Sunshine Law--political party meeting

Mr. Eladio Armesto
District Committeeman
District 28
Post Office Box 7
Riverside Station
Miami, Florida 33125

Re: Government in the Sunshine

Dear Mr. Armesto:

This is in response to your letter of September 10, 1979, in which you requested this office to determine whether a violation of the Sunshine Law, section 286.011, Florida Statutes, took place at a meeting of a Republican Party committee.

I regret to inform you that this office must decline to issue an opinion in this situation. The persons to whom this office may give legal advice are limited. See section 16.01, Florida Statutes, as amended by Chapter 79-159, section 1, Laws of Florida. This office is not authorized to issue an opinion at the request of private individuals or political party officers. However, in an effort to be of some assistance to you, I am enclosing the following comment.

Section 286.011(1), Florida Statutes, provides:

"All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation or any political subdivision, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, at which official acts are to be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, and no resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at such meetings." (e.s.)

This section does not appear to be applicable to a meeting of a political party or to any meeting of a non-governmental body, nor am I aware of any court decision or opinion of the Attorney General which holds or determines that such a meeting by a political party of non-governmental body is subject to the Sunshine Law.

I trust that you will understand the position this office is compelled to take in this instance and hope that this brief comment is of some help to you.

Sincerely,

Craig B. Willis
Assistant Attorney General

CBW/is