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State Government sites Maryland state government Web sites offer a wealth of information, from tracking bills in the General Assembly to opinions issued by the state's Open Meetings Compliance Board. Below is a listing of some useful sites. Open Meetings Compliance Board Maryland Association of Counties
The Maryland Health Care Commission offers a comprehensive, on-line resource for information and performance reports concerning HMOs, nursing homes, and hospitals. The site also offers tips and information for people in need of health care assistance.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search Track Maryland Circuit and District Court cases online
The U.S. Census Bureau provides national, state and local demographic information as compiled each decade, including results from the 2000 Census.
Sex Offender Registries The state of Maryland maintains a sex offender registry that can be searched by name, or by postal Zip Code to find information on convicted offenders in your neighborhood. Additionally, the group Stop Sex Offenders maintains a national database of sex offenders with links to state registries.
Non-profit organizations Non-profit organizations exempt from federal income taxes must file an IRS Form 990 every year. These forms include such information as the organization's tax status; income received and sources of that income; payments and expenses, including compensation to directors and board members; programs run by the organization and their cost, and more. Non-profits must provide citizens with their most current IRS Form 990 for inspection and review upon request. Another source for this information is Guidestar, a national database of non-profit organizations and their IRS Form 990s.
Campaign money Opensecrets.org maintains a Web site that tracks campaign finances
Open Government Resources The Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press offers some valuable resources for individuals seeking access to public records, including: Computer generated Freedom of Information Request Open Government Guide, a state by state guide to open records with a searchable database How to use the Federal FOI Act.
Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project is a valuable resource for finding out about your state's access laws and for comparing them to other states.
The National Freedom of Information Coalition, promotes First Amendment issues and serves as a resource for state FOI coalitions. Check this site to see if your state has an FOI coalition, and what you can do to join. For information on the Maryland Foundation for Open Government, contact Jim Lee.
Society of Professional Journalists Project Sunshine and state by state list of Sunshine chairs Project Sunshine focuses the attention of SPJ chapters and leaders on Freedom of Information problems, issues, needs and solutions at the local, chapter and state level. State sunshine chairs also are leaders in national access debates. By taking the lead, initiating organization and collaboration at the chapter and-state level, areas of great and visible need are addressed. It's also the area in which Project Sunshine has the greatest impact. Project Sunshine has four goals: Organize state and local FOI efforts Turn that organization into a local, state and national network that can be mobilized for any access battle Increase membership, renew the commitment to FOI, promote SPJ Raise money needed to support those efforts Contact Jim Lee, Maryland SPJ Sunshine Chair
Other Resources The Freedom Forum offers information on FOI and newsroom diversity Freedom Forum, First Amendment Poynter Institute for Media Studies Society of Environmental Journalists FOI Page Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association Associated Press Managing Editors American Society of Newspaper Editors Coalition of Journalists for Open Government Investigative Reporters and Editors
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