FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UF-Student Government Ordered to Release Meeting Records
Summary: On Monday, the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida ordered the University of Florida and its Student Government to release meeting records pertaining to Student Senate. The ruling is in response to a lawsuit filed against UF Student Government by a recent graduate in August 2009. The lawsuit claimed the University was failing to make records of Student Senate meetings public, as required by Florida’s Public Record Law. UF Student Senate oversees a budget of over fourteen million public dollars a year. Plaintiff Frank Bracco said that his requests for copies of the recordings of Student Senate Meetings were repeatedly denied or ignored, contrary to Florida Statute 119.07, which allows citizens the right to inspect and copy public records. “Although this case has taken some time to work through the court, I am extremely pleased that students and taxpayers finally have the right to see how UF Student Government is spending our money,” said Bracco upon hearing the decision.
Full Version:
January 11, 2011 Gainesville, FL – On Monday, the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida ordered the University of Florida and its Student Government to release meeting records pertaining to Student Senate. In August 2009, recent University of Florida graduate Frank Bracco filed a law suit against UF and its Student Government for violations of the Public Records Law. “Although this case has taken some time to work through the court, I am extremely pleased that students and taxpayers finally have the right to see how UF Student Government is spending our money,” said Bracco upon hearing the decision.
The lawsuit alleged UF Student Government denied him copies of documents that are part of the public record on three separate record requests. Bracco also claimed University failed to properly store public
records, resulting in the destruction of records requested on two other occasions.
“Today was a major victory for Sunshine advocates in higher education,” said Bracco, “and, I hope this case sends a message to the State University System that public meeting records are just that: public.”
The court confirmed that the public has the right to inspect and copy public records, as guaranteed under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, also referred to as the Public Records Law. Documents requested are usually turned over to the public, but Bracco’s lawsuit cited several occasions over a ten month period in late 2008 and 2009 where he was denied copies. The records requested all deal with public
meetings held by Student Government.
Student Government is created by the State Constitution and Statutes and is subject to the Public Records Law. State law allows Student Government to have an operating budget of over 14 million dollars, which is collected through Activity and Service fees levied on each student.
###
For a copy of the lawsuit, visit http://www.sg-span.org.
