Sunshine Bill Exempts Minors’, Campers’ Information

On Thursday morning, the House Legislative Review Committee voted “do pass” by a vote of 10-0 on House Committee Substitute for HB 145 & 59, sponsored by Rep. Bill Falkner (R-St. Joseph) and Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland), legislation that deals with records of minor children and of state park campers. The HCS adds a new Sunshine Law exemption to allow the closure of “any portion of a record that contains individually identifiable information of a minor 17 years and under held by a public governmental body, such as a city, town, village, or park board.” The HCS also adds individually identifiable customer information for visitors who make camping, lodging, or other shelter reservations for a state park or historic site to the list of records that are exempt from disclosure under the Sunshine Law, unless the records are requested by or authorized for release by the visitor.