Signed by Governor Eric Holcomb

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and final pass a bill that authorizes increased control over meeting decorum and regulations in the state of Indiana.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the following entities do not constitute a governing body (Sec. 1): 

• A committee for receiving information or making recommendations;and 

• That has not one member of a governing body as a member. 

• Defines attendee (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that a public meeting must allow for the following if public testimony is allowed (Sec. 2):

• Its shall be before or during governing body’s discussion; 

• It shall be before the final discussion and and deliberation;and 

• The governing body must designate allotted time for discussion.

• Specifies that a governing body may adopt reasonable rules or policies governing the conduct of a meeting, including the following (Sec. 2). 

• Reasonable restrictions on the time allotted for attendees to speak on a topic; 

• Reasonable steps to maintain order;and

• A procedure for the pressing member of the governing body to issue warnings to attendees who disrupt a meeting. 

• Specifies that governing bodies must notify attendees of any rules or policies by posting the rules or policies in a visible area and making an announcement of the rules before taking oral public comments (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that nothing in this section may be construed as limiting a law enforcement officer from removing an attendee from a meeting if the following occurs (Sec. 2):

• Removal of the attendee is necessary to maintain order or ensure the safety of another person; 

• The person commits a criminal offense;and 

• The attendee violates the rules or policies governing the conduct of the meeting. 

• Specifies that when issuing an advisory opinion, the public access counselor shall consider only public access laws and valid opinions of Indiana courts (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes increased control over meeting decorum and regulations in the state of Indiana.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the following entities do not constitute a governing body (Sec. 1): 

• A committee for receiving information or making recommendations;and 

• That has not one member of a governing body as a member. 

• Defines attendee (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that a public meeting must allow for the following if public testimony is allowed (Sec. 2):

• Its shall be before or during governing body’s discussion; 

• It shall be before the final discussion and and deliberation;and 

• The governing body must designate allotted time for discussion.

• Specifies that a governing body may adopt reasonable rules or policies governing the conduct of a meeting, including the following (Sec. 2). 

• Reasonable restrictions on the time allotted for attendees to speak on a topic; 

• Reasonable steps to maintain order;and

• A procedure for the pressing member of the governing body to issue warnings to attendees who disrupt a meeting. 

• Specifies that governing bodies must notify attendees of any rules or policies by posting the rules or policies in a visible area and making an announcement of the rules before taking oral public comments (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that nothing in this section may be construed as limiting a law enforcement officer from removing an attendee from a meeting if the following occurs (Sec. 2):

• Removal of the attendee is necessary to maintain order or ensure the safety of another person; 

• The person commits a criminal offense;and 

• The attendee violates the rules or policies governing the conduct of the meeting. 

• Specifies that when issuing an advisory opinion, the public access counselor shall consider only public access laws and valid opinions of Indiana courts (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text