Product Description

Open government is a cornerstone of our democracy—and is advanced at the state and local levels by the provisions of the Open Meeting Law and the Public Records Law. The level of openness these laws require—and the mechanisms which enforce public access—are important to the governmental officials, counsel for governmental bodies, and members of the public and media who wish to monitor meetings and actions. The expert panel addresses the current state of the Public Records Law and the Open Meeting Law individually, as well as their interaction in the context of local and state government.

Join us online as our experienced panel discusses recent as well as evolving Public Records Law trends and issues. Highlights include recent changes to exemption language as well as changes to the Public Records Law regulations. The faculty discuss emerging topics and best practices including exemption claims, identifying and separating large requests from harassing requests, and strategies for responding to both. Additionally, the panel discusses relevant and important updates within the Open Meeting Law, such as what constitutes deliberation, the requirements for meeting notices and other deadlines, recent court decisions, requirements for remote or hybrid meetings, and the status of pending legislation concerning the Open Meeting Law.

Agenda & Materials

• 9:30 - 9:40 am

  Welcome and Introduction

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  Betsy Gwin, Esq., MLRI , Boston
  Angela M. Puccini, Esq., Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division , Boston
  
• 9:35am – 10:35am

  Overview of the TAFDC Program
• 9:40 - 10:10 am

  Open Meeting Law Developments/Hot Topics at the AG's Office

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  Carrie Benedon, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Carrie Benedon, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 10:35am – 10:45am

  Break
• 10:10 - 10:40 am

  Open Meeting Law Overview and Best Practices

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  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  
• 10:40 - 10:55 am

  Open Meeting Law Q&A

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• 10:45am – 11:45am

  TAFDC- Practical Tips

  Carrie Benedon, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  Carrie Benedon, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  
• 11:45am – 12:30pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 10:55 - 11:05 am

  Break
• 12:30pm – 1:30pm

  Child Care

  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  
• 1:30pm – 1:40pm

  Break
• 11:05 - 11:40 am

  Public Records Law Considerations for Public Entities

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  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  Angela M. Puccini, Esq., Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division , Boston
  
• 11:40 - 12:10 pm

  Public Records Law Updates and Considerations

  Angela M. Puccini, Esq., Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division , Boston
  
• 12:10 - 12:25 pm

  Public Records Law Q&A

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• 1:40pm – 2:40pm

  Immigrant Eligibility

  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  Angela M. Puccini, Esq., Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division , Boston
  Janelle M. Austin, Esq., KP Law, PC , Boston
  Angela M. Puccini, Esq., Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division , Boston
  
• 2:40pm – 3:00pm

  Opportunities for Reform
• 12:25 - 12:30 pm

  Key Takeaways

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  Panel
  
• 12:25 - 12:30 pm

  Key Takeaways

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  Panel
  

Chair

Faculty