House Bill 843

Representative Byron Donalds (HD 80 – Naples) has filed House Bill 843 to improve the efficiency of local governing boards. Similar to the practices in the Florida Legislature, under Donalds’ bill, two members of a Board (of five or more) would be permitted to gather information and discuss topics without such an action constituting an official public meeting, all the while ensuring that no public policy is being made. Senator Dennis Baxley (SD 12 – Umatilla) filed the Senate companion bill.
Donalds stressed that the goal of his bill is to improve efficiencies in local government while still maintaining strict safeguards to ensure the public’s business is conducted in the sunshine.
“This bill provides the opportunity for public servants to be more effective while maintaining the intent of Florida’s government in the sunshine principle,” Donalds said. “We should allow local officials to have the same flexibility we have in the Legislature to educate themselves on matters they are addressing.”
“It’s time to clarify what Sunshine law means with local officials and to add a level of common sense and reason,” said Baxley.
Donalds is a freshman Republican elected to serve House District 80, covering eastern Collier County and all of Hendry County.
Baxley is a freshman Republican elected to the Senate to serve Senate District 12, covering Sumter and parts of Lake and Marion Counties.
ON THE WEB:  www.ByronDonalds.com

Paid by Byron Donalds, Republican, for State Representative