Topeka—Governor Jeff Colyer issued an Executive Order calling for the creation of an open meetings notice website where all meetings can be posted in a centralized location allowing the public to more easily access information on public meetings.
The full text of the order is below:
EXECUTIVE ORDER 18-08
Creation of Open Meetings Notice Website
WHEREAS, Section 2 of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the State of Kansas provides that “[a]ll political power is inherent in the people;” and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Kansas, Article 1, Section 3, provides that the “supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor;” and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Kansas, Article 1, Section 4, provides for “officers of the executive department” who may be required to report to the Governor regarding “any subject relating to their respective duties;” and
WHEREAS, the Kansas Open Meetings Act provides the legal framework for openness and transparency in connection with “meetings for the conduct of governmental affairs and the transaction of governmental business,” K.S.A. 75-4317(a); and
WHEREAS, the public interest in openness and transparency is best served by the creation of a new open meetings notice website that will educate and empower citizens regarding the scheduling, location, and subject matter of government meetings.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby order as follows:
1. Within ninety (90) days of the date of this order, the Department of Administration shall create and manage a Kansas public notice website that is a centralized location for state agencies to post open meeting notices and meeting minutes.
2. All Executive Branch departments, agencies, boards, and commissions under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Governor shall post all open meetings notices and meeting minutes on the Kansas public notice website described in paragraph 1.
3. The Kansas public notice website described in paragraph 1 shall be available to all other state officers and branches of state government, which may coordinate their participation through the Department of Administration.
4. This order is intended to supplement existing laws and regulations concerning the Kansas Open Meetings Act, and shall not be interpreted to in any way diminish such laws and regulations. The Order is not intended to create any new right or benefit enforceable against the State of Kansas.
This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order No. 18-08 and shall become effective immediately.
