Editorials
Cartoons
Columns
Related stories
|
Daytona Beach News-Journal Open Government: Why You Should Care Florida law gives you the right to attend almost any meeting attended by elected or appointed government officials, or look at almost any document document produced by government. Knowing how to assert your rights improves your chances of obtaining the information you need. Public Meetings The law requires public (advance) notice of these meetings, including subjects to be discussed, with some exceptions. • Phone and videoconferencing conversations and e-mails between members of a commission must be public. • Secret meetings are all but forbidden under Florida law. However, boards are allowed to discuss pending litigation, some personnel matters and a few other topics outside the public’s view. But if a closed-door meeting is planned, board members must notify the public. • The board must state what law allows them to close the meeting. If youre told to leave or you can’t come in, make note of the statute number provided to you — or the refusal to provide to provide one. Public Records Public records are defined by law as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency. • As with meetings, there are exemptions. But officials must state which law they’re using to withhold the records. • Any public official who has custody of records is required to comply with the law. • Government has a reasonable time to provide the records, and may charge a reasonable fee for copying and other associated costs. Generally, the fee for copying printed pages is less than 25 cents a page; costs for information on electronic media should be restricted to the cost of a CD or DVD, plus a rational hourly fee for compiling the data only if it’s voluminous. Denied Access? First call the local State Attorney office. Or contact the Florida First Amendment Foundations Freedom of Information Hotline at (800) 337-3518. Or go to the governors Office of Open Government Web site: flgov.com • If you arent denied records — but are charged fees you can’t pay or told you’ll have to wait for longer than a few days — you should also seek help. Source: News-Journal research Reproduced courtesy of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. |