LANSING, Mich., March 22, 2022 — State Reps. Cynthia A. Johnson (D-Detroit) and Steve Johnson (R-Wayland) recently introduced a bill package to increase accountability and transparency for public bodies that use taxpayer dollars. The bill package would expand the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act to include accredited zoos, aquariums and art institute service providers.
“For the state to be effective, we must ensure that every public body in that state is transparent and accountable to taxpayers,” Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson said. “There is much work legislators must still do to get Michigan’s tax dollars out of the dark, and this bill package is a step in the right direction. I’m glad to work with a fellow Johnson to put our taxpayers first.”
House Bill 5802, sponsored by Rep. Steve Johnson, would amend the Open Meetings Act to include the following boards and governing bodies:
- An art services provider who receives money through the Art Institute Authorities Act’s tax.
- An accredited zoological institution that gets funding from the tax imposed by the Zoological Authorities Act.
House Bill 5803, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson, would change the definition of “public body” under the Freedom of Information Act to include accredited zoos, aquariums, art institute service providers and their governing bodies.