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Records proposals would weaken Sunshine Laws

 
Published March 25, 1997|Updated Oct. 1, 2005

Legislative clouds are gathering over the state's Sunshine Laws, which guarantee public access to government business.

At least eight bills introduced so far this year would limit public oversight of government action _ a bad harbinger so early in the session, public records advocates said.

"This year, we have more than usual and they're much more restrictive," said Barbara Petersen, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation.

Sen. Charles Williams, D-Tallahassee, has introduced two bills that are especially bad, Petersen said. One would allow advisory boards whose recommendations aren't binding to meet in secret. The second would let government officials settle lawsuits without a public hearing.

That means that a plaintiff could receive $100,000 in taxpayer money without taxpayers watching the negotiations take place, Petersen said. Public officials still would have to take a final vote on the settlement in public.

"It completely forecloses access and completely shuts down the public's ability to oversee government," Petersen said.

Williams did not return phone calls.

Petersen said she also is worried about a bill by Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Spring Hill, that would expand the current exemption allowing publicly owned hospitals to meet in secret to discuss strategy plans. Such a meeting recently led to a proposal to privatize Tampa General Hospital.

But after talking with media and hospital representatives, Brown-Waite said she hopes to amend the bill to instead allow more public access by narrowing the definition of strategic planning.

"I want to be comfortable that we're not thwarting the wishes of the public, while still allowing normal hospital planning to take place," she said.