HB06603 - Government Administration

• Requires lobbyists to wear distinguishing badges while engaging in lobbying activities, with blue and white badges for state residents and red and white badges for out-of-state residents, effective October 1, 2011.

• Expands Freedom of Information Act exemptions to include communications protected by marital relationship, clergy-penitent relationship, doctor-patient relationship, therapist-patient relationship, and other common law or statutory privileges established before or after the privilege's creation.

• Adds new senior center enrollment information to FOIA exemptions, prohibiting disclosure of names, addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses of senior center members or participants.

• Requires state budget bills and implementing legislation to be posted online at least 48 hours (or 24 hours for implementing bills) before legislative votes.

• Establishes four new state heritage and observance days: Irish-American Heritage Month (March), Italian-American Heritage Month (October), French Canadian Day (June 24), and Native American Day (first Friday after Thanksgiving).