Relates to videoconferencing at public meetings; requires that the minutes of a public meeting at which videoconferencing is used reflect such fact and the extent of such participation.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8155
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 7, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to videoconferenc-
ing at public meetings and requiring that the minutes of a public
meeting at which videoconferencing is used reflect such fact
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions (c) and (d) of section 103 of the public
2 officers law, subdivision (c) as added by chapter 289 of the laws of
3 2000 and subdivision (d) as added by chapter 40 of the laws of 2010, are
4 amended to read as follows:
5 (c) [A public body that uses videoconferencing to conduct its meetings
6 shall provide an opportunity for the public to attend, listen and
7 observe at any site at which a member participates.
8 (d)] Public bodies shall make or cause to be made all reasonable
9 efforts to ensure that meetings are held in an appropriate facility
10 which can adequately accommodate members of the public who wish to
11 attend such meetings.
12 § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 104 of the public officers law, as added
13 by chapter 289 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
14 4. If videoconferencing is used to conduct a meeting or such meeting
15 is being held both physically at a location or locations open to the
16 public and also virtually by one or more members of the public body at a
17 location or locations not open to the public, the public notice for the
18 meeting shall inform the public that videoconferencing will be used[,]
19 and shall identify the physical locations for the meeting[, and state
20 that the public has the right to attend the meeting at any of the
21 locations] that shall be open to the public.
22 § 3. Section 106 of the public officers law is amended by adding a
23 new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11849-01-1
A. 8155 2
1 4. The minutes of a meeting shall reflect whether the meeting was
2 conducted by electronic means in whole or in part, the type of electron-
3 ic means if used, which if any members participated by electronic means,
4 when each member participating by electronic means joined or left the
5 meeting, and any interruption in or suspension of the meeting due to a
6 technical problem with the electronic means supporting the meeting if
7 used.
8 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
