SF 3096

2nd Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to the Minnesota Veterans Homes Board; authorizing the board to
conduct certain meetings by telephone or other electronic means; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 198.003, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 198.003, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Meetings by telephone or other electronic means. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding
sections 13D.01 and 13D.02 of the Open Meeting Law, the Minnesota Veterans Homes
Board of Directors may conduct a meeting of its members 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 board 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 board can
hear all discussion and testimony and all votes of the members of the board;
new text end

new text begin (3) at least one member of the board, the executive director, or an attorney for the
agency 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 (b) Each member of the board participating in a meeting by 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 (c) If telephone or another electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, to the
extent practical, the board shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from
a remote location. The board may require the person making a connection to pay for the
documented additional cost that the board incurs as a result of the additional connection.
new text end

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

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end