Del Galdo: Open Meetings Training Law Boosts Public Transparency

(Berwyn, IL) – A newly adopted Illinois law will “strengthen” the state’s Opening Meetings Act training efforts of municipal officials and boost government transparency as well as pubic confidence, says a top local government attorney.

The new law, House Bill 814 sponsored by State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora) and State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), now allows elected or appointed members of a municipality to satisfy the current mandated training requirements under the Open Meetings Act by participating in training conducted by the state’s top organization that represents municipalities, the Illinois Municipal League.

“By allowing the Illinois Municipal League to train local officials in the Open Meetings Act, the officials will have consistent, quality training that will strengthen the training outcomes for local leaders,” said municipal government attorney Michael Del Galdo, the managing partner of the Berwyn-based Del Galdo Law Group. “With quality and consistent training, overall government transparency will improve and public confidence in their local officials will be bolstered.”

The law, which was approved unanimously by both the Illinois House and Senate and signed into law on August 8 by Governor JB Pritzker, lays out specific training criteria for qualified municipal organizations that seek to instruct local officials about the Open Meetings Act:

• General background of the legal requirements for open meetings
• Applicability of the law to public bodies
• Requirements regarding quorums, notice and record-keeping
• Requirements for holding an open meeting and a closed meeting
• Penalties for failing to comply with the law

The law, championed by the Illinois Municipal League, takes effect on January 1, 2020.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com