HCS HB 774 -- DISCLOSURE OF NEWS SOURCES

SPONSOR:  Tilley (Jones, 89)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 6 to 1.

This substitute protects individuals and media entities from
being required to disclose in any administrative, civil, or
criminal proceeding the source of any published or unpublished
information obtained by the individual or entity.  The party
seeking the source of the information may petition the circuit
court of the county where the proceeding is located for a court
order to require the individual to disclose his or her source.
The court, in making its decision, must consider the nature of
the proceeding, the merits of the claim, the available
alternative means for establishing the source of the information,
and the public interest in protecting the confidential source.
The court is authorized to compel disclosure of the information
if it does not involve any information required to be kept secret
under federal or state law and the disclosure is essential to the
protection of the public interest involved in the proceeding.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill provides a qualified
privilege to media from being required to disclose confidential
news sources.  Currently, 31 states and the District of Columbia
have source protection statutes, and Missouri already has case
law recognizing the protection principle.  Without the bill,
media may be compelled to disclose confidential news sources
creating a negative effect on future news sources.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Jones (89); Jim
Robertson; and Missouri Broadcasters Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am