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PRESS RELEASE
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2011 | FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Contact: Jason M. Gant (605) 773-3537 |
SECRETARY OF STATE JASON GANT CONTINUES HIS “OPEN DRAWER” POLICY AND POSTS STATE EXTRADITION ORDERS FOR PUBLIC VIEW DURING NATIONAL SUNSHINE WEEK
In recognition of National Sunshine week, South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant is continuing his initiative to place more of the state’s records on public view via the Internet.
After launching his effort early this week with the addition of “Executive Actions” to his website located at www.sdsos.gov, where Executive Orders and Executive Proclamations are available for on-line viewing, Secretary Gant is now posting all extradition orders filed with his office.
Gant said, “Visitors to my website now are able to view the current extradition requests coming in from other states, as well as those requested of others by South Dakota. These documents will be provided in their entirety, unless they contain information such as Social Security numbers which we’re required by law to redact.”
“These public documents are another example of information that has been filed with this office since statehood, but has remained tucked in a file cabinet. Placing these documents on-line continues my office’s “open drawer” initiative, and places more information on-line for the taxpayers who foot the bill for state government,” Gant said.
This multi-year initiative by Secretary Jason Gant will be accomplished utilizing a combination of existing resources as well as seeking partnerships and grants with outside groups.
Secretary of State Gant has long been an advocate of South Dakota’s sunshine laws. As Senator, Jason Gant began working with former Attorney General Larry Long in 2005 to set up a road map for opening up our South Dakota records. Gant was also recognized by the South Dakota Newspaper Association, receiving their Eagle Award for open government initiatives. From the legislation in 2006 setting up an extensive review study of open government to the historic legislation that passed in 2009, Gant has been a long time proponent for greater public record availability.
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