PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 20, 2009) – Both Chambers of the General Assembly got high marks in complying with the state’s Open Meetings law last year, according to a report card released today by Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.
The “Access 2008” report grades the performance of every state House and Senate standing committee and all joint legislative committees last year. Overall, the House got an 87, up one percentage point over last year. The Senate earned a 90 for the second consecutive year.
“Making government more open and accessible is one of my priorities. The more we know about our government, the better we will be served,” said Mollis, who posted the full report on his website at http://www.sec.state.ri.us/pubinfo/access/access.html.
The Open Meetings law requires most state and local agencies, departments, commissions and other public bodies to post electronic and written notices of any meeting at least 48 hours in advance. In addition, the public notices must include the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting.
The Secretary of State’s office has issued the Access report annually since former Secretary of State Jim Langevin first produced the report in 1997. Similar to the standard school grading system, the document uses the letter grades A, B, C, D and F.
Two categories of compliance were evaluated. Letter of the Law measures technical compliance with the state’s Open Meetings law. Spirit of the Law attempts to measure the House and Senate’s intent to comply with the law.
Among the highlights:
• Every standing committee in both chambers earned an “A” in meeting the Spirit of the Law. • 20 of the 23 standing committees that met in 2008 earned a “B” or better. • 100 percent of the General Assembly’s Joint Committees, such as Legislative Services and the Lottery, earned perfect grades in both the Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law.
While the General Assembly is not subject to the Open Meetings law, its practice is to post meeting notices in accordance with its own rules and regulations.
“Although compliance with the law is completely voluntary on their part, the House and the Senate clearly made more than a good-faith effort to make the public aware of their work,” said Mollis.
In complying with the Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law, the Senate earned straight “A’s” for the second consecutive year. The House earned a “B” in Letter of the Law and an “A” in Spirit of the Law, both for the second consecutive year.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit www.sec.state.ri.us.
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