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Introduction
The purpose of this presentation is
to discuss Georgia Sunshine Law
and how it applies to our
government.
Submitted by: Jeraldine Hamilton
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Topics of Discussion
Which state did you research?
I research the state of Georgia.
Where can someone find
information on your state’s
Sunshine Laws?
Information can be found through
Attorney General of Georgia;
January 2014
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Topic One
To whom do the Sunshine Laws
apply?
The Sunshine Laws applies to the
citizens of Georgia, as represented
in” House Bill 397”.
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Topic Two
What types of records are covered?
Broad access to government records and
documents, public are documents, papers,
letters, maps, books, tapes photographs,
computer-based or generated information, data,
data fields, and similar material prepared and
maintained or received by an agency. For
example; the consumer Information, the Public
Service Commission, the Georgia Department of
Insurance; the State Board of Workers
Compensation, Medicaid Fraud, and Crime&
Crime Victims.
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Topic Three
Are there any types of records that are
excluded? Why are those records are excluded?
Public disclosure shall not be required for records
that are specifically required by federal statue or
regulation to be keep confidential; medical or
veterinary records and similar files, the
disclosure of which would be an invasion of
personal privacy.
I’ve cited additional records because of the long
detailed list. Records that are expressly exempt
from inspection pursuant
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What This Means
How does someone request records
under your state Sunshine Law?
The state provides a letter request
form. The delivery shall be by hand
delivery or certified mail return
receipt requested, via fax or e-mail
followed by a confirmatory phone
call is the most effective form of
delivery.
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Open Meeting
What kinds of meetings are required to be open to
the public? Are there any types of meeting that
are not required to be open to the public?
Georgia’s open Meeting Law requires that state and
local governmental bodies conduct their business
so citizens can review and monitor their elected
officials and others working on their behalf.
Such meetings are City Councils, County
Commissions, Regional development Authorities,
Library Board, School Board, Commissions or
authorities, Planned Commissions, Zoning
Board, most committees of the University System
of Georgia.
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Open Law Exceptions
Open Law provides exceptions that
allow certain closed meetings and
confidential actions, and a
government entity may close a
meeting only if a specific statutory
exception applies. Code O.C.G.A.
50-14--3
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FERPA
To whom does the FERPA law apply?
FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student
education records.
What kinds of records are covered by FERPA?
FERPA regulates the disclosure of personally Identifiable
Information from the youth Educational Records in all public
elementary and secondary schools, and school districts.
The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an
applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Can parents get copies of a student’s record if the parent is
paying for college/university classes?
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their
children’s Educational Records when he/she reaches the age
of eighteen, or attends a school beyond the high school level.
Students to whom the rights have transferred are referred to
as “Eligible Student”. In a prospective student under FERPA
that the student’s parents must provide signed consent for
Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information from the
student’s education records.
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References:
Attorney General of Georgia; January
2014.
“Georgia Public Schools and the Open
Records Act”, 1st
edition, 2007. available
from the Georgia First Amendment
Foundation (404) 525-3646.
“Federal FOIA Appeals Guide,”2012
available from the Reporters Committee
for Freedom of the Press”(703)8
