House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has
appointed Representative David T. Vieira (R-East Falmouth) as his designee on
the working group charged with reviewing and evaluating the application of the
public records law as it relates to law enforcement.
Created as part of the recent public records law reform package
signed by Governor Charlie Baker, the working group will review determinations
of the supervisor of records and judicial decisions related to requests for
investigatory materials compiled by law enforcement. Current law exempts
these materials from the public records law if their disclosure “would probably
so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure
would not be in the public interest.”
Following its review, the working group will issue its findings
regarding the public interest in releasing records made and kept by police
departments, including arrest records, as well as the privacy and
confidentiality concerns related to the release of such records. A report
on the working group’s finding and recommendations will be filed with the
Legislature by December 30, 2017.
“As the Ranking Member of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and
Homeland Security, Representative Vieira has a firm grasp on the issues that
impact law enforcement,” said Representative Jones. “I believe David’s
experience will serve him well on the working group as it considers potential
changes to the public records law.”
“Transparency is critical to restoring citizen trust in government,
and I look forward to finding the nexus between transparency in law enforcement
records and the confidentiality necessary to protect the public interest,”
Representative Vieira said.
Representative Vieira is one of four legislators serving on the working group, which will be chaired by Secretary of State William Galvin and include a total of 16 members. Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett; Court Administrator of the Trial Court Harry Spence; Attorney General Maura Healey; and Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore will also serve as members.
In addition to these state officials, the working group will also
include representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts;
the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association; the Massachusetts Town
Clerks Association; the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; the State
Police Commissioned Officers Association of Mass.; the Massachusetts Coalition
of Police; and the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Representative Vieira represents the 3rd Barnstable
District, which consists of Precincts 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Bourne; Precincts 3, 4,
7, 8 and 9 in Falmouth; and the town of Mashpee.
