OPRA session at Rutgers
	Open Public Records Act speakers, from left, John Paff, Tina Renna and Guy Baehr explain the meaning of the law that allows citizens to obtain public  documents. John Paff explains some nuances to the OPRA law. Tina Renna discusses OPRA with an attendee after the session. Guy Baehr has a discussion with a volunteer from NJFOG after the  OPRA session. It was a packed house for the OPRA session.

A comprehensive learning session on how to use the New Jersey Open Public Records Act was held at Rutgers University on Wednesday evening, Oct. 1. The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) was signed into law in 2002. It allows anyone to look at or photocopy records of any state, county or local government agency. Federal records are covered by the Freedom of Information Act. Although citizens are entitled to this information, there may be forms to fill out or other information to provide in order to obtain a particular record. Ordinarily, access is granted right away for budgets, bills, vouchers, and minutes of meetings. Other records may take up to seven business days to provide. The session included information on how to make an OPRA request and which records are available to the public. The objective of OPRA is to make New Jersey’s various levels of government more transparent to the public and to help citizens and the press understand their government better. The session was co-sponsored by the following organizations: • Journalism Resources Institute • New Jersey Foundation for Open Government • Rutgers Department of Journalism and Media Studies • Rutgers Chapter — Society of Professional Journalists • New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists