Sunshine help

It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy.

That's from Section 610.011 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, and it is in the first sentence of a handbook from the office of the Missouri attorney general. The handbook is used as a guide for anyone affected by the so-called Sunshine Law, whether its an officeholder, an employee of a governmental body, a member of the news media or any citizen of this state.

Missouri has had its Sunshine Law for a good many years. Its purpose had always been clear: to give the public access to the workings of government. Most government officials strive to do just that. Some fail to adhere to the Sunshine Law because they are not fully versed in its requirements. Some public bodies make a display of complying with the law when, in fact, they aren't. Posting notices of meetings without listing specific agenda items do not completely satisfy either the law or the public's right to be informed. Notices of closed meetings that list every possible reason allowed by the Sunshine Law fail to meet the law's requirement that such notices to be specific, not general.

Most governmental bodies have attorneys who can be consulted for guidance, but these lawyers are paid to provide legal representation if any failure to comply with the Sunshine Law results in a lawsuit. This rarely happens.

Any number of governmental bodies have turned to the attorney general's office for assistance. There are several assistants on the attorney general's staff who specialize in Sunshine Law issues. They stand ready to help public officials, the news media and the public understand the requirements of the law.

Using this resource when questions are raised about open meetings and open records would help avoid some of the head-butting -- and, usually, negative publicity -- that occurs when news organizations and governmental bodies disagree on the Sunshine Law.

The expertise of the attorney general's staff is available to help. Public entities that have used this legal guidance are those that want to obey the law, not find ways to skirt it.