Cuomo Signs Bill Making Records Publicly Available Prior to Meetings

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed the A72-B/S3255-B bill, sponsored by New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, to increase transparency and civic participation in the process of government.

According to nysenate.gov, this law "Requires records, including a proposed resolution, law, rule, regulation, policy or amendment thereto, scheduled to be presented and discussed by a public body at an open meeting be made available for review to the public; requires such records be made available on the agency's website if it is regularly updated and they utilize a high speed internet connection."

As a result of the law, which amends the public officers law, members of the public will have access to documents before scheduled open meetings of public bodies, such as school boards, state agencies, and village, town and city boards.

According to a release from Paulin, "This measure of transparency will serve to increase the involvement of the public, as well as reduce the need for Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, which can be costly for state agencies to process."

Both the Wantagh and Seaford School Districts said they are ready to respond to the new law.

“To make records available to the public is an additional responsibility for school districts, but it is our intention to comply with it," said Seaford Superintendent of Schools Brian Conboy. "In the coming weeks we will be examining ways to make these records more readily available for review at school board meetings and on the district’s website." 

"The district currently publicizes the Board of Education meeting agendas prior to the meetings and, once approved, also publicizes the minutes of the board meetings," said Wantagh Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Marsh. "We have contacted the district’s legal counsel and are waiting for their interpretation of the new Open Meeting Law with regard to school districts and their recommendations for compliance."