McEntee-Craven bill that shields higher
education researchers from climate change denier attacks passes House
Rep. Carol Hagan
McEntee’s legislation (2016-H
8124 Sub A) that would protect scholarly research by faculty members of the
state’s higher education institutions from public records requests until the
researchers are prepared to publish their work was passed by the House of
Representatives.
The legislation,
cosponsored by Rep. Robert E. Craven, was drafted in response to concerns of
faculty at Rhode Island’s higher education institutions regarding public
records requests being made by climate change deniers in hopes of disrupting
research on the subject being done at the institutions.
“I sponsored this legislation because it was brought to my attention that a disturbing national trend is taking place in an effort to disrupt critical and important research concerning climate change at our country’s universities,” said Representative McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
“Our nation’s
colleges and universities have thrived due to the academic freedom to research
topics without bending to political pressure and with a topic as important to
us all as climate change, I believe our researchers should be able to do their
job without fear of harassment.”
“It’s crucial that our
researchers are allowed to work on such important topics as climate change
without being disrupted due to political harassment,” said Representative
Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
This act would provide that preliminary drafts, notes,
impressions, memoranda, working papers and work products including those
involving research at state institutions of higher education on commercial,
scientific, artistic, technical or scholarly issues, whether in electronic or
other format, would not be deemed a public record for purposes of public access
to public records.
The legislation would take effect upon passage and now heads
to the Senate for consideration.