OMA Advisory Opinion (Mayor's Task Force)

On March 30, 2023, the Director of Open Government issued an advisory opinion finding that the Mayor’s Task Force on Automated Traffic Enforcement Equity and Safety ("Task Force") is a public body subject to the Open Meetings Act (#OOG-2023-0002-M). The Director concluded that the Task Force falls within the “similar entity” category of the Open Meetings Act's ("OMA") definition of a public body, and its scope and purpose constitute public business under the OMA. The OMA’s legislative history also clarifies the D.C. Council’s intent that the statute should cover “any other entity that is created by and exercises authority delegated by the District of Columbia government.” The Task Force unambiguously falls into the “similar entity” category, as supported by the D.C. Council’s intent. Therefore, the Task Force is a public body, and its meetings are subject to the OMA.