Clone of Reach Out To Representatives on OPRA

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Gov. Murphy

Sen. President Scutari

Sen. Majority Leader Ruiz

Deputy Majority Leader Sarlo

Republican Leader Bucco

Deputy Republican Leader Singer

Sen. Bramnick

Asw. Munoz

Asw. Matsikoudis

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Dear Representatives,&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I am writing to express my concerns about plans to reintroduce legislation that will reduce NJ residents' ability to obtain information through OPRA.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I am very concerned about the removal of fee shifting in the amended bill. While this attempt at reform was sold to the public as a way to stop Data Brokers from abusing the system, those provisions have been removed. What remains is a provision that would block middle-class and working-class families from being able to take highly funded public agencies to court to obtain records connected to their communities and schools.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;A near-impossible threshold is the requirement that "bad faith" must be proven for attorneys to be awarded fees in successful suits.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;This provision would empower government agencies to roll the dice almost every time, knowing full well that attorneys would not take on a case with such a low probability of reimbursement.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Please restore fee-shifting - as it stands, the current bill would make OPRA meaningless.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Thank You

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