THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Sec. 1-205.  (Formerly Sec. 1-21j).  Freedom of Information Commission. 

            (a)  There shall be a Freedom of Information Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of either house of the General Assembly, who shall serve for terms of four years from the July first of the year of their appointment, except that of the members appointed prior to and serving on July 1, 1977, one shall serve for a period of six years from July 1, 1975, one shall serve for a period of four years from July 1, 1975, and one shall serve for a period of six years from July 1, 1977.  Of the two new members first appointed after July 1, 1977, one shall serve from the date of such appointment until June 30, 1980, and one shall serve from the date of such appointment until June 30, 1982.  No more than three members shall be members of the same political party.

            (b)  Each member shall receive two hundred dollars per day for each day such member is present at a commission hearing or meeting, and shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in connection therewith, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-1.

            (c)  The Governor shall select one of its members as a chairman.  The commission shall maintain a permanent office at Hartford in such suitable space as the Commissioner of Public Works provides.  All papers required to be filed with the commission shall be delivered to such office.

            (d)  The commission shall, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act promptly review the alleged violation of said Freedom of Information Act and issue an order pertaining to the same.  Said commission shall have the power to investigate all alleged violations of said Freedom of Information Act and may for the purpose of investigating any violation hold a hearing, administer oaths, examine witnesses, receive oral and documentary evidence, have the power to subpoena witnesses under procedural rules adopted by the commission to compel attendance and to require the production for examination of any books and papers which the commission deems relevant in any matter under investigation or in question.  In case of a refusal to comply with any such subpoena or to testify with respect to any matter upon which that person may be lawfully interrogated, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue an order requiring such person to comply with such subpoena and to testify; failure to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.

            (e)  The Freedom of Information Commission, and the Department of Information Technology with respect to access to and disclosure of computer-stored public records, shall conduct training sessions, at least annually, for members of public agencies for the purpose of educating such members as to the requirements of sections 1-7 to 1-14, inclusive, 1-16 to 1-18, inclusive, 1-200 to 1-202, inclusive, 1-205, 1-206, 1-210 to 1-217, inclusive, 1-225 to 1-232, inclusive, 1-240, 1-241 and 19a-342.

            (f)  Not later than December 31, 2001, the Freedom of Information Commission shall create, publish and provide to the chief elected official of each municipality a model ordinance concerning the establishment by a municipality of a municipal freedom of information advisory board to facilitate the informed and efficient exchange of information between the commission and such municipality.  The commission may amend the model ordinance from time to time.

(g)  When the General Assembly is in session, the Governor shall have the authority to fill any vacancy on the commission, with the advice and consent of either house of the General Assembly.  When the General Assembly is not in session any vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of section 4-19.  A vacancy in the commission shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the commission and three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

            (h)  The commission shall, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, employ such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.  The commission may enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of its duties, within the limits of its appropriated funds and in accordance with established procedures.

            (i)  The Freedom of Information Commission shall not be construed to be a commission or board within the meaning of section 4-9a.  (P.A. 75-342, §15; P.A. 77-609, §7; P.A. 77-614, §73; P.A. 78-280, §8; P.A. 78-315, §3; P.A. 79-560, §1; P.A. 79-575, §1; P.A. 86-390, §§1, 2; P.A. 87-496, §5; P.A. 88-230, §1; P.A. 89-251, §57; P.A. 90-98, §1; P.A. 91-347, §3; P.A. 93-142, §§4, 7; P.A. 95-220, §§4-6; P.A. 97-47, §13; June 18 Sp. Sess., P.A. 97-9, §27 50; P.A. 00-136, §8, 10; P.A. 06-187, §69; P.A. 07-202, §13).