL to periodically re-apply for the exception
Status: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
Introduced: January 09, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of Bill A 1410 is to enhance transparency and accountability in the handling of records submitted to state agencies that are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The bill mandates that entities seeking to keep their records confidential must periodically re-apply for the exception, ensuring that the justification for non-disclosure remains valid over time.

Key Provisions

  • Periodic Re-Application: Entities that submit records to state agencies and are granted exceptions from FOIL must submit a re-application at specified intervals. This process aims to prevent indefinite non-disclosure of records without ongoing justification.
  • Criteria for Re-Application: The bill outlines the criteria that entities must meet to qualify for continued exemption, although specific criteria are not detailed in the provided information.
  • Agency Oversight: State agencies will be responsible for reviewing re-applications and determining whether the exceptions should continue based on the updated information provided by the entities.

Affected Parties

  • Entities Submitting Records: Businesses, non-profits, and other organizations that submit records to state agencies and currently benefit from FOIL exemptions will be directly impacted by the new re-application requirement.
  • State Agencies: Agencies that handle these records will need to establish processes for reviewing re-applications and managing the associated administrative workload.
  • Public and Transparency Advocates: The bill is likely to be of interest to members of the public and advocacy groups focused on government transparency, as it aims to increase public access to information over time.

Legislative Timeline

  • January 09, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to Governmental Operations.
  • March 11, 2025: Bill reported and referred to Codes and Ways and Means.
  • March 18, 2025: Bill reported, referred to Rules, and ordered to third reading.
  • March 19, 2025: Bill passed in the Assembly and delivered to the Senate, where it was referred to Investigations and Government Operations.

Related Bills

Bill A 1410 is related to several prior-session bills, including:
- A 6637
- A 6110
- A 5601
- A 9022
- A 3433
- A 4039
- A 6895
- A 9975
- S 5000 (companion bill)

Conclusion

Bill A 1410 represents a significant step towards improving the transparency of state agency records management by requiring periodic justification for exceptions to FOIL. If enacted, it could lead to more frequent public access to information that was previously kept confidential, thereby promoting accountability among entities that interact with state agencies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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