95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0183


 
Introduced 1/19/2007, by Rep. Joe Dunn
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		














5 ILCS 120/7









    Amends the Open Meetings Act.  Adds "vacation" to the list of reasons why a public body, required to have a quorum physically present at its meeting, may permit a member in excess of the quorum to attend by other means than physical presence.  Provides that a member attending by other means due to vacation is not eligible to receive pay or compensation based on that attendance.  Effective immediately.
















LRB095 03364 JAM 23368 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0183

LRB095 03364 JAM 23368 b






1
    AN ACT concerning government.

 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3
represented in the General Assembly:


 
4
    Section 5. The Open Meetings Act is amended  by changing 
5
Section 7 as follows:
 
6
    (5 ILCS 120/7)

7
    Sec. 7. Attendance by a means other than physical presence.
8
    (a) If a
quorum of the members of the public body is 
9
physically present as required by Section 2.01, a majority of 
10
the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the 
11
meeting by other means if the member is prevented from 
12
physically
attending because of: (i) personal illness or 
13
disability; (ii) employment purposes or
the
business of the 
14
public body; or (iii) a family or other emergency; or (iv) 
15
vacation.
"Other means" is by video or audio conference. If a 
16
member attends a meeting by other means because the member is 
17
on vacation, then the member is not eligible to receive any pay 
18
or compensation based on that attendance.


19
    (b) If a member wishes to attend a meeting by other means, 
20
the
member must notify the
recording secretary or clerk of the

21
public body before the meeting unless
advance notice is 
22
impractical.

23
    (c) A majority of the public body may allow a member to 
 


 






HB0183
- 2 -
LRB095 03364 JAM 23368 b




1
attend a meeting by other means only in accordance with and to 
2
the extent allowed by rules adopted by the public body. The 
3
rules must conform to the requirements and restrictions of this 
4
Section, may further limit the extent to which attendance by 
5
other means is allowed, and may provide for the giving of 
6
additional notice to the public or further facilitate public 
7
access to meetings.

8
    (d) The limitations of this Section shall not apply to (i) 
9
closed meetings of public bodies with statewide jurisdiction or 
10
(ii) open or closed meetings of State advisory boards or bodies 
11
that do not have authority to make binding recommendations or 
12
determinations or to take any other substantive action. State 
13
advisory boards or bodies and public bodies with statewide 
14
jurisdiction, however, may permit members to attend meetings by 
15
other means only in accordance with and to the extent allowed 
16
by specific procedural rules adopted by the body.


17
(Source: P.A. 94-1058, eff. 1-1-07.)
 

18
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
19
becoming law.