AG pushes knowledge of open records, meetings By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager introduced herself to the Wisconsin Towns Association on Monday as the person who runs the department that oversees open records and open meetings laws. "And I don't know if that's good or bad in your minds," she said. There's no doubt where the law stands, however, and Lautenschlager's office is working on re-emphasizing the rules on open government. The department is planning seminars and publications to explain changes in the laws and promote the entire concept of open records and meetings. "We're looking to get those rolling by November - before deer hunting season," she said. "Throughout the winter, we're going to try to have half-day seminars in accessible locations." The state is working with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and Wisconsin Newspaper Association on the seminars. Changes were signed earlier this year opening some employee records and closing others; for example, employees' Social Security numbers may not be released. Under state law, all government meetings must be officially "noticed," or announced, at a regular location at least 24 hours ahead of time, complete with agenda. If a quorum of a larger board - say, a city council or county board - might or will be at a committee meeting or other meeting, that has to be posted as well. The idea is to keep decision-making in the open and avoid situations where decisions are made in "informal" meetings and not in public. Closed sessions are allowed for some areas, including negotiations and employee matters. "We want to make certain people know what's going on and make them aware of changes," she said. "Our office has been taking a rather aggressive stance of enforcing those laws to give people every opportunity of being aware of those obligations," she said. Most of the violations her office has handled regard the notices of actions taken by boards rather than not reporting meetings at all, she said.