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LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  recognizing  and  celebrating the week of March
11-17, 2012, as "Sunshine Week"

WHEREAS, The  pillars  of  democracy  include  government  transparency,
accessibility  and  accountability,  resulting in an informed citizenry;
and
  WHEREAS, "Sunshine Week" is a national initiative about the importance
of open government and freedom of information; and
  WHEREAS, "Sunshine Week" seeks to enlighten and empower people to play
an active role in their government at all levels; and
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body understands and appreciates  the  value
of  access  to  information it needs to make informed decisions, and the
corresponding importance of access  to  government  information  by  the
citizens of this state; and
  WHEREAS,  The  free  flow  of  information  from the government to the
people instills trust and confidence in our democracy, and ensures  that
our government is accessible, accountable and open; and
  WHEREAS,  We must continue to educate and empower the public regarding
their right to access government documents,  information  and  meetings;
and
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body has passed legislation in the past year
which requires certain records discussed at open meetings be made avail-
able to the public prior to such meetings; and
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  will  hold  joint budget conference
committees in order to provide more openness  and  transparency  to  the
budget process; and
  WHEREAS,  Nationwide,  during the week of March 11-17, 2012, countless
citizens  and  others  interested  in  open  government  will  celebrate
"Sunshine Week"; and
  WHEREAS, "Sunshine Week" is a non-partisan initiative whose supporters
are  conservative,  liberal  and every group in between, and its partic-
ipants include  print,  broadcast,  online  news  media,  civic  groups,
libraries,  non-profits,  schools  and others interested in the public's
right to know; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
recognize  and  celebrate  the  week  of March 11-17, 2012, as "Sunshine
Week".