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Open Meetings Act |
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What the Act covers According to the manual, the first step for anyone challenging a closed meeting is to determine whether the Open Meetings Act applies. That depends on the formal legal authority for the body's existence. Generally, governmental bodies such as town or city councils, boards of commissioners and school boards must follow the Open Meetings Act. Additionally, boards, commissions, committees and other bodies that function as a subgroup of a public body or are created by a public body might also be subject to the Act. Private corporations doing business with a government body do not have to follow the Open Meetings Act. However, if a governmental body creates a public corporation to serve some public function, the Open Meetings manual states that the corporation and public body that created it cannot use that means to avoid the Open Meetings Act. In addition, reports issued by a private company to a public body, financial dealings, contracts and other documentation might be available for inspection under the Public Information Act, depending upon the nature of the information. The Open Meetings Act does not cover bodies that were not created by a public official or public body, or by state or local law. Additionally, some bodies, such as grand juries and judicial nominating commissioners, are specifically excluded from the Act.
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