Bill Text - HB524 (2017)

(New Title) relative to the definition of "emergency" for purposes of a quorum under the right-to-know law.


Revision: Jan. 26, 2017, 3:35 p.m.

HB 524 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0723

01/10

 

HOUSE BILL 524

 

AN ACT relative to participation in meetings open to the public.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Hull, Graf. 9

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill declares that when a member of a public body participates in a meeting other than by attendance in person, such participation shall not count toward a quorum  of the membership.  This bill also repeals the exception to the requirement that a quorum be physically present at the location of the meeting as specified in the meeting notice.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0723

01/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to participation in meetings open to the public.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Right-to-Know Law; Meetings Open to the Public.  Amend RSA 91-A:2, III(a) to read as follows:

(a)  A member of the public body may participate in a meeting other than by attendance in person at the location of the meeting only when such attendance is not reasonably practical, provided that such participation shall not count toward a quorum of the membership.  Any reason that such attendance is not reasonably practical shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting.

2  Repeal.  RSA 91-A:2, III(b), relative to a quorum required to be physically present at meetings under the right-to-know law except in an emergency, is repealed.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.