2013 sunshine law manual florida attorney general opinions

By steve miller florida center for investigative reporting. Every year, the attorney generals office publishes a manual that is available free of charge to residents to help them understand these laws. Open government takes a beating, tallahassee democrat. The attorney general of the state of florida has always been considered the states guardian of the states open government laws, including the public records law. Gleason, the sunshine law expert, said the board does not have to vote on an issue for it. The ohio attorney generals bureau of criminal investigation bci regularly processes about a million background checks a year. Petitions effect of paid initiative petition circulators on undue. Study law enforcement body camera issues stakeholders. Our appreciation goes to the flc legal, legislative and membership staff who assisted with revisions to this edition, and to the john scott dailey florida institute of government at fsu for their longtime assistance with. Faqs sunshine manual sunshine law court cases regarding. The 2012 supreme court of ohio writing manual, updated in 20 with this second edition, supersedes the 1985 manual, the interim edition, and the 2002 revisions. The code of ethics for public officers and employees. We also have a proven track record of success in defending against similar cases brought. Such suit may be brought in any circuit court of this state having jurisdiction over.

Floridas governmentinthe sunshine law, also known as the sunshine law has two primary areas. The attorney general has approved a municipalitys creation of a static website. Open public meetings actpublic meetingsconfidentialityethicsmunicipalitiescrimeswhether information learned in an executive session is confidential 1. Indest, a board certified health law attorney, is the president and managing partner of the health law firm, with offices in. Lawmakers advance bill that opponents say will gut public records law. Florida attorney general advisory legal opinion number.

The florida public records law unequivocally states, it is the policy of this. Ag opinions antitrust civil litigation consumer protection criminal. How can i find out more about the open meetings and public records laws. Similarly, absent a waiver of the privilege, the attorney general may assert the commonlaw privilege for attomeyclient communications, which. In 1989, attorney general robert butterworth of florida was again asked to interpret the statute at the request of police chief peter petracco of boca raton, florida. In any action brought by the state to enforce the sunshine law, a court can also award reasonable attorneys fees, which would be payable by the hoa. While most would think public bodies allow the public ample time to speak its usually right there in the agenda a state appellate court ruled in 2010 that open. Florida attorney general frequently asked questions.

Continuing legal education cle sunshine advisories. The manual is published each year at no taxpayer expense by the first amendment foundation in tallahassee. Florida attorney general attorney general opinions. Gc of broward health charged criminally with sunshine law. Information learned in a properlyconvened executive session of a governing body of a public agency is generally confidential.

Ago 201015, sunshine law, special magistrates, testimony, tax records. Advisory opinions by year florida department of state. It is the intent of this act to provide for uniform filing and election dates for all municipal elections to elect municipal officers in the cities of cinco bayou, crestview, destin, fort walton beach, laurel hill, mary esther, and shalimar in okaloosa. Thus, the attorney generals office has advised that while the sunshine law would not.

Florida foi resources national freedom of information. Probably the most comprehensive guide to understanding the requirements and exemptions to floridas open government laws is the governmentinthesunshine manual compiled by the attorney generals office. Role of the attorney general university of florida college of law. Confidentiality of the attorney generals communications. Attorney general opinions alaska department of law. Most of the florida digital projects were compiled by the florida state university college of law legal research center with financial support from law libraries in the state of florida. As i have indicated, the state attorneys office is responsible for investigating and prosecuting any violations of the government in the sunshine law.

Whether information learned in an executive session is. The florida sunshine law the main provision of the sunshine law, section 286. New law guarantees right to speak at meetings, but critics. The office of the new mexico attorney general regularly conducts educational presentations on these sunshine laws throughout the state. Published annually, this manual is a reference for compliance with floridas public records and open meetings laws.

Florida,4 where the public records law has been praised as a model of. Florida statutes, adopted by the legislature in 20, mandates that all. Floridas sunshine laws, appointing and working with the statewide, prosecutor and. State attorney fifth judicial circuit of florida 110 northwest 1st avenue, suite 5000 ocala, florida 34475 re. Attorney general opinions which is the designation for all attorney general opinions issued since september 14, 2006 are cited by their date of issuance. Statutes 20, providing an exemption for portions of meetings of local advisory criminal. The purpose of the presentation is to educate and assist new mexicans regarding the importance of transparency and compliance, as well as the rights of the public under new mexicos sunshine laws, the open. Open meetings laws in florida digital media law project. The 2002 version brought the manual into compliance with the revised rules for reporting opinions adopted by the supreme court effective may 1, 2002. Floridas governmentinthesunshine and public records law manual tallahassee, fl. A bill giving the public the legal assurance to speak on measures and issues before local boards, commissions and panels took effect oct. Emily myers, state attorneys general powers and responsibilities 2018.

Prepared by the office of the attorney general, first amendment foundation, 2000. The attorney generals office does have a list of sunshine law court cases. The florida sunshine law, also known as the governmentinthesunshine law, aims to inform the public in a clear manner about the requirements and exemptions to the states open government laws. Florida sunshine laws for homeowners associations legal. Office of the attorney general florida department of legal. Waters and watercourses water plan storage contracts for withdrawal and use of water held by state. Informal advisory legal opinion florida attorney general. Office of the attorney general florida department of legal affairs the capitol pl01 tallahassee, fl 323991050.

A florida pharmacist whose license was revoked by the florida board of pharmacy won a reversal because of an appeal filed by attorneys george f. This website is designed to help government agencies, the media and private citizens understand floridas open government and public records laws. As this office recognized in attorney general opinion 9506. Roberts port orange city attorney city center circle port orange, florida 32119 re. Oma and ipra nm sunshine laws attorney general of new. Louis public radio and the radio television digital news association all filed complaints with the office of missouri attorney general chris koster, asserting that the fees violated the state sunshine law. Notices of meetings and hearings must advise that a record is required to appeal.

Please see separate frequently asked questions on public records. Bci completes such background checks by comparing fingerprints received against a database of criminal fingerprints to determine if there is a criminal record. Florida statutes 1941 scanned images of many of the florida statutes beginning in 1941. Government in the sunshine law florida supervisors.

Economic development council counties government in the sunshine law meetings whether meetings of subcommittee of private economic development council subject to sunshine law. Angell vicepresident of the senate senate chamber, state capitol topeka, kansas 66612 re. The code of ethics for public officers and employees, adopted by the legislature as part iii of chapter 112, florida statutes, contains standards of ethical conduct and disclosures applicable to public officers, employees, candidates, lobbyists, and others in state and local government, with the exception of judges. Sunshine laws and has issued numerous opinions concerning them.

All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal. The commissioner of agriculture or the attorney general may bring an action for injunction to prohibit practices in violation of this law, and any such injunction shall be issued without bond. Although missouri law limits copying charges to the average hourly pay of clerical staff, public entities can charge their actual cost for research time and any extraordinary computer. In 1998, the general assembly of the state of georgia amended both the open meetings law and the open records law to give the attorney general specific authority to enforce the sunshine laws o. In the sunshine florida government information research tips. For general information concerning access to government meetings see the access to government meetings section of this guide the florida constitution and the florida sunshine law provide the public with a right of access to the meetings of a large number of government bodies at the state and local level. Georgias sunshine laws office of attorney general of. At issue this time was a question about whether the florida law prohibiting installed scanners in vehicles and businesses applied to radio and television stations. Chris anderson, executive director the florida commission on ethics p. Is a private organization subject to floridas public records law, chapter 119, florida. Amy schrader writing since 2007, amy schrader is an attorney who has practiced administrative and government law in florida since 2002. Whether the correspondence among and between the florida state fair authority members constitutes a meeting that should have been conducted pursuant to section 286. Phone chats between two pinellas county school board members raise concerns about the sunshine law. The general counsel at a south florida public hospital system is among several current and former public officials charged criminally with alleged violations of the states sunshine law.