Effort to Keep Florida's Public University Searches Out of Sunlight

A state legislator has introduced legislation aimed at largely exempting public university executive searches from Florida's expansive open meeting and public-record laws, The Gainesville Sun reported. Florida's sunshine laws are among the most reaching in the country, and the legislation introduced by State Rep. Dave Kerner says that the laws create a "chilling effect on the number and quality of applicants" for president and other top university jobs. The bill would protect the names of candidates until finalists are chosen, at least 21 days before a final candidate is selected.