1 Meetings Open to Public; County Delegation Meetings; Option to Participate Remotely Required. Amend the introductory paragraph RSA 91-A:2, III to read as follows:

III. A public body may, but is not required to, allow one or more members of the body to participate in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication for the benefit of the public and the governing body, subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

2 New Paragraph; County Commissioner and Delegation Meetings; Option to Participate Remotely Required. Amend RSA 91-A:2-c by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

IV. All county commission and delegation meetings shall allow one or more members of the county commission or delegation to participate in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication for the benefit of the public and the county commission or delegation, subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

(a) A member of the county commission or delegation 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. Any reason that such attendance is not reasonably practical shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting.

(b) Except in an emergency, a quorum of the county commission or county delegation shall be physically present at the location specified in the meeting notice as the location of the meeting. For purposes of this subparagraph, an "emergency" means that immediate action is imperative and the physical presence of a quorum is not reasonably practical within the period of time requiring action. The determination that an emergency exists shall be made by the chairman or presiding officer of the county commission or delegation, and the facts upon which that determination is based shall be included in the minutes of the meeting.

(c) Each part of a meeting required to be open to the public shall be audible or otherwise discernable to the public at the location specified in the meeting notice as the location of the meeting. Each member participating electronically or otherwise must be able to simultaneously hear each other and speak to each other during the meeting, and shall be audible or otherwise discernable to the public in attendance at the meeting's location. Any member participating in such fashion shall identify the persons present in the location from which the member is participating. No meeting shall be conducted by electronic mail or any other form of communication that does not permit the public to hear, read, or otherwise discern meeting discussion contemporaneously at the meeting location specified in the meeting notice.

(d) Any meeting held pursuant to the terms of this paragraph shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter relating to public meetings, and shall not circumvent the spirit and purpose of this chapter as expressed in RSA 91-A:1.

(e) A member participating in a meeting by the means described in this paragraph is deemed to be present at the meeting for purposes of voting. All votes taken during such a meeting shall be by roll call vote.

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

1 Meetings Open to Public; County Delegation Meetings; Option to Participate Remotely Required. Amend the introductory paragraph RSA 91-A:2, III to read as follows:

III. With the exception ofRSA 91-A:2-c, IV, A a public body may, but is not required to, allow one or more members of the body to participate in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication for the benefit of the public and the governing body, subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

2 New Paragraph; County Commissioner and Delegation Meetings; Option to Participate Remotely Required. Amend RSA 91-A:2-c by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

IV. All county commission and delegation meetings shall allow one or more members of the county commission or delegation to participate in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication for the benefit of the public and the county commission or delegation, subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

(a) A member of the county commission or delegation 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. Any reason that such attendance is not reasonably practical shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting.

(b) Except in an emergency, a quorum of the county commission or county delegation shall be physically present at the location specified in the meeting notice as the location of the meeting. For purposes of this subparagraph, an "emergency" means that immediate action is imperative and the physical presence of a quorum is not reasonably practical within the period of time requiring action. The determination that an emergency exists shall be made by the chairman or presiding officer of the county commission or delegation, and the facts upon which that determination is based shall be included in the minutes of the meeting.

(c) Each part of a meeting required to be open to the public shall be audible or otherwise discernable to the public at the location specified in the meeting notice as the location of the meeting. Each member participating electronically or otherwise must be able to simultaneously hear each other and speak to each other during the meeting, and shall be audible or otherwise discernable to the public in attendance at the meeting's location. Any member participating in such fashion shall identify the persons present in the location from which the member is participating. No meeting shall be conducted by electronic mail or any other form of communication that does not permit the public to hear, read, or otherwise discern meeting discussion contemporaneously at the meeting location specified in the meeting notice.

(d) Any meeting held pursuant to the terms of this paragraph shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter relating to public meetings, and shall not circumvent the spirit and purpose of this chapter as expressed in RSA 91-A:1.

(e) A member participating in a meeting by the means described in this paragraph is deemed to be present at the meeting for purposes of voting. All votes taken during such a meeting shall be by roll call vote.

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