Among the new legislation affecting municipalities in 2015 is a new internet posting requirement contained in the Local Records Act (Public Act 98-0930). Before April 2015, local government bodies, including school districts, that maintain a website (whether full-time or not) are required to post on their website some mechanism for members of the public to electronically communicate with their elected officials. You can use a single uniform email address unless your officials have individual email addresses intended for that purpose. The Act requires that the website have a hyperlink to the information that is easily accessible from your home page. Most municipalities that maintain websites already have contact information for their elected officials available somewhere on their websites, but we remind you that this Act specifically requires a hyperlink to this information be available on your home page.
Author: Ruth A. Schlossberg