Freedom of Information Laws
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About This Practical Pointer
The degree to which land trusts, as nonprofit, publicly supported entities, are subject to federal or state public disclosure laws is unsettled and often varies from state to state. Public disclosure or 'freedom of information' laws guarantee public access to data and information held by the government. Federal and state freedom of information laws establish a legal procedure by which citizens can make requests for government-held information. As a first step, land trusts should discuss the issue with experienced local counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Here are some of the issues that should be considered by land trusts when responding to public disclosure requests.
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For accreditation-related materials, please also consult the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website.