Signed by Governor Mike Parson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that authorizes the Attorney General to investigate violations of open records laws, among other provisions.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Attorney General to apply to a judge of the circuit court for a civil investigative demand if the Attorney General concludes that an individual may have violated any provision of the laws governing public records or public schools (Sec. A).

• Requires that the civil investigative demand include the statues which the Attorney General alleges have been violated, the type of evidence that must be produced, and the date by which such evidence must be produced (Sec. A).

• Establishes a transparency division within the office of the Attorney General (Sec. A).

• Authorizes the Attorney General to apply for an order to enforce a civil investigative demand with the circuit court should any individual refuse to comply with the civil investigative demand (Sec. A).

• Specifies that any individual who refuses to comply with an order to enforce a civil investigative demand is in contempt of court (Sec. A).

• Authorizes individuals subject to a civil investigative demand to file a petition to extend the date by which evidence must be produced at any time within 20 days of the civil investigative demand coming into effect (Sec. A).

• Classifies the willful destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in an effort to evade a civil investigative demand as a Class A misdemeanor (Sec. A).