BIC - Committee Member Freedom of Access Law Training
COMMITTEE MEMBER FREEDOM OF ACCESS LAW TRAINING
In accordance with Maine law, beginning July 1, 2008, every Committee member must complete a course of training on the requirements of Maine’s Freedom of Access law as it relates to public records and proceedings not later than the 120th day after the date he/she takes the oath of office to assume his/her duties as an elected official. Freedom of Access training must be repeated within 120 days of taking the oath of office each time a Committee member is elected to serve a new term.
At a minimum, the training course must include instruction in:
The general legal requirements of the Freedom of Access law regarding public records and public proceedings;
Procedures and requirements regarding complying with a request for a public record under the Freedom of Access law; and
Penalties and other consequences for failure to comply with the Freedom of Access law.
A Committee member may meet the training requirement by conducting a thorough review of all the information made available by the State of Maine on the Frequently Asked Questions portion of its Freedom of Access website, or by completing any other training course that includes all of this information.
Each Committee member shall attest by means of a written or electronic record that he/she has completed the training and provided a copy of such record to the Town Administrator’s Office. To facilitate documentation of training, the Superintendent/Principal will make available to Committee members copies of the State’s sample Certificate of Completion of Freedom of Access Training form.
Legal Reference: 1 M.R.S.A § 411, 412
Cross Reference: BIA-New Committee Member Orientation
KBA-Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access
BIC-E Certification of Freedom of Access Law Training Reviewed
Resources: http://maine.gov/foaa/Training/
Certificate:
http://maine.gov/foaa/Training/CertificationofCompletion.pdf
Adopted: May 12, 2015
Revised: February 10, 2022