HF 4554

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2024 12:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government; modifying the open meeting law to allow unlimited
remote participation; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 13D.02,
subdivision 4; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 13D.02, subdivision
1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 13D.02, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Conditions.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end A meeting governed by section 13D.01, subdivisions 1,
2, 4, and 5, and this section may be conducted by interactive technology so long as:

(1) all members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical location,
can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and testimony presented
at any location at which at least one member is present;

(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can hear
and see all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body;

(3) at least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting location; new text begin
and
new text end

(4) all votes are conducted by roll call so each member's vote on each issue can be
identified and recorded deleted text begin ; and deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (5) each location at which a member of the body is present is open and accessible to the
public.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) A meeting satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a), although a member of the
public body participates from a location that is not open or accessible to the public, if the
member has not participated more than three times in a calendar year from a location that
is not open or accessible to the public, and:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) the member is serving in the military and is at a required drill, deployed, or on active
duty; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) the member has been advised by a health care professional against being in a public
place for personal or family medical reasons.
deleted text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 13D.02, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Notice of regular and all member locations.

If interactive technology is used
to conduct a regular, special, or emergency meeting, the public body shall provide notice
of the regular meeting location and deleted text begin notice of any location where a member of the public
body will deleted text end new text begin the fact that some members may new text end be participating in the meeting by interactive
technology deleted text begin , except for the locations of members participating pursuant to subdivision 1,
paragraph (b) deleted text end . The timing and method of providing notice must be as described in section
13D.04.