Bill > H2786

This bill aims to strengthen the open meeting law, which requires public bodies to conduct their business in public. Specifically, it removes language that allowed the Attorney General to determine if a violation of the open meeting law was intentional or unintentional, and it modifies the penalties for violations. Instead of the Attorney General making that determination, the bill allows for the invalidation of actions taken at meetings where the law was violated, provided a complaint is filed within 21 days of the action being made public. It also allows for orders to make meeting records public, reinstate employees improperly discharged, and for public bodies to reimburse voters for legal fees and court costs in certain cases. Furthermore, the bill introduces civil fines for public bodies, up to $1,000 per violation, and for individual members who have previously been fined or reprimanded, up to $200 per violation, with exceptions for those who opposed the violating action and a prohibition on public funds covering individual fines. Finally, it adds a defense for public bodies or their members if they acted in good faith based on the advice of their legal counsel.