The Virginia FOIA Opinion Archive

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Attorney General's Opinion 1976-77 #308

Three-member committee of nine-member council is subject to FOIA. Public and press may be excluded from a properly called executive session, but there is nothing to prohibit the attendance at the meeting of people who would be helpful or necessary to the meeting.

Attorney General's Opinion 1976-77 #316

No executive session under legal matters exemption to discuss advertising contract bid and negotiations. No executive session under real estate exemption to discuss debt owed on property already acquired.

Attorney General's Opinion 1976-77 #309

FOIA applies to the General Assembly and its clerks. The telephone recrods of General Assembly members are not exempt as working papers.

Attorney General's Opinion 1974-75 #576

Complaints filed with the county human rights commission and/or tenant-landlord commission are public records. FOIA provisions trump conflicting city ordinances.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #305

Scholastic record exemption still allows access to the students parents if the student is under 18, and to the parents and the student if he/she is 18 or older.

WTAR v. City Council of the City of Virginia Beach

An injunction is not justified where there is not a reasonable probability that violations of FOIA will occur again.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #406

University of Virginia advisory committee made up of faculty and administrative personnel not subject to FOIA.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #412

Three-member board of supervisors subject to FOIA. Three-member committee may hold closed meeting to discuss acquisition of building to house county offices.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #415

Working papers exemption applies to county administrator, but not to the board of supervisors.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #284

Police departments must maintain arrest and investigative records until such time that the Library of Virginia determines they have no lasting value.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #417

FOIA violation for going into executive session without a motion, and for reconvening, having transacted public business, without a motion. Election held in improper executive session may be set aside by court action. Acts of entity with an improperly elected official as a member are valid until the official is notified of the legal defect behind his/her election.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #412A

Notes made by an official at the Division of Personnel on a federal government report about the operations and policies of the division are official records.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #408

outdated statutory rules applied to boards of visitors meetings.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #409

Citizens entitled to inspect or copy existing official records relating to matters before city council.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #411

Late-night gathering of six council members with county manager, commonwealth attorney and select others to discuss police scandal was a meeting for purposes of FOIA.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #071

FOIA does not apply to inspection of bid records; another Code provisions regulates this area.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #414

conciliation agreements entered into by all parties in a complaint with the Human Rights Commission are official records subject to disclosure.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #410

Mere distribution of a letter during executive session without discussion does not violate FOIA, though the letter itself is an official record subject to disclosure upon request.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #223

Other Code provisions prohibit release of information to parents of minors tested for venereal and other contagious diseases.

Attorney General's Opinion 1975-76 #418

Arrest warrant information is open for public inspection, provided such records are actually maintained by the sheriff's office.

Attorney General's Opinion 1974-75 #581

School-by-school results of scholastic achievement tests are open records.

Attorney General's Opinion 1974-75 #569

Person seeking enforcement of FOIA provisions carries burden of proof. Plaintiff must submit affidavit in support of petition for injunction

Attorney General's Opinion 1974-75 #069

A copy of the county clerk of court's report on fees, commission and salaries is an official record subject to public inspection.

Attorney General's Opinion 1974-75 #568

General budget discussions must be public. Public vote required before adjourning to closed meeting.

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