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H.B. 10

             1     

OPEN AND PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Open and Public Meetings Act by amending definitions and
             11      requirements for open meetings.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    clarifies that the definition of public body includes a public body created by the
             15      Utah Constitution as well as by statute, rule, ordinance, or resolution;
             16          .    amends content requirements for written minutes and recordings of open meetings;
             17      and
             18          .    makes technical changes.
             19      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          52-4-103, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 14 and last amended by Chapters
             26      263 and 265, Laws of Utah 2006
             27          52-4-203, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 14 and last amended by Chapters



             28      263 and 265, Laws of Utah 2006
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 52-4-103 is amended to read:
             32           52-4-103. Definitions.
             33          As used in this chapter:
             34          (1) "Anchor location" means the physical location from which:
             35          (a) an electronic meeting originates; or
             36          (b) the participants are connected.
             37          (2) "Convening" means the calling of a meeting of a public body by a person
             38      authorized to do so for the express purpose of discussing or acting upon a subject over which
             39      that public body has jurisdiction or advisory power.
             40          (3) "Electronic meeting" means a public meeting convened or conducted by means of a
             41      conference using electronic communications.
             42          (4) (a) "Meeting" means the convening of a public body, with a quorum present,
             43      including a workshop or an executive session whether the meeting is held in person or by
             44      means of electronic communications, for the purpose of discussing or acting upon a matter over
             45      which the public body has jurisdiction or advisory power.
             46          (b) "Meeting" does not mean:
             47          (i) a chance meeting;
             48          (ii) a social meeting; or
             49          (iii) the convening of a public body that has both legislative and executive
             50      responsibilities where no public funds are appropriated for expenditure during the time the
             51      public body is convened and:
             52          (A) the public body is convened solely for the discussion or implementation of
             53      administrative or operational matters for which no formal action by the public body is required;
             54      or
             55          (B) the public body is convened solely for the discussion or implementation of
             56      administrative or operational matters that would not come before the public body for
             57      discussion or action.
             58          (5) "Monitor" means to hear or observe, live, by audio or video equipment, all of the


             59      public statements of each member of the public body who is participating in a meeting.
             60          (6) "Participate" means the ability to communicate with all of the members of a public
             61      body, either verbally or electronically, so that each member of the public body can hear or
             62      observe the communication.
             63          (7) (a) "Public body" means any administrative, advisory, executive, or legislative body
             64      of the state or its political subdivisions that:
             65          (i) is created by the Utah Constitution, statute, rule, ordinance, or resolution;
             66          (ii) consists of two or more persons;
             67          (iii) expends, disburses, or is supported in whole or in part by tax revenue; and
             68          (iv) is vested with the authority to make decisions regarding the public's business.
             69          (b) "Public body" does not include a:
             70          (i) political party, political group, or political caucus; or
             71          (ii) conference committee, rules committee, or sifting committee of the Legislature.
             72          (8) "Public hearing" means a portion of a meeting in which comments from the public
             73      will be accepted.
             74          (9) "Public statement" means a statement made in the ordinary course of business of
             75      the public body with the intent that all other members of the public body receive it.
             76          (10) (a) "Quorum" means a simple majority of the membership of a public body, unless
             77      otherwise defined by applicable law.
             78          (b) "Quorum" does not include a meeting of two elected officials by themselves when
             79      no action, either formal or informal, is taken on a subject over which these elected officials
             80      have advisory power.
             81          (11) "Recording" means an audio, or an audio and video, record of the proceedings of a
             82      meeting that can be used to review the proceedings of the meeting.
             83          Section 2. Section 52-4-203 is amended to read:
             84           52-4-203. Minutes of open meetings -- Public records -- Recording of meetings.
             85          (1) Except as provided under Subsection [(7)] (8), written minutes and a recording
             86      shall be kept of all open meetings. [The minutes and a recording shall include:]
             87          (2) Written minutes of an open meeting shall include:
             88          (a) the date, time, and place of the meeting;
             89          (b) the names of members present and absent;


             90          (c) the substance of all matters proposed, discussed, or decided by the public body
             91      including a summary of comments made by members of the public body;
             92          (d) a record, by individual member, of [votes] each vote taken by the public body;
             93          (e) the name of each person who is not a member of the public body, and upon
             94      recognition by the presiding member of the public body, provided testimony [and] or
             95      comments to the public body;
             96          (f) the substance, in brief, of [their] the testimony or comments provided by each
             97      person named in Subsection (2)(e); and
             98          [(f)] (g) any other information that any member requests be entered in the minutes or
             99      recording.
             100          [(2)] (3) A recording of an open meeting shall:
             101          (a) be a complete and unedited record of all open portions of the meeting from the
             102      commencement of the meeting through adjournment of the meeting[.]; and
             103          (b) be properly labeled or identified with the date, time, and place of the meeting.
             104          [(3)] (4) (a) The minutes and recordings of an open meeting are public records and
             105      shall be available within a reasonable time after the meeting.
             106          (b) An open meeting record kept only by a recording must be converted to written
             107      minutes within a reasonable time upon request.
             108          [(4)] (5) All or any part of an open meeting may be independently recorded by any
             109      person in attendance if the recording does not interfere with the conduct of the meeting.
             110          [(5)] (6) Minutes or recordings of an open meeting that [is] are required to be retained
             111      permanently shall be maintained in or converted to a format that meets long-term records
             112      storage requirements.
             113          [(6)] (7) Written minutes and recordings of open meetings are public records under
             114      Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, but written minutes
             115      shall be the official record of action taken at the meeting.
             116          [(7)] (8) Either written minutes or a recording shall be kept of:
             117          (a) an open meeting that is a site visit or a traveling tour, if no vote or action is taken
             118      by the public body; and
             119          (b) an open meeting of an independent special district as defined under Title 17A,
             120      Special Districts, or a local district under Title 17B, Chapter 2, Local Districts, if the district's


             121      annual budgeted expenditures for all funds, excluding capital expenditures and debt service, are
             122      $50,000 or less.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-15-06 4:47 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


Interim Committee Note
    as of 12-12-06 10:24 AM


The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.


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