Signed by Governor Matt Mead

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference committee report that amends requirements for public meetings, effective July 1, 2012.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any “meeting” from being conducted by electronic means or any other form of communication in which the public is not able to hear or read the “meeting's” discussion at the same time (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits public bodies from communicating outside of “meetings” to circumvent the provisions of this act (Sec. 1).

• Defines a “meeting” as including an “assembly” of a quorum of the governing body of an agency to discuss or take action on public business (Sec. 1).

• Defines an “assembly” as including, but not limited to, the following forms of communication (Sec. 1):
• In person;
• By telephone;
• Through electronic channels; or
• Any other manner in which participating members communicate as a group.

• Authorizes any person to request notice of agency meetings and requires the request to be made in writing and renewed annually (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes special meetings to be called by verbal, electronic, or written notice to each member of the agency's governing body and any person that requests notice (Sec. 1):
• Notice must be given at least 8 hours prior to the meeting; and
• Proof of verbal notice to media may be made by affidavit.   

• Specifies that temporary actions taken at emergency meetings may be made permanent if they are reconsidered at a public meeting within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, whereas existing law did not exclude weekends or holidays (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that if the emergency persists for more than 48 hours, temporary actions may be reconsidered and made permanent at the next regularly scheduled meeting, which must take place within 30 days, whereas existing law did not authorize the reconsideration of temporary actions at a regularly scheduled meeting (Sec. 1).

• Requires that any member in violation of the provisions of this act, or a member who knowingly attends a meeting in violation, to be assessed a fine of up to $750 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text