The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions has joined the chorus of support for HB 132, "AN ACT relating to legal actions concerning the exercise of a person's constitutional rights."
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/hb132.html
The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D-Louisville) and Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville) is aimed at curtailing bad faith or frivolous lawsuit filed by government agencies against citizens as a form of intimidation or retaliation.
They often come at significant cost to the public by diverting judicial resources to meritless cases and taxpayer dollars to compensate citizens who are wrongly sued (as well as their attorneys).
If the bill is enacted in Kentucky, we will join 32 other states, and the District of Columbia, in addressing the problem of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation legislatively.
Bluegrass Institute President and CEO, Jim Waters, writes:
"The fact that such a bill is even necessary indicates that continued vigilance is needed to protect policies like open records and meetings laws and the citizens and journalists who use them to hold â and keep â governments at all levels accountable to those constituents they exist to serve."
The Kentucky Open Government Coalition enthusiasticly agrees. The Coalition submitted its own letter of support for the bill last week.
https://www.facebook.com/419650175248377/posts/865552340658156/?d=n
HB 132 awaits assignment to a legislative committee.
