The people of this state have the right to know about the process of governmental decision-making and to review the records that lead to such determinations. The legislature declares that this right should not be thwarted by shrouding the decision-making process or government records in secrecy. It is therefore the intent of this article that the public have access to such information, subject only to exemptions provided in other sections of this chapter and any applicable law.
This section shall apply to all state departments, boards, bureaus, divisions, councils and offices and to any public corporation the majority of whose members are appointed by the governor. In addition, this section also applies to all municipal corporations and their departments and offices, including police and fire departments, libraries and parks.
In order to make a bill available under this section, the agency shall prepare a committee report on the proposed law. The report must describe the purpose and scope of the proposed legislation, and explain the reasons that led to the recommendation of approval. The report must also include a clear and concise section-by-section analysis of the proposal with precise descriptions of all new laws, repealed laws and modifications to existing laws. The staff of the committee must be responsible for writing the report.
The idea of new law is not easy to pin down in a precise way, but it usually involves creating strategies that are unique and different than those used in standard practice. It is a concept that all legal firms can embrace to their benefit and one which deserves attention from every lawyer in the field. A well-conceived plan utilizing new law techniques can offer help to clients without impacting other areas of practice that may be the primary focus of a firm.