1 §400. Short title
§400. Short title This subchapter may be known and cited as “the Freedom of Access Act.” [PL 2011, c. 662, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2011, c. 662, §1 (NEW).
1 §401. Declaration of public policy; rules of construction
§401. Declaration of public policy; rules of construction The Legislature finds and declares that public proceedings exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business. It is the intent of the Legislature that their actions be taken openly and that the records of their actions be open to public inspection and their deliberations be […]
1 §402-A. Public records defined (REPEALED)
§402-A. Public records defined (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §3 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 623, §1 (RPR). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 §402. Definitions
§402. Definitions 1. Conditional approval. Approval of an application or granting of a license, certificate or any other type of permit upon conditions not otherwise specifically required by the statute, ordinance or regulation pursuant to which the approval or granting is issued. [PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW).] 1-A. Legislative subcommittee. “Legislative subcommittee” means 3 […]
1 §403-A. Public proceedings through remote access during declaration of state of emergency due to COVID-19 (REPEALED)
§403-A. Public proceedings through remote access during declaration of state of emergency due to COVID-19 (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW). MRSA T. 1 §403-A, sub-§3 (RP).
1 §403-B. Remote participation in public proceedings
§403-B. Remote participation in public proceedings 1. Remote participation. This section governs remote methods of participation in public proceedings of certain public bodies. For the purposes of this section, “remote methods” means telephonic or video technology allowing simultaneous reception of information and may include other means when such means are necessary to provide reasonable accommodation […]
1 §403. Meetings to be open to public; record of meetings
§403. Meetings to be open to public; record of meetings 1. Proceedings open to public. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by section 405, all public proceedings must be open to the public and any person must be permitted to attend a public proceeding. [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 2. […]
1 §404-A. Decisions (REPEALED)
§404-A. Decisions (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 433, §2 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 704, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 §404. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized
§404. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized In order to facilitate the public policy so declared by the Legislature of opening the public’s business to public scrutiny, all persons shall be entitled to attend public proceedings and to make written, taped or filmed records of the proceedings, or to live broadcast the same, provided the writing, […]
1 §405-A. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized (REPEALED)
§405-A. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 §405-B. Appeals (REPEALED)
§405-B. Appeals (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 §405-C. Appeals from actions (REPEALED)
§405-C. Appeals from actions (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 §405. Executive sessions
§405. Executive sessions Those bodies or agencies falling within this subchapter may hold executive sessions subject to the following conditions. [PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW).] 1. Not to defeat purposes of subchapter. An executive session may not be used to defeat the purposes of this subchapter as stated in section 401. [PL 2009, […]
1 §406. Public notice
§406. Public notice Public notice shall be given for all public proceedings as defined in section 402, if these proceedings are a meeting of a body or agency consisting of 3 or more persons. This notice shall be given in ample time to allow public attendance and shall be disseminated in a manner reasonably calculated […]
1 §407. Decisions
§407. Decisions 1. Conditional approval or denial. Every agency shall make a written record of every decision involving the conditional approval or denial of an application, license, certificate or any other type of permit. The agency shall set forth in the record the reason or reasons for its decision and make finding of the fact, […]
1 §408-A. Public records available for inspection and copying
§408-A. Public records available for inspection and copying Except as otherwise provided by statute, a person has the right to inspect and copy any public record in accordance with this section within a reasonable time of making the request to inspect or copy the public record. [PL 2011, c. 662, §5 (NEW).] 1. Inspect. […]
1 §408. Public records available for public inspection and copying (REPEALED)
§408. Public records available for public inspection and copying (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 709, §2 (RPR). PL 2007, c. 501, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 240, §4 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 662, §4 (RP).
1 §409. Appeals
§409. Appeals 1. Records. Any person aggrieved by a refusal or denial to inspect or copy a record or the failure to allow the inspection or copying of a record under section 408‑A may appeal the refusal, denial or failure within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the written notice of refusal, denial or […]
1 §410. Violations
§410. Violations 1. Civil violation. An officer or employee of a state government agency or local government entity who willfully violates this subchapter commits a civil violation. [PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).] 2. Penalties. A state government agency or local government entity whose officer or employee commits a civil violation described in subsection […]
1 §411. Right To Know Advisory Committee
§411. Right To Know Advisory Committee 1. Advisory committee established. The Right To Know Advisory Committee, referred to in this chapter as “the advisory committee,” is established to serve as a resource for ensuring compliance with this chapter and upholding the integrity of the purposes underlying this chapter as it applies to all public entities […]