Strengthening Government Transparency Amendment Act of 2017. On March 15, 2017, Councilmembers David Grosso and Mary Cheh co- introduced Bill 22-0188, the “Strengthening Government Transparency Amendment Act of 2017.” Provisions of the bill include: (1) establishing the Office of Open Government as the body to resolve FOIA request Appeals; (2) extending the time a public body has to respond to a FOIA request from 15 to 20 days; (3) allowing all FOIA fees to revert to the agency, rather than the General Fund; and (4) requiring that all public bodies publish meeting dates and records on the OOG Central Calendar.

The “ANC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016” completes Congressional Review. On April 7, 2017 the "Advisory Neighborhood Commission Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016" became effective as D.C. Law 21-0269. Provisions of the bill include requirements that: (1) the OOG develop a training program and materials on the DC FOIA for ANCs; (2) the OOG provide a training session at least twice annually on ANC obligations under FOIA; (3) ANCs must publish on the ANC website a draft agenda for each meeting no fewer than seven calendar days in advance of the regular meeting; and, (4) ANCs must post all meeting notices, questions and comments on a central online portal.

OOG Testifies at Performance Oversight Hearing. On February 23, 2017, OOG Director Traci L. Hughes, Esq., provided testimony before the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety on the OOG’s public operations. Highlights of Director Hughes’ testimony include: (1) the OOG has answered nearly 400 requests for substantive and technical advice on FOIA and the OMA, from agencies, public bodies, the public, and non-profit entities who serve the District’s most vulnerable residents; and, (2) to make it easier for the public and agencies to view OOG advisory opinions, the OOG will launch an online dashboard. Read the entire testimony here

Sunshine Week 2017. On March 14, 2017, the OOG attended the sixth annual D.C. Open Government Summit at the National Press Club. The focus of this year’s summit was the state of government transparency in the District of Columbia. There was also a series of talks on topics which included body camera legislation, access to government official’s text messages and open data.

The DC Archives: A Fantastic Resource for Resesarchers Interested in genealogy? Writing a paper on Frederick Douglass’ role as the first African American Recorder of Deeds in Washington, DC? Want to learn more about DC Emancipation Day? All this and much, is available at the District of Columbia Archives. The District of Columbia Archives holds historical and permanently valuable records of the DC Government, such as birth and death records, wills, land records and marriage records. Location: 1300 Naylor Court, NW. Telephone: 202-671-1105. Email: archives@dc.gov. Taken from the DC Archives website to learn more click here.