Legislation concerning open records and open meetings was a recurring topic this week in the South Dakota Legislature as lawmakers advanced bills that would open governors’ records sooner and require state and local boards to annually review open meetings laws.
A bill to open the calendars and appointment logs of officials was defeated in committee but is still technically alive due to a procedural maneuver, while another bill advanced by a committee would clarify the role of electronic communications in the open meetings laws.
Opening officials’ calendars to the public
On Wednesday, legislators on the Senate State Affairs Committee sent SB 9 to the 41st day of the session, a method of disposing of legislation, although it will soon be brought to the Senate floor by a procedural move.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, sought to open to public view the calendars and appointment logs of officials holding statewide office. That includes the governor, lieutenant governor and constitutional officers.
Rohl noted that states across the country offer public access to elected officials’ calendars. Under South Dakota’s current law, those items can be held from public view.
“Currently statewide elected officials are collecting six-figure salaries with very little accountability to the public,” Rohl said. SB 9 is “providing accountability for public officials to the citizens they represent.”
Testifying in opposition to the bill was Jason Ketterling, assistant superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, who raised a number of concerns.
“Releasing an official’s schedule could lead to misinterpretation and unfounded claims of favoritism, conflicts of interest and misuse of time,” Ketterling said. Citing the bill as creating a “significant administrative burden,” he also said it could compromise the safety of the elected official.
Also speaking against the bill was one of the elected officials it would affect, Brock Greenfield, commissioner of school and public lands. Greenfield asked if he would have to log the times he has been flagged down in the hall by constituents or the times he has been stopped in the restroom to discuss leasing rights.
“My time can be a lot better spent actually working for the people of South Dakota than trying to recap on my Outlook calendar every meeting I have,” Greenfield said.
Elected officials should not be afraid of public scrutiny, Rohl said. “How can you be accountable to somebody if they don’t even know if you’re showing up for work?” Rohl asked.
“I love transparency,” said Sen. Chris Karr, after making a motion to send SB 9 to the 41st day. Karr said the legislation would incentivize elected officials not to keep a calendar or appointment log.
You can read the full article at South Dakota Searchlight.