HB 2177 -- Open Meetings and Records Law

Sponsor:  Harris (23)

This bill changes the laws regarding the Open Meetings and
Records Law, commonly known as the Sunshine Law.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires all fiscal notes accompanying any legislation
introduced in either house of the General Assembly to state
whether or not the proposed legislation impacts the open
government provisions contained in Chapter 610, RSMo;

(2)  Requires any e-mail by a public employee concerning public
business sent or received from a mobile communication device to
be forwarded to the custodian of records for the public body of
which the employee is a member;

(3)  Changes the standard for a governmental body violating the
Sunshine Law from knowingly violating to purposely, negligently,
or recklessly violating;

(4)  Increases the civil penalty for a violation of the Sunshine
Law from $1,000 to $5,000; and

(5)  Creates a presumption that any document in a legal
proceeding is open to the public.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm