Tennessee’s Sunshine Law provides transparency in government by preventing elected officials from doing the people’s business behind closed doors. But new rules could make it easier for some elected officials to evade the public’s interest and strip the media’s right to access records.
Last month a subcommittee from that group voted 7-2 to make it legal for two or more members of a panel to deliberate in private as long as a quorum of the body is not present. A quorum is the number of members required for a panel to legally conduct business.
Supporters of the
proposed change say it’s not meant to circumvent public meetings laws, but instead to let a few members of a public body discuss important issues without having to call a public meeting. Detractors worry the change would allow private dealmaking.
[Proposed open meetings changes could weaken current law - AP - 11-11-07]
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