Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway recently took action against the City of Kansas City for violating the state’s Sunshine Law. In a settlement resolving a case filed earlier this year, the city agreed to implement reforms to improve transparency and comply with open government requirements. The Attorney General’s office reported that Kansas City admitted to failing to respond promptly to three separate records requests, as required under Missouri law.
In April, Hanaway’s office filed the lawsuit, citing Kansas City’s mishandling of records requests directed at the Mayor’s Office, the City Manager’s Office, and the Finance Department. The city acknowledged failing to provide the requested records or explanations for delays within the three-day statutory period and agreed to a settlement to avoid further legal costs. “Government belongs to the people, and public officials do not get to hide from lawful oversight,” Hanaway said in a press release. She added that Missourians deserve full transparency and affirmed that her office will act when the Sunshine Law is violated.
The settlement requires Kansas City’s custodian of records and several departmental liaisons to complete mandatory Sunshine Law training sessions. These sessions are intended to prevent future violations and promote transparency within the city’s departments. As part of the agreement, the city has filed a Certificate of Compliance with the Attorney General’s office, committing to follow the Sunshine Law training requirements going forward.
