Public policy

  1. Law
  2. District of Columbia Code
  3. Government Administration
  4. Administrative Procedure
  5. Freedom of Information
  6. Public policy

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The public policy of the District of Columbia is that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. To that end, provisions of this subchapter shall be construed with the view toward expansion of public access and the minimization of costs and time delays to persons requesting information.

(Oct. 21, 1968, Pub. L. 90-614, title II, § 201; as added Mar. 29, 1977, D.C. Law 1-96, § 2, 23 DCR 3744; Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-283, § 3(a), 48 DCR 1917.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 1-1521.

1973 Ed., § 1-1521.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 1-309.10, § 2-354.17, § 2-1208.04, § 7-2271.05, § 28-4505, § 31-5031.17, § 38-1802.14, § 47-391.08, and § 48-853.05.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 13-283, in the first sentence, substituted “The” for “Generally, the”.

Cross References

Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, application of Freedom of Information Act to members and activities of authority, see § 47-391.08.

Restraints of trade, civil investigative demand, exemption from provisions of Freedom of Information Act, see § 28-4505.

Editor's Notes

The Law Effective Date Notice for D.C. Law 1-96, published on April 8, 1977, was incorrect and was corrected on June 3, 1977, and published at 23 DCR 9532b.

Free Flow of Information Act of 1992: See §§ 16-4701 to 16-4704.

Mayor's Orders

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Committee, see Mayor’s Order 2001-30, February 27, 2001 ( 48 DCR 2380).

Access to Email Traffic of District Government Employees, see Mayor’s Order 2003-164, November 21, 2003 ( 50 DCR 10604).

Designation of Freedom of Information (FOIA) Officer in Each Subordinate Agency, Attendance at FOIA Committee Training, Listing of Subordinate Agency FOIA Officers on Agency Website and Agency Assistance with FOIA Requests, see Mayor’s Order 2004-106, June 29, 2004 ( 51 DCR 7138).

Delegation of Authority

Delegation of authority under D.C. Law 1-96, the “Freedom of Information Act of 1976.”, see Mayor’s Order 91-36, March 7, 1991.


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