Now we’ll be more serious about open government

From News-Sentinel:

The flaw in Indiana's open records and open meetings laws that made them ineffective was their lack of teeth. Public officials could be chided for not being open, but they never faced a real penalty except having to do something over again, for example taking a vote in public that had been improperly taken in private. Now that's changed.

The General Assembly this session passed a bill that establishes civil fines for a government agency or official who “knowingly violated” the open records or open door laws. Fines of $100 may be imposed, and $500 for a repeat offender.