Section 1-a of the Right-to-Know Law defines what is covered by chapter 91-A, namely what is a public body, a public agency, and what are their proceedings and records.
In this chapter:
I. "Advisory committee" means any committee, council, commission, or other like body whose primary purpose is to consider an issue or issues designated by the appointing authority so as to provide such authority with advice or recommendations concerning the formulation of any public policy or legislation that may be promoted, modified, or opposed by such authority.
II. "Governmental proceedings" means the transaction of any functions affecting any or all citizens of the state by a public body.
III. "Governmental records" means any information created, accepted, or obtained by, or on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum or majority thereof, or any public agency in furtherance of its official function.
Without limiting the foregoing, the term "governmental records" includes any written communication or other information, whether in paper, electronic, or other physical form, received by a quorum or majority of a public body in furtherance of its official function, whether at a meeting or outside a meeting of the body.
The term "governmental records" shall also include the term "public records."
IV. "Information" means knowledge, opinions, facts, or data of any kind and in whatever physical form kept or maintained, including, but not limited to, written, aural, visual, electronic, or other physical form.
V. "Public agency" means any agency, authority, department, or office of the state or of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other political subdivision.
VI. "Public body" means any of the following:
(a) The general court including executive sessions of committees; and including any advisory committee established by the general court.
(b) The executive council and the governor with the executive council; including any advisory committee established by the governor by executive order or by the executive council.
(c) Any board or commission of any state agency or authority, including the board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and any committee, advisory or otherwise, established by such entities.
(d) Any legislative body, governing body, board, commission, committee, agency, or authority of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, charter school, or other political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, or subordinate body thereof, or advisory committee thereto.
This is NOT the current language of this law. This language was in effect from July 1, 2008 until August 26, 2008. The previous language was effective January 1, 2002. The original language was effective August 26, 1967. Note that section 1-a was renumbered from section 1 effective September 13, 1977. This language of the RSA was changed by these session laws: 2008, 303; 2001, 223; 1995, 260; 1989, 274; 1986, 83; 1977, 540; 1971, 327; 1967, 251.
In this chapter:
[Moved from paragraph II: II]I.
[For the purposes of this section, ]"[a]Advisory
committee" means any
committee, council, commission, or other like body whose primary purpose
is to consider an issue or issues designated by the appointing authority
so as to provide such authority with advice or recommendations
concerning the formulation of any public policy or legislation that may
be promoted, modified, or opposed by such authority.
[Moved from paragraph I: I]II.
[The term ]"[public]Governmental proceedings" [as used in this chapter ]means the
transaction of any functions affecting any or all citizens of the state
by [any of the following:]a public body.
III. "Governmental records" means any information created, accepted, or obtained by, or on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum or majority thereof, or any public agency in furtherance of its official function. Without limiting the foregoing, the term "governmental records" includes any written communication or other information, whether in paper, electronic, or other physical form, received by a quorum or majority of a public body in furtherance of its official function, whether at a meeting or outside a meeting of the body. The term "governmental records" shall also include the term "public records."
IV. "Information" means knowledge, opinions, facts, or data of any kind and in whatever physical form kept or maintained, including, but not limited to, written, aural, visual, electronic, or other physical form.
V. "Public agency" means any agency, authority, department, or office of the state or of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other political subdivision.
[Moved from paragraph I: I]VI. "Public body" means
any of the following:
(a) The general court including executive sessions of committees; and
including any advisory committee established by the general court[.];
(b) The [governor's]executive council and the governor with the [governor's]executive council;
including any advisory committee established by the governor by
executive order or by the [governor's]executive council[.];
(c) Any board or commission of any state agency or authority, including
the board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and [including ]any
[advisory ]committee, advisory or otherwise, established by such entities[.];
(d) Any legislative body, governing body, board, commission, committee,
agency, or authority[,] of any county, town, municipal corporation, school
district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other
political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, or subordinate
body thereof, or advisory committee thereto[.];