Senate Passes Manning, Blessing Bill Strengthening Ohio's Open Meetings Law

COLUMBUS— The Senate today passed Senate Bill 293, sponsored by State Senators Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township), establishing a formal procedure within the Court of Claims to hear complaints alleging violation of the Open Meetings Law. The bill provides Ohioans with a more transparent, timely and affordable process for filing and settling such complaints. Under Senate Bill 293, to file a complaint against a public body, a person simply has to complete a form prescribed by the clerk of Court of Claims and pay a $25 filing fee. If the initial complaint if filed with the clerk of the court of common pleas, the clerk must forward the complaint to the Court of Claims within five business days. The special master assigned to the claim has thirty business days to submit a report and recommendations to the Court of Claims. "Currently, the only manner in which to resolve open meetings disputes is through often lengthy and costly court proceedings," said Manning. "Senate Bill 293 will be significantly cheaper and will reach resolution more quickly than current practices, increasing transparency and improving access for Ohioans." If the Court of Claims determines that a public body did in fact violate the Open Meetings Law, the court is required to issue an injunction compelling the public body to comply with the law and the aggrieved person is entitled to recover the $25 filing fee from the public body. Senate Bill 293 will be now be sent to the Ohio House for further consideration.