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2008 SESSION
HB 854 Freedom of Information Act; local public bodies may meet by electronic communication.
Introduced by: Adam P. Ebbin | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings; authority of local public bodies. Allows any local governing body, school board, or any authority, board, bureau, commission, district, or agency of local government to meet by electronic communication means without a quorum of the public body physically assembled at one location when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in accordance with § 44-146.17, provided (i) the catastrophic nature of the declared emergency makes it impracticable or unsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location and (ii) the purpose of the meeting is to address the emergency. The local public body convening the meeting shall (a) give public notice using the best available method given the nature of the emergency, which notice shall be given contemporaneously with the notice provided members of the local public body conducting the meeting; (b) make arrangements for public access to such meeting; and (c) otherwise comply with the provisions for electronic communication meetings. The nature of the emergency and the fact that the meeting was held by electronic communication means shall be stated in the minutes. The bill contains a technical amendment. The bill is a recommendation of the Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
FULL TEXT
- 01/08/08 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 081764492 pdf | impact statement
- 03/06/08 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB854ER) pdf | impact statement
- 04/14/08 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0789) pdf
HISTORY
- 01/08/08 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 081764492
- 01/08/08 House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
- 01/17/08 House: Assigned GL sub: FOIA
- 02/05/08 House: Reported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N)
- 02/06/08 House: Read first time
- 02/07/08 House: Read second time and engrossed
- 02/08/08 House: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
- 02/08/08 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (99-Y 0-N)
- 02/08/08 House: Communicated to Senate
- 02/11/08 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
- 02/11/08 Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
- 02/19/08 Senate: Assigned GL&T sub: Subcommittee #1 (FOIA)
- 02/27/08 Senate: Reported from General Laws and Technology (10-Y 0-N)
- 02/29/08 Senate: Passed by for the day
- 03/03/08 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
- 03/04/08 Senate: Read third time
- 03/04/08 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
- 03/06/08 House: Enrolled
- 03/06/08 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB854ER)
- 03/06/08 House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/09/08 Senate: Signed by President
- 04/02/08 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 789 (effective 7/1/08)
- 04/14/08 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0789)