Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Medical Marijuana Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to shield medical-marijuana facility security plans from public records requests
Summary
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee voted to pass House Bill 1557, which would exempt security plans and blueprints for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivators from routine public-records disclosures, after testimony from the attorney general's office citing security concerns.
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee passed House Bill 1557 after the attorney general's office told lawmakers the measure is needed to prevent public-records requests for security plans at medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivators.
Deputy Attorney General Brian Bowen told the committee the bill "is solving a problem that we are having with FOIAs on medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivators. People are FOIAing their security plans and blueprints. It is a security issue for us, and we'd ask that you pass the bill." Bowen identified the change as a targeted fix; he said the sponsor (Representative House) had taken the bill to the FOI committee, and that committee was "okay with the bill."
Committee members asked whether the FOI committee had reviewed the proposal, and Bowen confirmed they had. Chair closed debate, a motion and second were made, and the committee approved the bill by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried and "Passed house bill 15 57." The transcript records no formal roll-call or individual vote tallies.
The bill, as described in committee, is intended to prevent public disclosure of sensitive security information held by dispensaries and cultivators; the attorney general framed the change as a security measure rather than a new program or funding item. The committee took no further amendments during this session and adjourned after completing the agenda.
