GFAF Resources

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation makes available a number of free resources for individuals who want to learn more about open government requirements in Georgia.

About the Georgia First Amendment Foundation

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation (GFAF) is a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing First Amendment freedoms in Georgia, with a particular emphasis on open government, freedom of the press, and citizens' rights to public information. The GFAF works with citizens, journalists, law enforcement, schools, and government agencies to build a culture of transparency in Georgia government.

The GFAF's resource guides — commonly called the Red Book, Blue Book, and Green Book — are among the most widely used references for Georgia citizens and officials navigating sunshine law issues. These guides are distributed free of charge, and the GFAF encourages their widespread dissemination.

The Red Book: Georgia's Sunshine Laws

Formal Title: "Georgia's Sunshine Laws: A Citizen's Guide to Open Government"

The Red Book is the comprehensive citizen's guide to Georgia's Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act. Written for the general public rather than attorneys, it explains in plain language:

  • What records and meetings are covered by Georgia's sunshine laws
  • How to submit an Open Records Request
  • What exceptions and exemptions exist
  • What executive session rules apply and how to identify violations
  • How to use the Attorney General's mediation program
  • What legal remedies are available

The 2014 version of the Red Book incorporates significant changes made in the 2012 overhaul of Georgia's transparency laws, including new civil penalty provisions and clarified enforcement procedures.

The Blue Book: Law Enforcement & Open Records

Formal Title: "Georgia Law Enforcement and the Open Records Act: A Law Enforcement Officer's Guide to Open Records in Georgia"

Developed in cooperation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the 38-page Blue Book serves both law enforcement agencies — as a guide to their disclosure obligations — and citizens and journalists seeking police records. The manual has been approved and endorsed by:

  • Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Georgia Department of Law
  • Georgia First Amendment Foundation
  • Georgia Press Association
  • Georgia Public Safety Training Center
  • Georgia Sheriffs' Association
  • Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia

The Blue Book provides abridged bullet points with attribution to specific code sections governing the release of accident reports, incident reports, and records involving juvenile offenders and victims. It is an essential reference for anyone working with law enforcement records in Georgia.

The Green Book: Public Schools & Open Records

Formal Title: "Georgia Public Schools and the Open Records Act: A Citizen's Guide to Accessing School Records"

The Green Book addresses the specific open records landscape in Georgia's K-12 public school systems. It covers:

  • What school records are presumptively public
  • The interaction between Georgia's Open Records Act and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • How to request records from school boards and district administrators
  • What to do when a school district denies a records request

Parents, community members, journalists, and education advocates will all find the Green Book valuable for understanding the specific rules that apply to their requests for school-related public information.

Beyond the GFAF's own publications, citizens navigating open government issues in Georgia have access to a range of additional resources:

  • Georgia Attorney General's Office: Operates the Open Government Mediation Program for citizens whose records requests have been improperly denied. Contact: (404) 656-7298.
  • Georgia Press Association: Provides guidance on sunshine law issues for journalists and related legal resources.
  • Georgia State Bar Association: Can provide attorney referrals for citizens who need legal representation in open records or open meetings cases.

The Transparency Project of Georgia maintains relationships with these organizations and can help connect citizens with the appropriate resources for their specific situation.

Disclaimer: The Transparency Project of Georgia does not provide legal counsel. Information on this page is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed attorney for individual legal guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions About GFAF Resources

What is the Georgia First Amendment Foundation?

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation (GFAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and advancing First Amendment freedoms in Georgia, with a strong focus on government transparency. The GFAF publishes free educational guides, advocates for stronger sunshine laws, and provides legal referrals for citizens and journalists facing open records or open meetings issues.

The GFAF works with government agencies, law enforcement, schools, and the press to promote a culture of transparency in Georgia. Their resource guides — the Red Book, Blue Book, and Green Book — are widely distributed and used by thousands of Georgians.

What is the Red Book on Georgia's Sunshine Laws?

The Red Book, formally titled "Georgia's Sunshine Laws: A Citizen's Guide to Open Government," is the primary reference guide for Georgia citizens who want to understand their rights under the Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act. It covers both laws in accessible language without requiring legal training to understand.

The guide covers how to submit open records requests, what types of records are public, how to attend and record public meetings, what executive session rules apply, and how to escalate denials. It is available for free download from the GFAF website.

What is the Blue Book on police records?

The Blue Book, "Georgia Law Enforcement and the Open Records Act: A Law Enforcement Officer's Guide to Open Records in Georgia," was published in cooperation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Its primary audience is law enforcement personnel, but it is equally valuable for citizens and journalists who want to understand their rights when requesting police records.

The 38-page manual has been endorsed by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Department of Law, Georgia Press Association, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Georgia Sheriffs' Association, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia. It provides specific code section references for each category of law enforcement record.

What is the Green Book on school records?

The Green Book, "Georgia Public Schools and the Open Records Act: A Citizen's Guide to Accessing School Records," focuses on the specific open records issues that arise in K-12 public education. It covers what school records are public, how to request them, the interplay with federal FERPA protections, and how to handle denials from school districts.

Parents, community members, journalists, and education advocates all benefit from understanding the specific rules that apply to school records. The Green Book makes those rules accessible without requiring a law degree.

Are these resource guides free to download?

Yes. The Red Book, Blue Book, and Green Book are all available for free download from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Printed copies are also available upon request. These resources are designed to be widely shared and distributed to Georgia citizens, journalists, government officials, and educators.

The Transparency Project of Georgia encourages all citizens to download and share these guides. An informed citizenry is the most effective check on government opacity, and these resources provide the knowledge citizens need to exercise their rights effectively.

How is the GFAF funded?

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by membership dues, donations from individuals and organizations, and foundation grants. The GFAF does not accept government funding, which ensures its independence as an advocate for citizens' rights against government overreach.

Citizens who benefit from GFAF resources and want to support its work can become members or make donations directly to the organization.