The ACLU of Missouri has filed a Sunshine Law suit on behalf of Aaron M. Malin against the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces (ACT Missouri) for denying a request for the release of public documents.
ACT Missouri fulfilled two previous requests and acknowledged that it was doing so to comply with the Sunshine Law. But, ACT denied a Nov. 18, 2014 request claiming that it is not subject to the law.
ACT Missouri is a “quasi-public governmental body” because its primary purpose is to undertake work pursuant to an agreement with a public governmental body, the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and it accepts appropriated funds directly from a public governmental body. The records of quasi-public governmental bodies are “public records” that, with some exceptions, may be viewed by the public upon request.
“Our client requested documents from a training that was paid for entirely with taxpayer money,” explains Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “When the people pay for a private entity to carry out a function on behalf of the people, the people have a right to view the records related to the function that they paid for.”
“All too often, public officials seek to hide information that might embarrass them,” says Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Our American system of checks and balances only works if the public has the information necessary to review our government’s work. The ACLU stands ready to act as Missourians’ watchdog.”
