Remember the secret payout to the Burnsville Schools human resources director: $250,000 if Tania Chance would quietly leave her job, just seven months after signing a contract?
Legislators remember, and the Minnesota House has passed a bill that wouldn't let such secrecy happen again.
The bill requires future agreements to be public anytime government entities make payouts of $10,000 or more to employees. Specific reasons for the payout would have to be made available, says the House Public Information Services.
The good news: The bill was passed 131-0 in the House and now goes to the Senate.
The bad news: It's not retroactive to include the head-shaking Burnsville deal.
State officials are considering whether the Burnsville school officials followed the existing law in keeping the settlement details secret.