Kellner Bill Will Require State Agencies to Release Their Records Online
April 7, 2010
New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) established that government is the people’s business and that the public should have access to government records. In the internet age, freedom of information is meaningless if people don’t have ready access to that information—and that means we need to put it online. This is why I have introduced legislation (A. 10335) to put New York State’s public records on the internet—making vital information about public health, safety, transportation, and much more available for New Yorkers on their laptops, desktops, and mobile phones.
The “Open New York Act” will revolutionize the relationship between New Yorkers and their state government, requiring all state agencies to make their records available through a central website—where the data can be used by activists, entrepreneurs, and others to create a host of applications useful in everyday life.
This is about pulling government data out of the dusty filing cabinets and putting it to work to improve our daily lives. The uses of this information are limited only by our imaginations. A developer could create an application to show you how your community stacks up in crime and cancer rates, to help you plan a safer route home, or to send you news feeds about projects that affect your neighborhood. The NYC Big Apps competition has begun to show how open data can unleash civic entrepreneurialism. Putting New York State’s records online will greatly multiply the benefits—and the development of these applications will generate new jobs for New Yorkers.
The legislation establishes a timetable for state agencies to put their existing public records online, and mandates that all newly-created records be published on the internet beginning on January 3, 2011. Developed in accordance with the principles of open data laid out by open government advocates, the bill specifies that the information must be complete, accessible, timely, and available without any fees or licensing restrictions.
The bill includes the strong privacy protections of the FOIL, prohibiting disclosure of any information that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy.
The legislation has been praised by good government advocates as an important measure that will open up New York’s government to the public:
“New Yorkers deserve government openness that reflects the changes of the 21st Century,” said Blair Horner, Legislative Director for the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). “NYPIRG applauds Assemblyman Kellner’s proposal to use modern technology to open up state government.”
“Citizens Union is pleased that Assembly Member Kellner has proposed this comprehensive legislation to expand public access to state government documents and data,” said Dick Dadey, Executive Director of Citizens Union. “This bill would bring access to state government information into the twenty-first century with an online, ‘one-stop-shop’ for state government data and documents that allows for independent analysis and innovative use of such data in new technology applications. We urge the legislature to fully consider this important legislation.”
“Assembly Member Kellner’s legislation represents a major advance in making New York’s government more transparent and accessible,” said Benjamin Kallos, Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Foundation. “Open data is about making government work for the public, and that’s what the Open New York Act will do.”
Already, developers using open government data in other jurisdictions have created applications allowing users to compare cancer or unemployment rates in different locations (www.thisweknow.org), to map out the safest routes home at night (www.outsideindc.com/stumblesafely), to subscribe to news feeds telling them about new building permits or liquor license applications in their neighborhoods (www.everyblock.com), to navigate their local school systems (www.bigappleed.com), or to get traffic updates, recreation options, restaurant inspection results, post office locations, fire and medical response times, and more all in one package (www.nycway.com). Opening up New York State’s data to the public will enable entrepreneurs to create applications using information about health, crime and safety, transportation, housing, consumer matters, environmental quality, and much more—benefiting New Yorkers across the state.
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- @MicahKellner Hello, I live on #2ndavesubway + need help understanding why ConEd is able 2 jackhammer round the clock. No sleep since Monday
10 hours ago from webRT @MicahKellner: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals striking down #Prop8 same-sex marriage ban in California is a victory for the civil rights of all Americans.
2 days ago from web
[...] the ‘Open New York Act,’ a law that would make it mandatory for state agencies to put almost all of their public records on the Internet. According to Kellner’s office, the law would ‘revolutionize the relationship between [...]
“New York State’s public records on the internet—making vital information about public health, safety, transportation, and much more available for New Yorkers on their laptops, desktops, and mobile phones.”
A round of applause among the identity thieves in the audience…now they’re performing the wave…champagne bottles break out among the more accomplished identity thieves…
Another pencil pushing legislator extolling the virtues of his legislation…without mentioning anything about the possible repercussions related to identity theft or other.
How many obsolete laws have you succeeded in repealing while in office? Or are you just adding to the clutter?
[...] as I have introduced legislation to require New York State’s agencies to put their public records on the internet, I believe that [...]
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