SB 1944

This bill authorizes a local governing body to allow participation in community meetings by electronic means of communication. However, local governing bodies are prohibited from voting on any matter during a community meeting where the members are participating by electronic means of communication. As us ed in this bill, a "local governing body"" means a local governmental public body that consists of two or more members with the authority to make decisions for, or recommendations to, a public body on policy or administration. PARTICIPATION – IDENTIFICATION This bill requires that each member of a local governing body participating by electronic means of communication be able to simultaneously hear and speak to each other during the meeting. Additionally, the local governing body must allow members of the public to view and listen to the community meeting by electronic means in real time and participate by electronic means of communication, if participation would normally be allowed. This bill requires any person in the room from which a member is participating in the meeting to be identified. Further, any member participating electronically must be identifiable by name to the public throughout the duration of the meeting. NOTICE – RECORD This bill requires the local governing body to provide notice of the meeting by publishing a statement that the meeting will include members participating by electronic means of communication; the address of the physical location where members of the pub lic may attend the meeting; and information necessary to access the community meeting by electronic means of communication. This bill requires a recording of the community meeting to be made and posted on the local governing body's website no later than four business days after the meeting."