Researcher: TA Page 1 4/19/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5879
AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN CONTACT INFORMATION FROM
DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
SUMMARY
This bill adds to the list of documents that are exempt from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Specifically,
it exempts any portion of a contact information list containing an
individual’s residential or mailing address, email address, or phone
number, if the list is (1) created or modified by a legislator or his or her
staff for the legislator’s public office purposes and (2) in the legislator’s
or staff person’s custody or control.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
BACKGROUND
Related Rulings
In Declaratory Ruling # 90 (1998), the Freedom of Information
Commission (FOIC) ruled that, generally, correspondence between
legislators and constituents is (1) not disclosable under FOIA if it
relates to casework (e.g., a request to assist the constituent with a
matter involving a state agency) but (2) disclosable under FOIA if it
relates to enacting legislation.
In 2014, FOIC ruled in two contested cases that constituents’ town
and zip code information was disclosable when contacting a legislator
about a bill because, among other things, the information
demonstrated that a person was a constituent and was generally
widely available. On the other hand, the commission ruled that
constituents’ email addresses were not disclosable because, among
other things, the information did not demonstrate whether a person
was a constituent and was not widely available (FIC2013-0183 and
FIC2013-0194). 2021HB-05879-R000496-BA.DOCX
Researcher: TA Page 2 4/19/21
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 6 (03/31/2021)