By Butler Cain, Alabama Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wual/local-wual-465053.mp3
FOI Week -- Monday Report
Tuscaloosa, AL – This week is Freedom of Information Week. In recognition of the efforts to make sure the government is open and accountable to the public, Butler Cain is producing a series of reports on F-O-I issues in Alabama. Today, he reports on a piece of legislation that would strengthen Alabama's open meetings law.
State Representative Blaine Galliher has spent years trying to improve Alabama's open meetings law. The current law hasn't changed since 1915. He says the issue gained momentum a couple of years ago. The state Supreme Court ruled the open meetings statute did not apply to Auburn University Board of Trustee committee meetings where less than a quorum of the entire board was present.
"Most of the work is done in committee. By the time a bill gets out before a group for final presentation, the deliberative process has been at work for quite some time.
Representative Galliher and Senator Zeb Little sponsored legislation during the current session that makes it clear committees and subcommittees of public boards are expected to hold public meetings. The bill also further clarifies the law concerning when public boards are allowed to hold closed meetings. The legislature has approved the proposal. It now awaits Governor Bob Riley's signature to become law.
For the Alabama Report, I'm Butler Cain.