HF 456

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:37am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; allowing state agencies to conduct meetings by
telephone or by electronic means; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 13D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [13D.015] MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC
MEANS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin This section applies to:
new text end

new text begin (1) a state agency, board, commission, or department, and a statewide public pension
plan defined in section 356A.01, subdivision 24; and
new text end

new text begin (2) a committee, subcommittee, board, department, or commission of an entity
listed in clause (1).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Conditions. new text end

new text begin An entity listed in subdivision 1 may conduct a meeting
governed by this section and section 13D.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, and 5, by telephone or
other electronic means so long as the following conditions are met:
new text end

new text begin (1) all members of the entity participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
location, can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;
new text end

new text begin (2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the entity can
hear all discussion and all votes of members of the entity and participate in testimony;
new text end

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

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

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Quorum; participation. new text end

new text begin Each member of the entity participating in a
meeting by telephone or other electronic means is considered present at the meeting for
purposes of determining a quorum and participating in all proceedings.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Monitoring from remote site; costs. new text end

new text begin If telephone or another electronic
means is used to conduct a meeting, the entity, to the extent practical, shall allow a person
to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location. The entity may require the
person making a connection to pay for documented marginal costs that the entity incurs
as a result of the additional connection.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin If telephone or another electronic means is used to conduct a
regular, special, or emergency meeting, the entity shall provide notice of the regular
meeting location, of the fact that some members may participate by electronic means, and
of the provisions of subdivision 4. The timing and method of providing notice is governed
by section 13D.04.
new text end