Attendees to the 2019 MACo Summer Conference learned about the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) during the “Academy Core: Public Information Act” panel on August 14. Harford County District Court Judge David Carey highlighted the importance of the PIA and stressed the need for local government understanding and compliance. Carey discussed the guiding principles behind the PIA and noted that people who are not happy with a PIA outcome seek to amend the PIA law through the Maryland General Assembly.
Maryland Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Hochstetler walked through the PIA statute, including its purpose, scope, request process, mandatory and discretionary denials, fees, time requirements, remedies, and the Public Information Act Compliance Board and its ombudsman.
The session met a Core Credit requirement for the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Certificate Program. Anne Arundel County Council Member Amanda Fiedler moderated the panel.
