HB0183 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 03364 JAM 23368 b

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.

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 Section 7 as follows:

(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; or (iv) vacation. "Other means" is by video or audio conference. If a member attends a meeting by other means because the member is on vacation, then the member is not eligible to receive any pay or compensation based on that attendance.

(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 (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, 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.