Article archive / April 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 4. Source pages: 6.
Two bills could strengthen the open meetings laws and public records access, supporing the public’s rights and abilities to know what government officials discuss.
HB 162 would prohibit communication among a quorum of the members of public bodies or boards, unless that communication is also open to be heard or seen by members of the public. This does not impact legally conducted executive sessions.
Proposed law provides that unless the public body is holding an executive session in accordance with present law (R.S. 42:16 and 17), no member of a public body that is subject to the notice requirements of present law (R.S. 42:19(A)) shall engage in communication of any type regarding a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power with a quorum of the members of the public body unless such communication is contemporaneously visible or audible to the public.
The present law also provides that each item on the agenda must be listed separately and described with reasonable specificity. Proposed law retains present law.
HB 81 would require public bodies to make it easier to contact a custodian of records, who is legally accountable to produce documents in a timely and legal way, to any member of the public who is over 18.
Both bills are pending hearings in the committee on House & Governmental Affairs.
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