HB0793 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 04548 JAM 14603 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0793

Introduced 2/9/2009, by Rep. Dave Winters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 120/2.01	from Ch. 102, par. 42.01
5 ILCS 120/7

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Permits a public body with statewide jurisdiction or with jurisdiction over more than 4,500 square miles to include members participating in a video or audio conference at specified locations when determining the physical presence of a quorum at an open meeting (now, a public body with statewide jurisdiction may include members participating in a video conference at specified locations when determining the physical presence of a quorum at an open meeting). Provides that the requirement that members of a public body with less than statewide jurisdiction be physically present at a closed meeting is limited to public bodies with jurisdiction over 4,500 or fewer square miles. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 5. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing Sections 2.01 and 7 as follows:

(5 ILCS 120/2.01) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.01)

Sec. 2.01. All meetings required by this Act to be public shall be held at specified times and places which are convenient and open to the public. No meeting required by this Act to be public shall be held on a legal holiday unless the regular meeting day falls on that holiday.

A quorum of members of a public body must be physically present at the location of an open meeting. If, however, an open meeting of a public body (except one with jurisdiction limited to a specific geographic area that is 4,500 or fewer square miles less than statewide) is held simultaneously at one of its offices and one or more other locations in a public building, which may include other of its offices, through an interactive video or audio conference and the public body provides public notice and public access as required under this Act for all locations, then members physically present in those locations all count towards determining a quorum. "Public building", as used in this Section, means any building or portion thereof owned or leased by any public body. The requirement that a quorum be physically present at the location of an open meeting shall not apply, however, to State advisory boards or bodies that do not have authority to make binding recommendations or determinations or to take any other substantive action.

A quorum of members of a public body that is not a public body with statewide jurisdiction or with jurisdiction over a specific geographic area of more than 4,500 square miles must be physically present at the location of a closed meeting. Other members who are not physically present at a closed meeting of such a public body may participate in the meeting by means of a video or audio conference.

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

(5 ILCS 120/7)

Sec. 7. Attendance by a means other than physical presence.

(a) If a quorum of the members of the public body is physically present as required by Section 2.01, a majority of the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the meeting by other means if the member is prevented from physically attending because of: (i) personal illness or disability; (ii) employment purposes or the business of the public body; or (iii) a family or other emergency. "Other means" is by video or audio conference.

(b) If a member wishes to attend a meeting by other means, the member must notify the recording secretary or clerk of the public body before the meeting unless advance notice is impractical.

(c) A majority of the public body may allow a member to attend a meeting by other means only in accordance with and to the extent allowed by rules adopted by the public body. The rules must conform to the requirements and restrictions of this Section, may further limit the extent to which attendance by other means is allowed, and may provide for the giving of additional notice to the public or further facilitate public access to meetings.

(d) The limitations of this Section shall not apply to (i) closed meetings of public bodies with statewide jurisdiction or with jurisdiction over a specific geographic area of more than 4,500 square miles or (ii) open or closed meetings of State advisory boards or bodies that do not have authority to make binding recommendations or determinations or to take any other substantive action. State advisory boards or bodies and public bodies with statewide jurisdiction or with jurisdiction over a specific geographic area of more than 4,500 square miles, however, may permit members to attend meetings by other means only in accordance with and to the extent allowed by specific procedural rules adopted by the body.

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

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