F. Financial data, trade secrets or proprietary data of private corporations and individuals.

A number of statutes make certain information that is submitted to or generated by various public agencies confidential. The open meetings law authorizes, but does not require, an executive session to discuss "matters involving consideration of government records that by law are not subject to public disclosure." AS 44.62.310(c)(4). There is no case law addressing this issue under the OMA. However, in an opinion relating to one of a number of statutes providing or requiring protection for trade secrets and other proprietary information, the Attorney General states that except for information required to be kept confidential under AS 37.17.090(f), information contained in Alaska Science and Technology Foundation grant status reports is public and the reports must therefore be presented in open session, not executive session. February 25, 1991, Attorney General Opinion No. 663-91-0199. The Attorney General ruled that in instances in which it was proper to consider confidential information in executive session as part of a grant status report, the report should be presented in executive session to protect the particular confidential information, and then presented again in open session with the confidential information omitted.