HB509: AN ACT relating to access to the records and meetings of public agencies.

Legislative Summary

Create a new section of KRS 61.870 to 61.884, the Open Records Act, to require a public agency to furnish an officer, employee, board member, or commission member an agency email account; define terms; allow the governing body of a public agency or its appointing authority to identify, in writing, the names of specific personnel that do not require the use of an agency-furnished email account; allow a public agency to issue an email address through a third-party provider if a public is incapable of issuing an agency-furnished email account; prohibit an employee or a member of a board, commission, or public agency from using an email account other than an agency-furnished or agency-designated email account; provide that an employee or member of a board, commission, or public agency who uses an email account other than an agency-furnished or agency-designated email account is subject to discipline or removal, as appropriate; amend KRS 61.870 to amend the definition of "public record"; amend KRS 61.848 to specify that any formal action taken by a public agency that does not comply with KRS 61.840, relating to conditions placed on public attendance at meetings, are voidable by a court of competent jurisdiction; make technical corrections; amend various other sections to conform.