Ind. public access penalty bill likely dead
April 28, 2009: "A key supporter of a bill that would allow fines against government workers who blatantly violate Indiana's public access laws says the legislation is dead for the year.
The state Senate unanimously approved the bill, which supporters say would put teeth into Indiana's open door and public records laws. But the bill didn't advance in the House." Read the full article here.
Official: East Chicago violated records law
April 18, 2009: "Indiana's public access counselor has found that East Chicago officials violated the state's open records law by failing to promptly respond to a newspaper's requests for city spending documents.
Public Access Counselor Heather Willis Neal said in a two-page opinion that the city's "pattern of unresponsiveness and nondisclosure" violated the spirit and letter of the state law designed to require public officials to disclose how public money is spent." Read the full article here.
Indiana bill to impose access penalties in jeopardy
April 7, 2009: "A bill that would allow fines against government workers who blatantly violate Indiana's public access laws is in jeopardy.
The state Senate unanimously approved the bill, which supporters say would put much-needed teeth into Indiana's open door and public records laws. But a House committee chairman said Tuesday that he doesn't plan to give the bill a hearing before a key deadline this week." Read the full article here.
Open records law needs changes
April 2, 2009: "Indiana citizens have no legal right to know with whom state employees meet.
The state public access counselor issued an informal opinion to the Post-Tribune last week, reaffirming that state law.
The newspaper had sought the meeting schedules of employees of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management." Read the full editorial here.
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