The Florida Sun Shine Law

Introduction

Sun Shine state is the unique name given to the Florida state and, in maintaining this name; Florida has seen well to hold the idea of government whole heartedly by implementing extensive constitutional communication needing civic access to a crystal clear government. Moreover, public records of Florida, which give access, to almost every government note, document, email and thought to the general public, Florida put in force equal liberal strategies. These strategies are related to providing public access to government meeting, which is something bigger than one can even think of. As a confined unit of a particular purpose, in comparison to a general government meant for general purposes, a unique region comes under the provision of these laws. Hence, it is crucial that officials and staff of all the confined regions should realize the implications of these laws on the routine procedures of the regions. This should be done by keeping in view the wide scope of government based on the Sunshine Law. The aim of this article is to offer the basic coverage on what is in and out according to the Sunshine Law. This paper also includes highlights of particular situations long with a few cases which reflect the application of this law (Bousquet, pp. 167).

Discussion

What it Means to Live under the Sun - an Outline of the Law

The Florida Sunshine Law was put forward in 1967, in the Section, 286.011. This law requires that:

“All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, at which official acts are to be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, and no resolution, rule, or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at such meeting. The board or commission must provide reasonable notice of all such meetings” (Office of Attorney General, pp.8).

Moreover, it also requires that minutes taken during the public meetings should be published for inspection by the public. Any actions taken against the provisions of the law are illegal and are subject to legal action. However, in a few instances, breach of any provision can be corrected by reconsideration, that also in a public hearing.

Several questions are asked in the law including, what factors makes a meeting applicable to this law? Who are the relative government authorities, commissions, boards and agencies? What are the exceptional cases? What makes up a logical note and what are the other various practical requirements of this Law? These questions are answered as follows:

What is a Meeting?

What factors make a meeting applicable to this law? The courts of Florida have developed the following rule for it:

“The law is applicable to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission” ...