Information Disclosure

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined selected federal agencies' Government in the Sunshine Act activities to determine the extent to which the agencies: (1) adhered to selected requirements of the act for meetings held in 1986; and (2) provided certain supplemental information in their annual reports to Congress.

GAO found that, of the 47 agency meetings it reviewed: (1) 43 complied with the act's public notice requirements; (2) 46 had recorded votes to properly close the meetings; (3) 41 had the required meeting statements; (4) 45 had closure certifications from the chief legal officer; and (5) 46 had records of the proceedings. GAO also reviewed minutes of 24 meetings and found that 21: (1) showed agreement between the meeting discussion and exemptions cited to close the meetings; and (2) were in accordance with the announced subjects. In addition, GAO found that: (1) all 12 agencies' annual reports addressed the categories the act required; and (2) compliance with congressionally requested supplemental information was lower than for the required information.