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LC000733

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Bennett, Kennedy, Craven, McNamara, Spears,
and Carson

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-46-5 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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     42-46-5. Purposes for which meeting may be closed — Use of electronic

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communications — Judicial proceedings — Disruptive conduct.

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     (a) A public body may hold a meeting closed to the public pursuant to § 42-46-4 for one

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or more of the following purposes:

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     (1) Any discussions of the job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a

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person or persons provided that the person or persons affected shall have been notified in advance

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in writing and advised that they may require that the discussion be held at an open meeting.

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     Failure to provide notification shall render any action taken against the person or persons

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affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the public

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body shall state for the record that any persons to be discussed have been so notified and this

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statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

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     (2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to

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collective bargaining or litigation.

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     (3) Discussion regarding the matter of security including, but not limited to, the deployment

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of security personnel or devices.

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     (4) Any investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct, either civil or

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criminal.

 

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     (5) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for

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public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public

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information would be detrimental to the interest of the public.

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     (6) Any discussions related to or concerning a prospective business or industry locating in

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the state of Rhode Island when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the interest of

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the public.

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     (7) A matter related to the question of the investment of public funds where the premature

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disclosure would adversely affect the public interest. Public funds shall include any investment

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plan or matter related thereto, including, but not limited to, state lottery plans for new promotions.

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     (8) Any executive sessions of a local school committee exclusively for the purposes: (i) Of

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conducting student disciplinary hearings; or (ii) Of reviewing other matters that relate to the privacy

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of students and their records, including all hearings of the various juvenile hearing boards of any

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municipality; provided, however, that any affected student shall have been notified in advance in

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writing and advised that he or she may require that the discussion be held in an open meeting.

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     Failure to provide notification shall render any action taken against the student or students

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affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the public

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body shall state for the record that any students to be discussed have been so notified and this

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statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

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     (9) Any hearings on, or discussions of, a grievance filed pursuant to a collective bargaining

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agreement.

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     (10) Any discussion of the personal finances of a prospective donor to a library.

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     (b) No meeting of members of a public body or use of electronic communication, including

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telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be used to circumvent the spirit or

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requirements of this chapter; provided, however, these meetings and discussions are not prohibited.

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     (1) Provided, further however, that discussions of a public body via electronic

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communication, including telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be

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permitted only to schedule a meeting, except as provided in this subsection.

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     (2) Provided, further however, that a member of a public body may participate by use of

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electronic communication or telephone communication while on active duty in the armed services

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of the United States.

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     (3) Provided, further however, that a member of a public body who is age sixty-five (65)

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or over may participate by use of electronic communication or telephone communication.

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     (3)(4) Provided, further however, that a member of that public body, who has a disability

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as defined in chapter 87 of this title and:

 

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     (i) Cannot attend meetings of that public body solely by reason of the member’s disability;

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and

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     (ii) Cannot otherwise participate in the meeting without the use of electronic

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communication or telephone communication as reasonable accommodation, may participate by use

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of electronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the process below.

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     (4)(5) The governor’s commission on disabilities is authorized and directed to:

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     (i) Establish rules and regulations for determining whether a member of a public body is

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not otherwise able to participate in meetings of that public body without the use of electronic

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communication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodation due to that member’s

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disability;

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     (ii) Grant a waiver that allows a member to participate by electronic communication or

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telephone communication only if the member’s disability would prevent the member from being

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physically present at the meeting location, and the use of such communication is the only

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reasonable accommodation; and

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     (iii) Any waiver decisions shall be a matter of public record.

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     (5)(6) The university of Rhode Island board of trustees members, established pursuant to

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§ 16-32-2, are authorized to participate remotely in open public meetings of the board; provided,

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however, that:

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     (i) The remote members and all persons present at the meeting location are clearly audible

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and visible to each other;

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     (ii) A quorum of the body is participating;

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     (iii) If videoconferencing is used to conduct a meeting, the public notice for the meeting

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shall inform the public that videoconferencing will be used and include instructions on how the

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public can access the virtual meeting; and

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     (iv) The board shall adopt rules defining the requirements of remote participation including

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its use for executive session, and the conditions by which a member is authorized to participate

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remotely.

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     (c) This chapter shall not apply to proceedings of the judicial branch of state government

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or probate court or municipal court proceedings in any city or town.

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     (d) This chapter shall not prohibit the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a

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meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised.

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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 permit all members of a public body who are aged sixty-five (65) years or

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over to participate in public meeting by telephone or electronic communication.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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