House Bill No. by Representative Horton amends R.S. 42:28 to introduce criminal liability for members of public bodies who knowingly and willfully participate in meetings that violate the Open Meetings Law. The bill retains the existing civil penalties, which impose a maximum fine of $500 per violation, and adds a new provision that subjects violators to the crime of malfeasance in office. This means that, upon conviction, these individuals could face imprisonment for up to 10 years, fines up to $5,000, or both, along with potential restitution to the state if applicable.

The bill modifies the language of the current law by replacing "wilfully" with "willfully" and introduces a new subsection that outlines the criminal penalties associated with malfeasance in office for violations of the Open Meetings Law. This change aims to enhance accountability among public officials and ensure compliance with transparency regulations. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen the enforcement of the Open Meetings Law by imposing both civil and criminal consequences for violations.

Statutes affected:
HB81 Original: