Minnesota Session Laws - 2006, Regular Session

CHAPTER 198--H.F.No. 3665

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

Presented to the governor May 8, 2006

Signed by the governor May 10, 2006, 9:55 a.m.