The Chamber of Deputies passed the Free Access to Public Information Law yesterday by a vote of 110?0. The legislation now goes to the Executive Branch for approval and publication, the last steps before becoming the law of the land. The piece was written by PLD senator Jose Tomas Perez (PLD?Santo Domingo) and ascribes to the Constitutional principle of the right of individuals to investigate and receive information and opinions and circulate them. In the first article of the new law, any person is given the right to request and receive complete information from any State agency and from all the autonomous agencies and enterprises that have the State as a shareholder. Information from all of the organizations of the State is now open to the public, as long as security or public order is not affected. Some privacy rights are protected with reference to individuals. According to the Diario Libre, budgets, resource estimates, programs and projects, as well as announcements for public bids, will be openly available. The law also includes access to public spending and public purchases. Fifteen days are given for all requested information to reach the solicitor, with a 10-day grace period under extraordinary circumstances.