San Luis Potosí has approved key reforms to its transparency and archives legislation, fundamentally reshaping the institutional management of public information. The most significant change involves transferring responsibilities previously held by the state transparency commission to the State Archives. This realignment aims to correct legal inconsistencies identified by the Supreme Court, ensuring that the handling of historical and general archives is managed by specialized archival bodies rather than transparency oversight entities. This separation clarifies institutional roles and aligns state law with national constitutional standards regarding the distinct nature of archival preservation versus information access. Furthermore, the reforms strengthen the operational capacity and training standards within the government’s transparency framework. The internal council overseeing transparency matters has been expanded to include alternate members, ensuring continuous function during vacancies. Simultaneously, mandatory initial training courses for transparency unit heads and staff are now legally required. This focus on professional development ensures that officials possess the necessary skills to manage personal data protection and information requests effectively, reducing errors and improving service quality for citizens. These changes are highly relevant to the open data movement because they institutionalize the competencies required to manage, protect, and share public information responsibly. By clarifying the distinction between archival custody and data transparency, the reforms prevent administrative bottlenecks that often hinder data availability. Moreover, the mandate for specialized training promotes a culture of compliance and technical proficiency, which is essential for maintaining high-quality, accessible, and legally compliant open data ecosystems that foster public trust and effective civic engagement.
Source:Published on 2023-06-01