By Kevin McCauley
Congressman Steve Israel has re-introduced the Public Online Information Act to require executive branch agencies to post public documents online and make them readily searchable.
Noting that 78 percent of American adults access the 'Net for news and research, the New York Democrat believes the federal government has to play "catch-up" and make its information via available via computer and other devices.
A POIA law would establish an advisory committee to hammer out government-wide publication policies and guidelines.
The Office of Management and Budget’s e-government administrator and chief information officers at various agencies would hammer out disclosure rules.
Information that is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests, such as topics concerning national security, personal privacy and trade secrets, also avoids POIA disclosure requirements. Disclosure becomes mandatory three years after the date that the bill becomes law.
Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has introduced a companion bill.
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