Sunshine Law

Special Assistant Attorneys General who settled the Blunt Administration e-mail case say the case disclosed shortcomings in the state record retention and disclosure laws. Blunt Administration officials not only declined to disclose e-mails in accordance with the state Sunshine Law, they failed to keep them in accordance with the state records retention law. A hearing in a Jefferson City courtroom revealed that the office operated under incorrect legal advice that later changed to make the office come into compliance. The records retention law, Chapter 109, outlines which records must be retained by state officials and how long they must be kept. The Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, sets state policy on what records must be released to the public as well as what meetings are required to be open to the public.