In a recent editorial, The Gainesville (Florida) Sun editorial board encouraged readers to take part in a workshop Wednesday evening designed to educate the public on issues related to open government. The workshop is hosted by the University of Florida's Brechner Center for Freedom of Information.
"Floridians shouldn’t have to worry about being sued for exercising their legal right to obtain public records," the paper's editorial argues, as it recounted two high-profile cases in recent years where citizens seeking to obtain public records were dragged into costly legal battles with government agencies.
Two bills in the Florida Legislature would help to address this:
House Bill 195 would make it illegal for any local or state government agency to sue members of the public requesting records.
Senate Bill 162 would require government agencies to pay the legal fees of someone seeking a record, if the agency takes the matter to court and a judge determines that the record shouldn't be exempted from disclosure.
