CHAPTER 14
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Table of Contents

Sec. 1-200. (Formerly Sec. 1-18a). Definitions.
Sec. 1-210. (Formerly Sec. 1-19). Access to public records. Exempt records.
Sec. 1-217. (Formerly Sec. 1-20f). Nondisclosure of residential addresses of certain individuals.
Sec. 1-226. (Formerly Sec. 1-21a). Recording, broadcasting or photographing meetings.

      Sec. 1-200. (Formerly Sec. 1-18a). Definitions.

      Instructors in master gardener program at University of Connecticut who do not perform governmental function within meaning of Subdiv. (11) and have no power to govern, regulate or make decisions affecting government do not constitute public agencies under Subdiv. (1). 90 CA 101.

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      Sec. 1-210. (Formerly Sec. 1-19). Access to public records. Exempt records. (a) Except as otherwise provided by any federal law or state statute, all records maintained or kept on file by any public agency, whether or not such records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person shall have the right to (1) inspect such records promptly during regular office or business hours, (2) copy such records in accordance with subsection (g) of section 1-212, or (3) receive a copy of such records in accordance with section 1-212. Any agency rule or regulation, or part thereof, that conflicts with the provisions of this subsection or diminishes or curtails in any way the rights granted by this subsection shall be void. Each such agency shall keep and maintain all public records in its custody at its regular office or place of business in an accessible place and, if there is no such office or place of business, the public records pertaining to such agency shall be kept in the office of the clerk of the political subdivision in which such public agency is located or of the Secretary of the State, as the case may be. Any certified record hereunder attested as a true copy by the clerk, chief or deputy of such agency or by such other person designated or empowered by law to so act, shall be competent evidence in any court of this state of the facts contained therein. Each such agency shall make, keep and maintain a record of the proceedings of its meetings.

      (b) Nothing in the Freedom of Information Act shall be construed to require disclosure of:

      (1) Preliminary drafts or notes provided the public agency has determined that the public interest in withholding such documents clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure;

      (2) Personnel or medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute an invasion of personal privacy;

      (3) Records of law enforcement agencies not otherwise available to the public which records were compiled in connection with the detection or investigation of crime, if the disclosure of said records would not be in the public interest because it would result in the disclosure of (A) the identity of informants not otherwise known or the identity of witnesses not otherwise known whose safety would be endangered or who would be subject to threat or intimidation if their identity was made known, (B) signed statements of witnesses, (C) information to be used in a prospective law enforcement action if prejudicial to such action, (D) investigatory techniques not otherwise known to the general public, (E) arrest records of a juvenile, which shall also include any investigatory files, concerning the arrest of such juvenile, compiled for law enforcement purposes, (F) the name and address of the victim of a sexual assault under section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b or 53a-73a, or injury or risk of injury, or impairing of morals under section 53-21, or of an attempt thereof, or (G) uncorroborated allegations subject to destruction pursuant to section 1-216;

      (4) Records pertaining to strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims or pending litigation to which the public agency is a party until such litigation or claim has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled;

      (5) (A) Trade secrets, which for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, are defined as information, including formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, processes, drawings, cost data, or customer lists that (i) derive independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from their disclosure or use, and (ii) are the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain secrecy; and

      (B) Commercial or financial information given in confidence, not required by statute;

      (6) Test questions, scoring keys and other examination data used to administer a licensing examination, examination for employment or academic examinations;

      (7) The contents of real estate appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by an agency relative to the acquisition of property or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until such time as all of the property has been acquired or all proceedings or transactions have been terminated or abandoned, provided the law of eminent domain shall not be affected by this provision;

      (8) Statements of personal worth or personal financial data required by a licensing agency and filed by an applicant with such licensing agency to establish the applicant's personal qualification for the license, certificate or permit applied for;

      (9) Records, reports and statements of strategy or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining;

      (10) Records, tax returns, reports and statements exempted by federal law or state statutes or communications privileged by the attorney-client relationship;

      (11) Names or addresses of students enrolled in any public school or college without the consent of each student whose name or address is to be disclosed who is eighteen years of age or older and a parent or guardian of each such student who is younger than eighteen years of age, provided this subdivision shall not be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of the names or addresses of students enrolled in any public school in a regional school district to the board of selectmen or town board of finance, as the case may be, of the town wherein the student resides for the purpose of verifying tuition payments made to such school;

      (12) Any information obtained by the use of illegal means;

      (13) Records of an investigation or the name of an employee providing information under the provisions of section 4-61dd;

      (14) Adoption records and information provided for in sections 45a-746, 45a-750 and 45a-751;

      (15) Any page of a primary petition, nominating petition, referendum petition or petition for a town meeting submitted under any provision of the general statutes or of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, until the required processing and certification of such page has been completed by the official or officials charged with such duty after which time disclosure of such page shall be required;

      (16) Records of complaints, including information compiled in the investigation thereof, brought to a municipal health authority pursuant to chapter 368e or a district department of health pursuant to chapter 368f, until such time as the investigation is concluded or thirty days from the date of receipt of the complaint, whichever occurs first;

      (17) Educational records which are not subject to disclosure under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g;

      (18) Records, the disclosure of which the Commissioner of Correction, or as it applies to Whiting Forensic Division facilities of the Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, has reasonable grounds to believe may result in a safety risk, including the risk of harm to any person or the risk of an escape from, or a disorder in, a correctional institution or facility under the supervision of the Department of Correction or Whiting Forensic Division facilities. Such records shall include, but are not limited to:

      (A) Security manuals, including emergency plans contained or referred to in such security manuals;

      (B) Engineering and architectural drawings of correctional institutions or facilities or Whiting Forensic Division facilities;

      (C) Operational specifications of security systems utilized by the Department of Correction at any correctional institution or facility or Whiting Forensic Division facilities, except that a general description of any such security system and the cost and quality of such system may be disclosed;

      (D) Training manuals prepared for correctional institutions and facilities or Whiting Forensic Division facilities that describe, in any manner, security procedures, emergency plans or security equipment;

      (E) Internal security audits of correctional institutions and facilities or Whiting Forensic Division facilities;

      (F) Minutes or re:CHY:cordings of staff meetings of the Department of Correction or Whiting Forensic Division facilities, or portions of such minutes or re:CHY:cordings, that contain or reveal information relating to security or other records otherwise exempt from disclosure under this subdivision;

      (G) Logs or other documents that contain information on the movement or assignment of inmates or staff at correctional institutions or facilities; and

      (H) Records that contain information on contacts between inmates, as defined in section 18-84, and law enforcement officers;

      (19) Records when there are reasonable grounds to believe disclosure may result in a safety risk, including the risk of harm to any person, any government-owned or leased institution or facility or any fixture or appurtenance and equipment attached to, or contained in, such institution or facility, except that such records shall be disclosed to a law enforcement agency upon the request of the law enforcement agency. Such reasonable grounds shall be determined (A) with respect to records concerning any executive branch agency of the state or any municipal, district or regional agency, by the Commissioner of Public Works, after consultation with the chief executive officer of the agency; (B) with respect to records concerning Judicial Department facilities, by the Chief Court Administrator; and (C) with respect to records concerning the Legislative Department, by the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management. As used in this section, "government-owned or leased institution or facility" includes, but is not limited to, an institution or facility owned or leased by a public service company, as defined in section 16-1, a certified telecommunications provider, as defined in section 16-1, a water company, as defined in section 25-32a, or a municipal utility that furnishes electric, gas or water service, but does not include an institution or facility owned or leased by the federal government, and "chief executive officer" includes, but is not limited to, an agency head, department head, executive director or chief executive officer. Such records include, but are not limited to:

      (i) Security manuals or reports;

      (ii) Engineering and architectural drawings of government-owned or leased institutions or facilities;

      (iii) Operational specifications of security systems utilized at any government-owned or leased institution or facility, except that a general description of any such security system and the cost and quality of such system, may be disclosed;

      (iv) Training manuals prepared for government-owned or leased institutions or facilities that describe, in any manner, security procedures, emergency plans or security equipment;

      (v) Internal security audits of government-owned or leased institutions or facilities;

      (vi) Minutes or records of meetings, or portions of such minutes or records, that contain or reveal information relating to security or other records otherwise exempt from disclosure under this subdivision;

      (vii) Logs or other documents that contain information on the movement or assignment of security personnel at government-owned or leased institutions or facilities;

      (viii) Emergency plans and emergency recovery or response plans; and

      (ix) With respect to a water company, as defined in section 25-32a, that provides water service: Vulnerability assessments and risk management plans, operational plans, portions of water supply plans submitted pursuant to section 25-32d that contain or reveal information the disclosure of which may result in a security risk to a water company, inspection reports, technical specifications and other materials that depict or specifically describe critical water company operating facilities, collection and distribution systems or sources of supply;

      (20) Records of standards, procedures, processes, software and codes, not otherwise available to the public, the disclosure of which would compromise the security or integrity of an information technology system;

      (21) The residential, work or school address of any participant in the address confidentiality program established pursuant to sections 54-240 to 54-240o, inclusive;

      (22) The electronic mail address of any person that is obtained by the Department of Transportation in connection with the implementation or administration of any plan to inform individuals about significant highway or railway incidents.

      (c) Whenever a public agency receives a request from any person confined in a correctional institution or facility or a Whiting Forensic Division facility, for disclosure of any public record under the Freedom of Information Act, the public agency shall promptly notify the Commissioner of Correction or the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the case of a person confined in a Whiting Forensic Division facility of such request, in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, before complying with the request as required by the Freedom of Information Act. If the commissioner believes the requested record is exempt from disclosure pursuant to subdivision (18) of subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may withhold such record from such person when the record is delivered to the person's correctional institution or facility or Whiting Forensic Division facility.

      (d) Whenever a public agency, except the Judicial Department or Legislative Department, receives a request from any person for disclosure of any records described in subdivision (19) of subsection (b) of this section under the Freedom of Information Act, the public agency shall promptly notify the Commissioner of Public Works of such request, in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, before complying with the request as required by the Freedom of Information Act and for information related to a water company, as defined in section 25-32a, the public agency shall promptly notify the water company before complying with the request as required by the Freedom of Information Act. If the commissioner, after consultation with the chief executive officer of the applicable agency or after consultation with the chief executive officer of the applicable water company for information related to a water company, as defined in section 25-32a, believes the requested record is exempt from disclosure pursuant to subdivision (19) of subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may direct the agency to withhold such record from such person. In any appeal brought under the provisions of section 1-206 of the Freedom of Information Act for denial of access to records for any of the reasons described in subdivision (19) of subsection (b) of this section, such appeal shall be against the Commissioner of Public Works, exclusively, or, in the case of records concerning Judicial Department facilities, the Chief Court Administrator or, in the case of records concerning the Legislative Department, the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management.

      (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (16) of subsection (b) of this section, disclosure shall be required of:

      (1) Interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters, advisory opinions, recommendations or any report comprising part of the process by which governmental decisions and policies are formulated, except disclosure shall not be required of a preliminary draft of a memorandum, prepared by a member of the staff of a public agency, which is subject to revision prior to submission to or discussion among the members of such agency;

      (2) All records of investigation conducted with respect to any tenement house, lodging house or boarding house as defined in section 19a-355, or any nursing home, residential care home or rest home, as defined in section 19a-490, by any municipal building department or housing code inspection department, any local or district health department, or any other department charged with the enforcement of ordinances or laws regulating the erection, construction, alteration, maintenance, sanitation, ventilation or occupancy of such buildings; and

      (3) The names of firms obtaining bid documents from any state agency.

      (1957, P.A. 428, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 260; 1967, P.A. 723, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 193; 1971, P.A. 193; P.A. 75-342, S. 2; P.A. 76-294; P.A. 77-609, S. 2, 8; P.A. 79-119; 79-324; 79-575, S. 2, 4; 79-599, S. 3; P.A. 80-483, S. 1, 186; P.A. 81-40, S. 2; 81-431, S. 1; 81-448, S. 2; P.A. 83-436; P.A. 84-112, S. 1; 84-311, S. 2, 3; P.A. 85-577, S. 22; P.A. 90-335, S. 1; P.A. 91-140, S. 2, 3; P.A. 94-246, S. 14; P.A. 95-233; P.A. 96-130, S. 37; P.A. 97-47, S. 4; 97-112, S. 2; 97-293, S. 14, 26; P.A. 99-156, S. 1; P.A. 00-66, S. 5; 00-69, S. 3, 4; 00-134, S. 1; 00-136, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1, S. 20, 46; P.A. 01-26, S. 1; P.A. 02-133, S. 1, 2; 02-137, S. 2; P.A. 03-200, S. 17; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 104; P.A. 05-287, S. 26.)

      History: 1963 act required that public records be kept in accessible place at regular office and at office of town clerk or secretary of the state if no regular office exists; 1967 act excluded certain records from definition of "public record" for disclosure purposes and required public agencies to keep records of proceedings; 1969 act provided that certified copies would be admitted as evidence in court proceedings; 1971 act required disclosure of records of investigations re tenement, lodging or boarding houses; P.A. 75-342 changed "town clerk" to "clerk of any political subdivision," rewrote provisions regarding exclusion of certain records from consideration as public records for disclosure purposes and specifically required disclosure of records of investigations re nursing or rest homes or homes for the aged; P.A. 76-294 clarified meaning of "arrest records of a juvenile"; P.A. 77-609 prohibited requiring disclosure of names and addresses of public school or college students; P.A. 79-119 replaced provision in Subsec. (a) which had allowed inspection or copying of records at reasonable time determined by their custodian with provision allowing inspection during office or business hours and copying as provided in Sec. 1-15; P.A. 79-324 clarified Subsec. (c); P.A. 79-575 provided exception to disclosure of students' names and addresses for use by towns in verifying tuition payments and prohibited requiring disclosure of information obtained illegally; P.A. 79-599 prohibited requiring disclosure of records or name of state employee providing information for "whistle blowing" investigation; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 81-40 amended Subsec. (b) to exclude adoption records and information provided for in Secs. 45-68e and 45-68i from disclosure requirements; P.A. 81-431 amended Subsec. (c) to specifically require disclosure of memoranda and other documents which constitute part of the process by which governmental decisions and policies are formulated with a limited exception for preliminary drafts of memoranda, rather than of "all records of investigation..." as previously provided; P.A. 81-448 protected from disclosure name and address of victim of sexual assault, injury or risk of injury or impairing or attempting to impair morals; P.A. 83-436 amended Subsec. (c) to require disclosure of names of firms obtaining bid documents from any state agency; P.A. 84-112 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that agency rules or regulations that conflict with that subsection or diminish rights granted by that subsection are void; P.A. 84-311 amended disclosure exemption for trade secrets in Subsec. (b) by eliminating limitation to information obtained from the public; P.A. 85-577 added Subdiv. (15) of Subsec. (b) regarding pages of a primary petition, a nominating petition, a referendum petition or a petition for a town meeting; P.A. 90-335 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (3)(F) re uncorroborated allegations subject to destruction pursuant to Sec. 1-20; P.A. 91-140 substituted "pending claims or pending litigation" for "pending claims and litigation" in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-246 amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (b) to add provision in Subpara. (A) re disclosure of "the identity of witnesses not otherwise known whose safety would be endangered or who would be subject to threat or intimidation if their identity was made known" and insert a new Subpara. (B) re disclosure of "signed statements of witnesses", relettering the remaining Subparas. accordingly; P.A. 95-233 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (16) re records of municipal health authorities and district departments of health complaints; P.A. 96-130 amended Subsec. (b)(14) by adding reference to Sec. 45a-751; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act" for list of sections; P.A. 97-112 substituted "residential care home" for "home for the aged" in Subsec. (c); P.A. 97-293 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (17) re educational records, effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 1-19 transferred to Sec. 1-210 in 1999; P.A. 99-156 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (18) re records that Commissioner of Correction believes may result in safety risk if disclosed and added new Subsec. (c) re requests for disclosure by persons confined in correctional institutions or facilities, relettering former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d); P.A. 00-66 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(18); P.A. 00-69 amended Subsec. (b) to add new Subdiv. (19) re certain records that may result in a safety risk, inserted new Subsec. (d) re requests under Subdiv. (b)(19) made to a public agency other than the Judicial Department, and redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e), effective May 16, 2000; P.A. 00-134 amended Subsec. (b)(8) to substitute "the applicant's" for "his" and to add new Subdiv. (20) re records not otherwise available to the public, the disclosure of which would compromise the security or integrity of an information technology system; P.A. 00-136 redefined trade secrets in Subsec. (b)(5) and added Subpara. and clause designators in Subsec. (b)(5); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1 amended Subsec. (b)(18) and Subsec. (c) to add references to Whiting Forensic Division facilities of Connecticut Valley Hospital and to Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective June 21, 2000; P.A. 01-26 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(5)(A)(i); P.A. 02-133 amended Subsec. (b)(19) to provide that records be disclosed to a law enforcement agency upon request, substitute "government-owned" for "state-owned" re facilities, provide that reasonable grounds shall be determined by the Commissioner of Public Works after consultation with the chief executive officer of the agency, the Chief Court Administrator or the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, insert new Subpara. designators "(A)" to "(C)", define "government-owned or leased institution or facility" and "chief executive officer", substitute "records include" for "records shall include" and "records" for "re:CHY:cordings", substitute clause designators "(i)" to "(vii)" for Subpara. designators "(A)" to "(G)", respectively, delete reference to emergency plans in clause (i) and add new clause (viii) re emergency plans and emergency recovery or response plans and amended Subsec. (d) to add provisions re the Legislative Department and to add "after consultation with the chief executive officer of the applicable agency" re the determination by the Commissioner of Public Works that a requested record is exempt from disclosure; P.A. 02-137 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provisions re right to inspect and receive copy as Subdivs. (1) and (3), add Subdiv. (2) re copying of records in accordance with Sec. 1-212(g), and delete "the provisions of" in Subdiv. (3); P.A. 03-200 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (21) re address of participant in address confidentiality program, effective January 1, 2004; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (b)(19) by inserting "a water company, as defined in section 25-32a," in definition of "government-owned or leased institution or facility" and adding new clause (ix) re water company materials and amended Subsec. (d) by adding provisions re information related to a water company, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (22) re electronic mail addresses obtained by the Department of Transportation in connection with the administration of any plan to inform individuals about significant highway or railway incidents, effective July 13, 2005.

      Subsec. (a):

      PowerPoint materials prepared by instructors in master gardener program at University of Connecticut not prepared, owned, used, received or retained by university not held to be records maintained or kept on file by public agency. 90 CA 101.

      Subsec. (b):

      Party claiming exemption pursuant to Subdiv. (19) has burden of seeking public safety determination from Commissioner of Public Works. 274 C. 179.

      Disclosure of PowerPoint materials prepared by instructors in master gardener program at University of Connecticut that are not exempted under subsec. is not required because exemption applies only to public records, and materials determined initially not to be public records. 90 CA 101. Subdiv. (1): There is no requirement that public agency provide its rationale for withholding disclosure of applicable records at a specific time. 91 CA 521.

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      Sec. 1-217. (Formerly Sec. 1-20f). Nondisclosure of residential addresses of certain individuals. (a) No public agency may disclose, under the Freedom of Information Act, the residential address of any of the following persons:

      (1) A federal court judge, federal court magistrate, judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court of the state, or family support magistrate;

      (2) A sworn member of a municipal police department or a sworn member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety;

      (3) An employee of the Department of Correction;

      (4) An attorney-at-law who represents or has represented the state in a criminal prosecution;

      (5) An attorney-at-law who is or has been employed by the Public Defender Services Division or a social worker who is employed by the Public Defender Services Division;

      (6) An inspector employed by the Division of Criminal Justice;

      (7) A firefighter;

      (8) An employee of the Department of Children and Families;

      (9) A member or employee of the Board of Pardons and Paroles;

      (10) An employee of the judicial branch; or

      (11) A member or employee of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

      (b) The business address of any person described in this section shall be subject to disclosure under section 1-210. The provisions of this section shall not apply to Department of Motor Vehicles records described in section 14-10.

      (P.A. 95-163; P.A. 96-83, S. 1, 3; P.A. 97-219, S. 2; P.A. 99-26, S. 27, 39; 99-77, S. 1; 99-156, S. 3; P.A. 01-186, S. 17; P.A. 02-53, S. 1; P.A. 04-234, S. 2; 04-257, S. 114; P.A. 05-108, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 96-83 added Subdiv. (6) re nondisclosure of residential address of inspector employed by Division of Criminal Justice (Revisor's note: In 1997 references throughout the general statutes to "Motor Vehicle(s) Commissioner" and "Motor Vehicle(s) Department" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" or "Department of Motor Vehicles", as the case may be, for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 97-219 added Subdiv. (7) re nondisclosure of residential address of a firefighter; Sec. 1-20f transferred to Sec. 1-217 in 1999; P.A. 99-26 added Subdiv. (8) re nondisclosure of residential address of an employee of the Department of Children and Families, effective May 7, 1999; P.A. 99-77 inserted Subsec. indicators and amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (9) re nondisclosure of residential address of a member or employee of the Board of Parole and delete provision requiring any of the enumerated persons who seeks nondisclosure of such person's residential address to submit a written request for such nondisclosure and furnish his business address to the executive head of the department, agency, board, council, commission or institution; P.A. 99-156 substituted "public agency" for "state department, agency, board, council, commission or institution" in introductory provision; P.A. 01-186 amended Subsec. (a) by including social workers employed by Public Defender Services Division in Subdiv. (5) and by adding Subdiv. (10) re employees of judicial branch; P.A. 02-53 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (11) re members and employees of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; P.A. 04-234 replaced Board of Parole with Board of Pardons and Paroles in Subsec. (a)(9), effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-257 amended Subsec. (a)(9) to delete reference to an employee of the Board of Parole, effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 05-108 amended Subsec. (a)(9) to restore reference to an "employee" of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, effective June 7, 2005.

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      Sec. 1-226. (Formerly Sec. 1-21a). Recording, broadcasting or photographing meetings. (a) At any meeting of a public agency which is open to the public, pursuant to the provisions of section 1-225, proceedings of such public agency may be recorded, photographed, broadcast or recorded for broadcast, subject to such rules as such public agency may have prescribed prior to such meeting, by any person or by any newspaper, radio broadcasting company or television broadcasting company. Any re:CHY:cording, radio, television or photographic equipment may be so located within the meeting room as to permit the re:CHY:cording, broadcasting either by radio, or by television, or by both, or the photographing of the proceedings of such public agency. The photographer or broadcaster and its personnel, or the person re:CHY:cording the proceedings, shall be required to handle the photographing, broadcast or re:CHY:cording as inconspicuously as possible and in such manner as not to disturb the proceedings of the public agency. As used herein the term television shall include the transmission of visual and audible signals by cable.

      (b) Any such public agency may adopt rules governing such re:CHY:cording, photography or the use of such broadcasting equipment for radio and television stations but, in the absence of the adoption of such rules and regulations by such public agency prior to the meeting, such re:CHY:cording, photography or the use of such radio and television equipment shall be permitted as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

      (c) Whenever there is a violation or the probability of a violation of subsections (a) and (b) of this section the superior court, or a judge thereof, for the judicial district in which such meeting is taking place shall, upon application made by affidavit that such violation is taking place or that there is reasonable probability that such violation will take place, issue a temporary injunction against any such violation without notice to the adverse party to show cause why such injunction should not be granted and without the plaintiff's giving bond. Any person or public agency so enjoined may immediately appear and be heard by the court or judge granting such injunction with regard to dissolving or modifying the same and, after hearing the parties and upon a determination that such meeting should not be open to the public, said court or judge may dissolve or modify the injunction. Any action taken by a judge upon any such application shall be immediately certified to the court to which such proceedings are returnable.

      (1967, P.A. 851, S. 1, 2; 1969, P.A. 706; P.A. 74-183, S. 161, 291; P.A. 75-342, S. 12; P.A. 76-435, S. 24, 82; 76-436, S. 562, 681; P.A. 77-609, S. 5, 8; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 05-288, S. 3.)

      History: 1969 act added Subsec. (c); P.A. 74-183 changed "circuit court" to "court of common pleas" and "circuit" to "county or judicial district"; P.A. 75-342 amended section to specifically include photography and newspaper coverage of open meetings and cable transmissions; P.A. 76-435 made technical changes; P.A. 76-436 changed "court of common pleas" to "superior court", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-609 allowed re:CHY:cording equipment at open meetings; P.A. 78-280 deleted "county"; Sec. 1-21a transferred to Sec. 1-226 in 1999; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 13, 2005.

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