HB154:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; public records database.

Bill Summary:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; public records
database. Requires the establishment of a publicly available,
centralized database for all public records. All public bodies will
be required to transfer any public records in its possession to the
database. The bill directs Virginia Information Technologies Agency
(VITA), in consultation with the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory
Council, to (i) convene a workgroup consisting of representatives
from state and local public bodies in every region of the Commonwealth
to conduct research, evaluate data, and determine a plan for implementation
of the database and (ii) report its recommendations to the Governor
and the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate
Committee on General Laws and Technology on or before December 1,
2022. The provisions of the bill that establish the central public
records database shall become effective on July 1, 2023, and the provisions
of the bill requiring every public body to submit its public records
to VITA for inclusion in the central public records database shall
become effective on January 1, 2024.