A half-century ago, California enacted the landmark Brown Act, one of the nation´s first comprehensive open meetings and open records laws. Some of the original authors and backers are gathering to celebrate the law and to support a constitutional Sunshine Amendment, declaring that the public has a fundamental right to attend government meetings and inspect government records.

Supporters say the Brown Act still lacks teeth. They say the law has been eroded by court decisions and government officials´ efforts to block access to records. They hope strong voter support for a Sunshine Amendment would encourage courts to interpret the Brown Act in the broadest possible way.