1500), Sec. September 1, 2013. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. The Texas Open Meetings Act now allows for members of a governmental body to attend a public meeting via a video conference call. 342 (H.B. 551.045. (2) create an exception to the application of this subchapter. Minutes shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) the date, time and place of the meeting; (2) agreed to reimburse the governmental body for the cost of providing the special notice. Open Meetings Act Meeting Notice Published online in TASB School Law eSource 1. The act defines meetings as all gatherings of or communications to a quorum of members of a multi-member public agency with the intention of discussing or deciding on public policy. All votes at any meeting shall be taken in public after due notice of the meeting and compliance with the posting and agenda requirements of this chapter. If not, the meeting must be treated as a special meeting, and all of the limitations and requirements for special meetings apply. The Open Meeting Law requires public bodies to follow certain rules when conducting business in meetings. Sec. A governmental body may not conduct a private consultation with its attorney except: (1) when the governmental body seeks the advice of its attorney about: (A) pending or contemplated litigation; or. 50, Sec. 239), Sec. 268, Sec. If an action involving the meeting is brought within that period, the governmental body shall preserve the certified agenda or recording while the action is pending. Sec. The OPMA contains specific provisions regarding regular and special meetings, executive sessions, the types of notice . 1007 (H.B. (b) A governmental body may have no more than one online message board or similar Internet application to be used for the purposes described in Subsection (a). May 27, 2003. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act." Each board has essentially three duties under the Open Meeting Act. 685 (H.B. This chapter does not require an agency financed entirely by federal money to conduct an open meeting. 809 (H.B. June 14, 2013. (d) A recording made under Subsection (a) must include announcements by the presiding officer at the beginning and the end of the meeting indicating the date and time. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. (2) the convening at one location of a quorum of the governing board, the Board for Lease of University Lands, or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, as applicable, is difficult or impossible. 1133), Sec. June 14, 2013. 1287, Sec. 303 Advanced Notice of Times and Places 25 O.S. Purpose of the Open Meetings Act The Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) (5 ILCS 120/1) provides the people of the State of Illinois with the right to be informed as to the conduct of public business. The Open Meetings Act contains more than 25 exceptions to the requirement that meetings be open. MEETING REQUIREMENTS DURING A DISASTER DECLARATION 1) Standard 48-hour notice of a meeting must be provided, except for an emergency meeting, to all members of the 551.077. This chapter does not require a school board operating under a consultation agreement authorized by Section 13.901, Education Code, to conduct an open meeting to deliberate the standards, guidelines, terms, or conditions the board will follow, or instruct its representatives to follow, in a consultation with a representative of an employee group. (a-2) A member of a governmental body who participates in a meeting as provided by Subsection (a-1) shall be counted as present at the meeting for all purposes. 1, eff. May 18, 2013. 158, Sec. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. (1) A meeting is open to the public unless closed under Sections 52-4-204, 52-4-205, and 52-4-206. 1, eff. Exceptions to Agenda Requirements Public Testimony 16 18 18 2. (a-3) A member of a governmental body who participates in a meeting by videoconference call shall be considered absent from any portion of the meeting during which audio or video communication with the member is lost or disconnected. STATE GOVERNMENTAL BODY: NOTICE TO SECRETARY OF STATE; PLACE OF POSTING NOTICE. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. Laws and Regulations Affecting Oklahoma Libraries, Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board, Schedule Appointment for Special Collections, Public Libraries - (County and Municipal), Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), Statutes and Rules: Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Statutes and Rules: Public Libraries - (County), Statutes and Rules: Public Libraries - (County and Municipal), Vote by Electronic or Telephonic Communications, Meeting between Governor and Majority Members of Public Body, Executive Sessions, Legislative Committee Members Attending, Actions Taken in Willful Violation of Act. 1341 (S.B. Sec. (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the member of the governmental body acted in reasonable reliance on a court order or a written interpretation of this chapter contained in an opinion of a court of record, the attorney general, or the attorney for the governmental body. 361 (S.B. 313 Actions Taken in Willful Violation of Act, 25 O.S. 551.124. (b) The presiding officer or member is required to notify only those members of the news media that have previously: (1) filed at the headquarters of the governmental body a request containing all pertinent information for the special notice; and. 8-44-103. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 551.078. 62, Sec. 624 (H.B. September 1, 2017. June 17, 2011. The same holds true for similar discussions and decision-making by a city council, a township board of trustees or any other public body. (a) In this section, "Internet" means the largest nonproprietary cooperative public computer network, popularly known as the Internet. 3, eff. The secretary of state shall provide during regular office hours a computer terminal at a place convenient to the public in the office of the secretary of state that members of the public may use to view the notice. 87 (S.B. (2) in which a complaint or charge is brought against an employee of the school district by another employee and the complaint or charge directly results in a need for a hearing. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. May 18, 2013. 1, eff. Sec. September 1, 2005. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 551.041 and 551.042, a quorum of the governing body of a municipality or county may receive from staff of the political subdivision and a member of the governing body may make a report about items of community interest during a meeting of the governing body without having given notice of the subject of the report as required by this subchapter if no action is taken and, except as provided by Section 551.042, possible action is not discussed regarding the information provided in the report. However, evidence that a defendant completed a course of training offered under this section is not prima facie evidence that the defendant knowingly violated this chapter. 7), Sec. AGENCY FINANCED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 2381), Sec. CERTIFIED AGENDA OR RECORDING REQUIRED. 551.021. May 18, 2013. 1154), Sec. September 1, 2011. The quality of the audio and video signals perceptible at each location of the meeting must meet or exceed those standards. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 183 (H.B. The Handy Guide To Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, pdf summarizes California law governing all "state" boards and commissions. Code 4910 (a); See also " No Action Without a Meeting .") This chapter does not require The Finance Commission of Texas to conduct an open meeting to deliberate a matter made confidential by law. CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS SUBJECT TO LAW. SCHOOL BOARD: PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT. Sec. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 7, eff. Open Government Division Advisory During COVID-19 State of Public Health Emergency. (c) The following governmental bodies and economic development corporations must also concurrently post the agenda for the meeting on the Internet website of the governmental body or economic development corporation: (1) a municipality with a population of 48,000 or more; (2) a county with a population of 65,000 or more; (3) a school district that contains all or part of the area within the corporate boundaries of a municipality with a population of 48,000 or more; (4) the governing body of a junior college district, including a district that has changed its name in accordance with Chapter 130, Education Code, that contains all or part of the area within the corporate boundaries of a municipality with a population of 48,000 or more; (5) a development corporation organized under the Development Corporation Act (Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code) that was created by or for: (A) a municipality with a population of 48,000 or more; or, (B) a county or district that contains all or part of the area within the corporate boundaries of a municipality with a population of 48,000 or more; and. - is an important government transparency law that promotes the public's right to have their voice heard on the issues they care about. 471), Sec. The Open Meetings Act does not set out all procedures applicable to meetings of governmental bodies. 917 (S.B. 551.053. of all their closed meetings in the form of an audio or video. Second, to provide an opportunity for public comment. (a) This chapter does not require a school board to conduct an open meeting to deliberate in a case: (1) involving discipline of a public school child; or. (8) "Videoconference call" means a communication conducted between two or more persons in which one or more of the participants communicate with the other participants through duplex audio and video signals transmitted over a telephone network, a data network, or the Internet. The Open Meeting Act Made Easy is a handbook in a question and answer format that covers the most frequently asked questions about the Texas Open Meetings Act ("the Act"). SUBCHAPTER D. EXCEPTIONS TO REQUIREMENT THAT MEETINGS BE OPEN. 1, eff. 3827), Sec. 2978), Sec. May 18, 2013. (e) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a district from allowing a person to watch or listen to a board meeting by video or telephone conference call. January 1, 2006. (d) A meeting held by video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings. 87 (S.B. May 18, 2013. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. (6) a regional mobility authority included within the meaning of an "authority" as defined by Section 370.003, Transportation Code. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. This chapter does not require a benefits appeals committee for a public self-funded health plan or a governmental body that administers a public insurance, health, or retirement plan to conduct an open meeting to deliberate: (1) the medical records or psychiatric records of an individual applicant for a benefit from the plan; or. 551.143. 1, eff. (e) A meeting held by video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings. 1830), Sec. (a) In this section, "general academic teaching institution" and "university system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. June 15, 2007. 87 (S.B. This pamphlet was written with the individual board member in . Sec. Maryland's Open Meetings Act is a statute that requires many State and local public bodies to hold their meetings in public, to give the public adequate notice of those meetings, and to allow the public to inspect meetings minutes. 1093), Sec. 84-1407 through 84-1414 (2014, Cum. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1038, Sec. A county governmental body shall post notice of each meeting on a bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in the county courthouse. Meeting via a video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to meetings of governmental.! 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