Nixon approves Sunshine Law exemptions

Gov. Jay Nixon last week signed a bill reinstating public safety exemptions to the Missouri Sunshine Law.

House Bill 256 adds exemptions to the state's open records law preventing the release of security plans and procedures protecting facilities such as schools, courthouses and hospitals. The exemptions expired at the end of 2012, according to a news release.

“Earlier this year, I called on the General Assembly to reinstate these narrowly tailored provisions, which help keep sensitive security plans out of the hands of criminals and terrorists, while respecting the bedrock principles of transparency and accountability,” Nixon said in the release. “I want to thank Rep. Caleb Jones [R-California] and Sen. Mike Kehoe [R-Jefferson City] for their leadership in getting these important public safety protections to my desk."

Under the bill, public governmental bodies can close records related to operational guidelines, policies and response plans maintained for law enforcement, public safety, first response or public health, as well as security systems and structural plans submitted by private entities with facilities located on public property.

The bill contained an emergency clause causing it to take effect immediately upon Nixon's May 31 signature, the release said.[[In-content Ad]]