Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Kansas AG Phill Kline advises board he will defend stickers: A violation of Open Meetings Law?
John Milburn of the Associated Press says: "State Attorney General Phill Kline has offered to defend placing stickers in school textbooks saying evolution is a theory, not a fact, the chairman of the State Board of Education said Wednesday."
"'I firmly believe that it should be allowed,' Kline said of the stickers, which he said he would defend in court.
"Steve Abrams, the chairman of the state board, said Kline brought up the subject during meetings with small groups of board members. Kline told The Associated Press he believes such stickers are reasonable, even though a federal judge in Georgia ruled last month that similar stickers are an unconstitutional endorsement of religion."
Link
A question to Kansas newspapers and out of the loop board members: were these "meetings with small groups of boards members" publically announced as required under the Kansas Open Meetings Act, which states, "It is the public policy of Kansas that meetings be open to the public because "a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate. . . ." K.S.A. 75-4317B. The act is interpreted liberally and exceptions narrowly construed to carry out the purpose of the law. "
Who does the law apply to? " ...(C)ities, counties, townships (AG Opin. No. 81-288); school districts... "
What sort of meetings fall under the law? " ...a gathering, assembly, telephone call or any other means of interactive communication; (2) by a majority of a quorum of the membership of an agency or body; (3) for the purpose of discussing the business or affairs of the body..." including, " ...Serial communications between a majority of a quorum of a public body, the purpose of which is to discuss a common topic of business or affairs of that body by the members... "
Want to read more about the Kansas Open Meeting Law? Look here. Who maintains this repository of KOMA information? Why Phill Kline, of course, it's part of his job keeping kids safe, protecting consumers and the vulnerable, and fighting crime.
"'I firmly believe that it should be allowed,' Kline said of the stickers, which he said he would defend in court.
"Steve Abrams, the chairman of the state board, said Kline brought up the subject during meetings with small groups of board members. Kline told The Associated Press he believes such stickers are reasonable, even though a federal judge in Georgia ruled last month that similar stickers are an unconstitutional endorsement of religion."
Link
A question to Kansas newspapers and out of the loop board members: were these "meetings with small groups of boards members" publically announced as required under the Kansas Open Meetings Act, which states, "It is the public policy of Kansas that meetings be open to the public because "a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate. . . ." K.S.A. 75-4317B. The act is interpreted liberally and exceptions narrowly construed to carry out the purpose of the law. "
Who does the law apply to? " ...(C)ities, counties, townships (AG Opin. No. 81-288); school districts... "
What sort of meetings fall under the law? " ...a gathering, assembly, telephone call or any other means of interactive communication; (2) by a majority of a quorum of the membership of an agency or body; (3) for the purpose of discussing the business or affairs of the body..." including, " ...Serial communications between a majority of a quorum of a public body, the purpose of which is to discuss a common topic of business or affairs of that body by the members... "
Want to read more about the Kansas Open Meeting Law? Look here. Who maintains this repository of KOMA information? Why Phill Kline, of course, it's part of his job keeping kids safe, protecting consumers and the vulnerable, and fighting crime.
