Many units of government intentionally do not post contact information so they can ignore sunshine laws and hide their budgets from public scrutiny. To the units of government who view transparency as a burden, preemptively post your budgets and check register online so the public doesn't have to foia budgets and check registers.
HB 2944 will not apply to any unit of government that does not already maintain a website, but if they do, there's no good reason not to post accurate contact information.
Here is the summary of HB 2944:
Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a unit of local government or school district that serves a population of less than 1,000,000 that maintains an Internet website other than a social media or social networking website shall post to its website for the current calendar year a mechanism, such as a uniform, single email address, for members of the public to electronically communicate with elected officials of that unit of local government or school district. Requires the information to be easily accessible from the unit of local government's or school district's home page through a hyperlink. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
Allen Skillicorn
(224) 484-0458
On 3/13/2017 11:19 AM, Fran Eaton, IR Editor wrote:
Just had a person from a small town call and complain about your bill requiring info be posted on a city-maintained website they don’t have and can’t afford.
Your bill sets up another unfunded mandate on a town with 1600 people.
Your response??
Thanks!!
Fran Eaton
708.466.2511 cell/text
