Monday, February 08, 2021
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A GoLocal request for the state’s revised vaccination plan as well as emails between the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were responded to by RIDOH officials with a claim that there is no revised vaccination plan and a bill for more than $3,147.50 for retrieval of the emails.
GoLocal has paid RIDOH s demand for payment.
“The Department of Health’s response to a legitimate request for public information by a local news organization is truly unfortunate and legally unnecessary. The Access to Public Records Act makes clear that state policy favors broad public access to government information and that an agency is not required to condition production of public records on advance payment of speculative costs or fees,” said Lynette Labinger, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of RI.