PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill in section 1 in §200-I by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 1, lines 28 to 33 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘4.  Confidentiality.    The ombudsman may access records that a public agency or official believes are confidential in order to make a recommendation concerning whether the public agency or official may release the records to the public. The ombudsman's recommendation is not binding on the public agency or official. The ombudsman shall maintain the confidentiality of records and information provided to the ombudsman by a public agency or official under this section and shall return the records to the public agency or official when the ombudsman's review is complete.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment clarifies that the Public Access Ombudsman makes nonbinding recommendations concerning the release of records to the public and clarifies the manner in which those records must be handled.