First Amendment Foundation

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Products & Services

Products and Services from the First Amendment Foundation

Products

Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual

The Manual is a comprehensive guide to Florida’s Open Meetings and Public Records Laws, and is published by the First Amendment Foundation each year in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Office. The Sunshine Manual provides public officials, citizen activists, and journalists with up-to-date information, including recent case law and attorney general opinions. The Foundation also offers an electronic (Kindle) version of the manual available for purchase at amazon.com. The e-manual includes a searchable database of the manual, as well as a searchable database of exemptions from access requirements.

Pocket Guide

The Pocket Guide is a small booklet designed to fit in a notebook or back pocket for handy access. It includes a review of the most frequently asked questions about open government laws. It also contains a list of open government resources when immediate help with an access issue is necessary.

Reporter’s Notebook

The multi-purpose Reporter’s Notebook, similar to ones used by reporters, contains the most pertinent Public Records and Sunshine Law information on the inside covers, leaving the inside pages available to take notes. The Reporter’s Notebook also provides a list of open government resources for immediate assistance with an access issue.

Services

Freedom of Information (FOI) Hotline

The First Amendment Foundation runs the FOI Hotline, where callers to our toll-free number (800-337-3518) can get information and assistance with their questions about the application of the Sunshine Law and the Public Records Law. Currently, the FOI Hotline is averaging about 200 calls a month, with almost half coming from the general public. The Foundation also responds to emailed questions about open government. Contact us by email.

Sunshine Monitoring

The Foundation monitors the Legislature, state agencies, the courts, and, when possible, local governments, for actions and issues related to open government, alerting its members through periodic reports of all open government activity.

Legislative Report

Prior to the start of each legislative session, the First Amendment Foundation prepares an extensive analysis and review of all open government bills for its members. The Foundation then tracks the legislation throughout the legislative session, providing members with a weekly report on the legislative activity each Friday. The Foundation prepares a final legislative report when the legislative session is concluded.

Sunshine Seminars

The Foundation holds a series of Sunshine Seminars around the state, inviting the participation of government officials, journalists, and members of the general public. In addition, the Foundation will provide individual seminars on request, with tailor-made presentations to meet the needs of the participants.

Litigation

The First Amendment Foundation is active in open government litigation throughout the state, either by joining important open government cases or filing briefs as a friend of the court.

2018 Legislative Session

The number of bills we are already tracking that will either create new open government exemptions or extend current exemptions during the 2018 legislative session. Every exemption makes government less transparent!

Current Exemptions

Florida has 1,122 exemptions to our open government laws currently on the books.

News Articles

New Events Category Post

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News Alerts Category Test Post

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Ivanka Trump used a personal email account to send hundreds of emails about government business last year

The Washington Post by Josh Dawsey November 20, 2018 Ivanka Trump sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them … Keep reading

10Investigates: Hagan campaign donor got secret Rays stadium info

10 News by Noah Pransky November 18, 2018 TAMPA, Fla. – For years, county commissioner Ken Hagan has been negotiating a new Rays stadium behind closed doors, going so far to preserve secrecy that he … Keep reading

Fox News backs CNN in lawsuit against Trump, wants Acosta’s access reinstated

Yahoo by Dylan Stableford November 14, 2018 The president of Fox News said on Wednesday that the cable news network is joining more than a dozen other media outlets in supporting rival CNN in its … Keep reading

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About

  • Our Mission
  • Board of Trustees & Staff

Programs & Services

  • Sunshine Certificate
  • Sunshine Training

Legislature

  • FAF in Action: 2019 Bill Letters
  • FAF in Action: 2018 Bill Letters
  • Archived Reports
  • Contact Your Legislator

News & Updates

  • Events
  • First Amendment Foundation Awards
  • FAF Press Releases
  • Litigation
  • Sunshine Week 2019

Resources

  • Open Government Pledge
  • Requesting & Providing Public Records
  • Open Government Resources
  • Find An Attorney
  • FAQs

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