Public Access Seminar series explains open records, meetings

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers who want to learn about their legal rights to obtain public records or attend government meetings are invited to the kickoff of the second annual Public Access Seminar series on June 19 in Indianapolis. The series of free sessions will be held around the state and will train citizens, government officials and attorneys on Indiana’s laws concerning public records and open meetings. For attorneys, the sessions count as 2.0 hours of free Continuing Legal Education (CLE) but are open to the general public as well.

Last year’s inaugural Public Access Seminar series drew a combined 737 participants to the eight free training sessions held around the state, and approximately one quarter of last year’s attendees were members of the general public – neither attorneys nor government employees. This year’s Public Access Seminar series is sponsored by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, the Indiana Public Access Counselor’s Office and the Hoosier State Press Association (HSPA) and the local kickoff events June 19 are also sponsored by The Indianapolis Star.

“Strong attendance at last year’s seminars by citizens makes it clear that Hoosiers want to know how their government officials make decisions and spend their tax dollars, but they need the tools to gain access to that valuable information. Government officials and their lawyers may need to brush up on their obligations to keep meetings open and records public and learn about the new legislation passed this year, so the free Public Access Seminar series is good training on transparency for both audiences,” Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said, thanking the newspaper sponsors.

“Accountability is key to a functioning democracy. The state’s public access laws give citizens the ability to know what government officials and employees are doing or contemplating with taxpayer dollars,” said Steve Key, executive director and general counsel of the Hoosier State Press Association.

On Tuesday, June 19, the public will have two opportunities to attend a free Public Access Seminar session in Indianapolis:

10 a.m. to 12 noon Tuesday June 19 in the auditorium of the Indiana Government Center South, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday June 19 at the offices of The Indianapolis Star, 307 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

Attendees are asked to register to ensure adequate space is available. To register for either free session, contact the Attorney General’s Office at 317.233.6143 or register online at http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2840.htm Attorneys who register and attend can qualify for 2.0 hours of free CLE.

At both the morning and evening sessions, experts will discuss citizens’ rights and officials’ responsibilities under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act and Indiana Open Door Law. The panelists also will discuss House Enrolled Act 1003 the Legislature passed this year that for the first time imposes fines on certain public officials who withhold public records or deny access to meetings – $100 for the first violation and $500 for additional violations.

The panelists include:

Joe Hoage, Indiana Public Access Counselor, the state official who issues opinions on whether records or meetings are public.
Deputy Attorney General Matt Light, chief counsel of the Advisory Division of the Attorney General’s Office, presenting in the morning session.
Deputy Attorney General Anne Mullin O’Connor, who also serves in the AG’s Advisory Division and previously was the state’s first Public Access Counselor, presenting in the evening session.
Steve Key, executive director and general counsel of the HSPA.

In addition to explaining the public access laws and requirements, the panelists will provide practical examples of how public records requests should be initiated by citizens and addressed by officials and attorneys. Audience members will have the opportunity ask questions.

The June 19 sessions in Indianapolis are the first in a series that again will take the training sessions around the state, through October. The rest of the seminars are evening sessions, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time, so that more working adults can attend. Registration for those events is at the same number and link above, and addresses of the seminar sites will announced soon for these additional cities and dates:

South Bend, Ind., June 26
Bloomington, Ind., July 26
Sellersburg, Ind., August 16
Auburn, Ind., August 30
Logansport, Ind., September 6
Washington, Ind., September 20
Portland, Ind., October 4