HB 774 -- Disclosure of News Sources

Sponsor:  Jones (89)

This bill 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proceeding the source of any published or unpublished information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.

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