Georgia Open Records: The Law and Best Practices
Abstract
The Georgia Open Records Act governs Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in Georgia. While the common understanding of FOIA requests is generally broad, the ORA lists specific categories of information not subject to disclosure. This allows the law to operate as a tool for government transparency, while also safeguarding PHI and PII. This presentation will focus on what constitutes an open records request and the rights and duties of public health professionals when complying with the ORA. Attendees will gain working knowledge of the law through an explanation of relevant sections of the statute and how they apply to public health. Using examples from practice, attendees will learn how to differentiate between various requests received and determine what agency information is subject to disclosure. By the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will be able to evaluate their own open records process and implement strategies to ensure an efficient and compliant open records process.
Keywords
Open Records, FOIA, Records Custodian, Georgia Law
Georgia Open Records: The Law and Best Practices
The Georgia Open Records Act governs Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in Georgia. While the common understanding of FOIA requests is generally broad, the ORA lists specific categories of information not subject to disclosure. This allows the law to operate as a tool for government transparency, while also safeguarding PHI and PII. This presentation will focus on what constitutes an open records request and the rights and duties of public health professionals when complying with the ORA. Attendees will gain working knowledge of the law through an explanation of relevant sections of the statute and how they apply to public health. Using examples from practice, attendees will learn how to differentiate between various requests received and determine what agency information is subject to disclosure. By the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will be able to evaluate their own open records process and implement strategies to ensure an efficient and compliant open records process.
