Engrossments
Introduction		Posted on 01/15/2021

Section 1.

new text begin [13D.013] PUBLIC COMMENT REQUIRED.
new text end

new text begin (a) At an open meeting of a public body subject to this chapter, the body must allow a
public comment period to permit members of the public to directly address the body on any
agenda item before or during the body's consideration of that item. A public body is not
required to allow public comment during any closed meeting.
new text end

new text begin (b) A public body may adopt reasonable rules and regulations regarding public comments,
including but not limited to regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public
comments on a particular issue or for each individual speaker. A public body may limit the
scope of public comments to the specific agenda item currently before the body.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13D.015, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Conditions.

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:

(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;

(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 testimonynew text begin or public
comment periodsnew text end ;

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

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

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13D.015, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Monitoring from remote site; costs.

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 locationnew text begin as well as participate in testimony
or public comment periodsnew text end . 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.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13D.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Conditions.

(a) A meeting governed by section 13D.01, subdivisions 1,
2, 4, and 5, and this section may be conducted by interactive television 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 bodynew text begin as well as
participate in testimony or public comment periodsnew text end ;

(3) at least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting location;

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

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

(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:

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

(2) the member has been advised by a health care professional against being in a public
place for personal or family medical reasons. This clause only applies when a state of
emergency has been declared under section 12.31, and expires 60 days after the removal of
the state of emergency.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13D.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Conditions.

A meeting governed by this section and section 13D.01,
subdivisions 1, 2, 4, and 5, may be conducted by telephone or other electronic means so
long as the following conditions are met:

(1) the presiding officer, chief legal counsel, or chief administrative officer for the
affected governing body determines that an in-person meeting or a meeting conducted under
section 13D.02 is not practical or prudent because of a health pandemic or an emergency
declared under chapter 12;

(2) all members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical location,
can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;

(3) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can hear
all discussion and testimony and all votes of the members of the bodynew text begin as well as participate
in testimony or public comment periodsnew text end , unless attendance at the regular meeting location
is not feasible due to the health pandemic or emergency declaration;

(4) at least one member of the body, chief legal counsel, or chief administrative officer
is physically present at the regular meeting location, unless unfeasible due to the health
pandemic or emergency declaration; and

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

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13D.021, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Monitoring from remote site; costs.

If telephone or another electronic means
is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, the body shall allow a person to monitor
the meeting electronically from a remote locationnew text begin and to participate in testimony or public
comment periodsnew text end . The body may require the person making a connection to pay for the
documented additional cost that the body incurs as a result of the additional connection.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 35.0661, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disastrous animal disease outbreaks; declaration of emergency.

(a)
If the board determines that a confirmed case of a disease in this state presents a substantial
and imminent threat to the state's domestic animal population, it shall certify the case to the
governor. After receiving certification from the board, the governor may declare an
emergency under this section for purposes of allowing the board to establish quarantine
zones of control to protect the health of domestic animals from animal diseases of potentially
disastrous proportions. The governor may declare an emergency under this section without
declaring a peacetime emergency under section 12.31. A declaration under this section may
specify that it applies to all or certain units of state or local government, must specify the
time period for which it applies, and must be filed with the secretary of state. This section
is in addition to and does not limit authority granted to the governor or local government
officials by chapter 12 or other law.

(b) The board may meet by electronic means without violating state open meeting laws
for the purpose of declaring that a confirmed case of a disease in this state presents a
substantial and imminent threat to the state's domestic animal population. If the board meets
by electronic means for this purpose, it shall comply with the emergency meeting notice
provisions of section 13D.04, subdivision 3, and, to the fullest extent possible, provide
public and media access to the meetingnew text begin , including the ability to participate in testimony or
public comment periodsnew text end .

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 41A.0235, is amended to read:

41A.0235 BOARD MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC
MEANS.

(a) If compliance with section 13D.02 is impractical, the Minnesota Agricultural and
Economic Development Board may conduct a meeting of its members by telephone or other
electronic means so long as the following conditions are met:

(1) all members of the board participating in the meeting, wherever their physical location,
can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;

(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the board cannew text begin :
new text end

new text begin (i)new text end hear clearly all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the boardnew text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (ii) participate in testimony or public comment periods;new text end anddeleted text begin ,
deleted text end

new text begin (iii)new text end if needed, receive those services required by sections 15.44 and 15.441;

(3) at least one member of the board is physically present at the regular meeting location;
and

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

(b) Each member of the board 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.

(c) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, the board, to the
extent practical, shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote
locationnew text begin and to participate in testimony or public comment periodsnew text end . The board may require
the person making such a connection to pay for documented marginal costs that the board
incurs as a result of the additional connection.

(d) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or
emergency meeting, the board shall provide notice of the regular meeting location, of the
fact that some members may participate by telephone or other electronic means, and of the
provisions of paragraph (c). The timing and method of providing notice is governed by
section 13D.04.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 41B.026, is amended to read:

41B.026 TELEPHONE OR ELECTRONIC MEETING.

(a) Notwithstanding section 13D.01, the Rural Finance Authority may conduct a meeting
of its members by telephone or other electronic means so long as the following conditions
are met:

(1) all members of the authority participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
location, can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;

(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the authority can
hear all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the authoritynew text begin as well as
participate in testimony or public comment periodsnew text end ;

(3) at least one member of the authority is physically present at the regular meeting
location; and

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

(b) Each member of the authority 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.

(c) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, the authority, to
the extent practical, shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote
locationnew text begin and to participate in testimony or public comment periodsnew text end . The authority may
require the person making such a connection to pay for documented marginal costs that the
authority incurs as a result of the additional connection.

(d) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or
emergency meeting, the authority shall provide notice of the regular meeting location, of
the fact that some members may participate by telephone or other electronic means, and of
the provisions of paragraph (c). The timing and method of providing notice is governed by
section 13D.04.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116L.03, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Board meetings.

(a) If compliance with section 13D.02 is impractical, the
Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board may conduct a meeting of its members by telephone
or other electronic means so long as the following conditions are met: