Attorney General's Office to offer Sunshine Law Workshop Aug. 27

A free workshop pertaining to the Missouri Sunshine Law will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m., in the home economics building at the Vernon County fairgrounds in

Nevada. The one-hour class will be conducted by Tom Durkin, public education director for the Missouri Attorney General's Office. The event is open to the public, along with all interested elected officials and members of boards and commissions.

The workshop is part of an on-going effort by Attorney General Chris Koster to provide government officials with the support they need to be well informed in conducting their business in a way that brings transparency and fairness to all aspects of government. Topics covered in the presentation will include:

* Who does the Sunshine Law apply to?

* What is a public meeting?

* What is a public record?

* Liberal construction of the law;

* Procedures and limitations for closing meetings and records;

* Appointing a custodian of records; and

* Fees for copying public records.

For additional information regarding Thursday's meeting contact the Vernon County Commission at (417) 448-2505 or Tom Durkin at the Missouri Attorney General's Office (573) 751-8844.

The Attorney General's Office also offers a free booklet containing a summary of the Sunshine Law, frequently asked questions, interpretations of the law and sample forms for public governmental bodies. To order publications, call (573) 751-8844 or submit your request online at ago.mo.gov.