Open Meetings Act Changes Pass Through State House
[gtxvideo vid=”claKz5RQ” playlist=”” pid=”XiOflQdH” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/claKz5RQ.jpg” vtitle=”Lawmakers Debate Open Meetings Bill”]
Lawmakers focused today on amending the Open Meetings act.
It’s a law that requires elected officials to make all important meetings public and open to everyone.
Over the last several years there have been some issues with what exactly gets defined as a public meeting, including meetings here at the state house. Today’s bill looks to clarify some of those questions.
When elected officials meet, it’s their responsibility to let the general public know.
It’s an important part of the process here in Alabama, and lawmakers want to make sure that no one is breaking those rules.
“What this is is it’s really not for city councils and county commissions but it’s for the public so that the public is engaged in the process,” said Rep. Randy Davis.
Some lawmakers wanted the open meetings act to apply to the state house as well.
They claimed lawmakers violated the act when the accountability act passed a couple years ago. That gave families at failing schools a tax credit to transfer to other non failing schools.
The state supreme court ruled that it doesn’t apply to lawmakers.
Rep. Davis says there are other checks on the state house.
“We do have a set of rules that the 1851 constitution required that we organize and elect a speaker and then make our rules, develop our rules. In our rules we have 24 hours and posting of that,” said Davis.
The bill also applies to public universities. This version had an exemption so that the University of Alabama and Auburn don’t have to publicize the finalists involved in the search for a president. Rep. John Knight had problem with that.
“I think it’s bad public policy to make a distinction that because you’re alabama or auburn, then you get certain privileges that other institutions are not entitled to, especially when it comes to the open meetings act,” said Knight.
The bill passed in the House and is now on its way to the governor.
