A proposed bill in the General Assembly by Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, could lead to more public access to boards of visitors meetings at the state's colleges and universities. House Bill 1952 would make annual reports to the General Assembly and training sessions on items such as board structure and function and the Freedom of Information Act mandatory.
The bill stems from the University of Virginia Board of Visitors' ouster and reinstatement of President Teresa A. Sullivan last summer, he said.
“It’s our job to look at what’s going on and make revisions where needed and help avoid problems for boards of visitors,” Landes said.
If passed, this legislation would require boards of visitors present annual executive summaries of its actions to the General Assembly. Additionally, the bill will require members of boards of visitors to attend training sessions that would include sessions on board transparency and the function of the Freedom of Information Act. Presently, such sessions are voluntary.
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“Boards of visitors didn’t have specific mandates for board members to follow or for members to get appropriate training,” Landes said.
The bill also would require the bylaws of boards of visitors to explain its requirement of transparency and obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.
Landes' bill has gained support from the Virginia Press Association. Ginger Stanley, executive director of the VPA said she called Landes before the 2013 General Assembly session convened to give the organization’s support of the bill.
"I think it would be a positive step forward to educate and inform boards of visitors," Stanley said.
Stanley said she endorses Landes and his efforts of making the governmental process more transparent.
Del. Jennifer McClellan, a Richmond Democrat, also sees this legislation as a step in the right direction.
“One of the most disturbing aspects of the events of last summer at UVa was the lack of transparency,” McClellan said. “I think House Bill 1952 will help prevent that in the future.”
Landes is also sponsoring another bill, House Bill 1940, which would also make every public higher education college or university board have a faculty member appointed to the board.
Both pieces of legislation will be heard in the House Higher Education and Arts subcommittee today at 5 p.m.
