2019 -- H 5355

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LC001345

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPEN MEETINGS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Ajello, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-46-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open

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Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-46-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Meeting" means the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter

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over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. As used

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herein, the term "meeting" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

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so-called "workshop," "working," or "work" sessions.

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     (2) "Open call" means a public announcement by the chairperson of the committee that

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the meeting is going to be held in executive session and the chairperson must indicate which

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exception of § 42-46-5 is being involved.

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     (3) "Public body" means any department, agency, commission, committee, board,

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council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof of state or municipal government or the

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board of directors of any library that funded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its operational

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budget in the prior budget year with public funds, and shall include all authorities defined in § 42-

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35-1(b). For purposes of this section, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or

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convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body; provided, however, that no

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such meeting shall be used to circumvent the requirements of this chapter.

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     (4) "Quorum", unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means a simple majority of

 

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the membership of a public body.

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     (5) "Prevailing plaintiff" includes those persons and entities deemed "prevailing parties"

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pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.

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     (6) "Open forum" means the designated portion of an open meeting, if any, on a properly

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posted notice reserved for citizens to address comments to a public body relating to matters

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affecting the public business.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPEN MEETINGS

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     This act would amend the definition of "public body" to include the board of directors of

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any library which has funded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its operational budget in the

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prior budget year with public funds.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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