Troy state representative proposes changes to Open Meetings Act

TROY, MI — State Rep. Martin Howrylak, a Troy Republican, has introduced legislation that would allow Michigan residents to recover legal costs from cases involving the state’s Open Meetings Act. The bill was referred to committee on June 14.

“Public bodies have a responsibility to operate transparently,” Howrylak said in a news release. “When they fail to do so, citizens should not be forced to foot the legal bill for exposing an injustice.”

Howrylak introduced the same bill last year, but it failed to make it out of committee. It’s the second Open Meetings Act legislation he has proposed in less than a month.

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Howrylak asked that an additional criteria be established for closing an open meeting. House Bill 4678, which was also referred to the Legislature’s Law and Justice Committee, would close meetings where information by the family advisory board is to be discussed. It was sent to committee on May 31.

As for the new bill, Howrylak said it’s necessary because of a 2014 case in which Michigan’s Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling that would’ve compensated a citizen for legal fees incurred in an Open Meetings Act fight with the Columbia Township Board of Trustees.

“My bill will ensure that citizens have the ability to recover legal expenses related to filing a violation that results in any judicial finding that a public body did not comply with the Open Meetings Act,” he said.

Photo courtesy of State Rep. Martin Howrylak