VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

September 20, 2000, Richmond

The Freedom of Information Advisory Council held its second meeting since its formation in July 2000. Staff presented a status report to the council on the number of requests for information and advisory opinions on the operation of Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Since the office began operations on July 21, 2000, staff reported that it received and answered 35 telephone inquiries and had issued 10 advisory opinions. The identity of requesters varied among citizens, media personnel, and state and local government officials.

The council also was advised that four statewide FOIA training workshops had been set for the week of October 23, 2000, in the following locations: Norfolk, Richmond, Wytheville, and Charlottesville. Approximately 500 persons are expected to attend these statewide workshops.

The council began deliberations on electronic communications (e-mails, etc.) and how they should be treated under FOIA in the context of both open records and open meetings. Are e-mails like paper or are they written conversation? It was suggested that they may be both. The council reviewed the Library of Virginia's guidelines, adopted pursuant to the Virginia Public Records Act, on electronic communications in the context of records retention. The council requested that at its next meeting, a representative of the Library of Virginia make a presentation on how it views electronic communications in the context of its responsibility to archive public records.

The next meeting of the council has been set for Wednesday, November 29, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. in House Room D of the General Assembly Building in Richmond.

The Honorable Clifton A. Woodrum, Chairman
Staff contact: Maria J.K. Everett