Cahill Marks Sunshine Week

Legislation renews promise of transparency in government

March 15, 2011

Albany – Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) announced the Assembly passed a legislative package of bills to increase openness, accountability and transparency in government. The actions were taken to commemorate the sixth annual Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week is a national, non-partisan initiative to educate the public about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

“As former chair of the Assembly Ethics Committee, I understand the necessity for ensuring our pledge to a more open and accessible government for all New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Cahill. This is another example of the Assembly’s strong commitment to making government work for the people.”

This year’s package includes bills that would:

• require that records and legislative proposals to be discussed at an open meeting be made available to the public prior to such a meeting (A.72-A);
• limit the time state agencies would have to appeal a judgment against them for violations of freedom of information laws (A.68);
• require the commissioner of general services to maintain an inventory and audit of every state-owned real property or unappropriated state land that has been sold (A.2305); and
• require entities that submit records to state agencies that are exempt from disclosure under FOIL to re-apply for the exceptions on a regular basis (A.5601-A).

The Assembly’s commitment to transparency in government predates Sunshine Week. But in recent years, the Assembly has recognized this week with an annual legislative package of reforms.

In past years, the Assembly passed laws that modernize the distribution of public records (Ch. 223 of 2008), require posting of certain public records on Assembly websites (Ch. 499 of 2008), require public bodies to post dates and times of public meetings online (Ch. 26 of 2009), require agencies to accept and respond to requests for records under the Personal Privacy Protection Law (Ch. 27 of 2009), and allow courts to overturn government decisions done in violation of open meetings laws (Ch. 44 of 2010).

“It is crucial that we restore the public’s trust in state government,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “We must continuously strive to increase accountability of elected officials as well as encourage citizen participation. There is more work to be done and I will continue to support these very important measures.”

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