| Chapter 098 |
| 2019 -- H 5355 Enacted 07/08/2019 |
| 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 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 42-46-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open |
| Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 42-46-2. Definitions. |
| As used in this chapter: |
| (1) "Meeting" means the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter |
| over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. As used |
| herein, the term "meeting" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, |
| so-called "workshop," "working," or "work" sessions. |
| (2) "Open call" means a public announcement by the chairperson of the committee that |
| the meeting is going to be held in executive session and the chairperson must indicate which |
| exception of § 42-46-5 is being involved. |
| (3) (5) "Public body" means any department, agency, commission, committee, board, |
| council, bureau, or authority, or any subdivision thereof, of state or municipal government or the |
| board of directors of any library that funded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its operational |
| budget in the prior budget year with public funds, and shall include all authorities defined in § 42- |
| 35-1(b) § 42-35-1. For purposes of this section, any political party, organization, or unit thereof |
| meeting or convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body; provided, however, |
| that no such meeting shall be used to circumvent the requirements of this chapter. |
| (4) (6) "Quorum,", unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means a simple majority |
| of the membership of a public body. |
| (5) (4) "Prevailing plaintiff" includes those persons and entities deemed "prevailing |
| parties" pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. |
| (6) (3) "Open forum" means the designated portion of an open meeting, if any, on a |
| properly posted notice reserved for citizens to address comments to a public body relating to |
| matters affecting the public business. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC001345 |
| ======== |