Directs public bodies that have meetings that allow public comments to provide a means for the public to comment in real time during the time allocated for public comment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4687--B
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 8, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to directing public
bodies that have meetings that allow public comments to provide a
means for the public to comment in real time
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 103 of the public officers law is amended by adding
2 two new subdivisions (g) and (h) to read as follows:
3 (g) Any meeting of a public body that is open to the public, is broad-
4 casted, webcasted, or otherwise recorded and/or transmitted by audio or
5 video means, and allows for public comment, shall provide for an oppor-
6 tunity for the public to comment in real time by any available means
7 during the time allocated for public comment. Public bodies shall adopt
8 and make publicly available, rules or policies regarding public comment
9 in any meeting open to the public that is broadcasted, webcasted, or
10 otherwise recorded and/or transmitted by audio or video and allows for
11 public comment, that are reasonable and treat all members of the public
12 equally.
13 (h) The committee on open government shall establish advisory guide-
14 lines governing public body rules and policies at open public body meet-
15 ings that allow for public comment, including, but not limited to,
16 guidelines regarding the manner in which a public body may moderate real
17 time public comment and guidelines establishing the best practices and
18 standards regarding real time public comment at public body meetings
19 that are open to the public, broadcasted, webcasted, and/or transmitted
20 via audio or video.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
22 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09413-04-1
