About the Freedom of Information Act
Congress passed the Freedom Of Information Act in 1966. The act requires federal documents to be made available upon request, with exceptions to protect national security, law enforcement and commercial and individual privacy. To file a FOIA request, use this [sample letter].
Maryland's Public Information Act
Enacted in 1970, Maryland's Public Information Act grants the public a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens. The PIA covers public agencies and officials in Maryland and includes all branches of state government (legislative, judicial, and executive). The PIA is similar in purpose to the federal Freedom of Information Act. "The basic mandate of the Public Information Act is to enable people to have access to government records without unnecessary cost or delay. Custodians have a responsibility to provide such access, unless the requested records fall within one of the exceptions provided in the PIA," according to the Maryland Attorney General's office. Certain types of records are exempt from the law, such as adoption records, student records and personal finance records. In spite of the many records that are not covered by the PIA, Maryland's various agencies and departments have hundreds of databases and records that any resident should be allowed to see upon request. To file a Maryland PIA request, use this [sample letter].