01/26/16 – By Mary Ellen Klas
A bill to remove the requirement that judges award attorney fees to people who successfully challenge state or local governments for violating the state’s public records law unanimously passed a Senate committee Tuesday, continuing the fast-paced progress of a measure that First Amendment advocates say will “gut” the foundations of the state’s 40-year-old Sunshine Law.
The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 3-0 for SB 1220, sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia. Two senators — Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Dwight Bullard, D-Cutler Ridge — left the committee meeting shortly before the vote. [Read More]