The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding public meetings by establishing specific requirements for conducting an open call to the public. Under the new provisions, if a public body decides to hold an open call, it must occur at the beginning of the meeting and prior to any official business. Additionally, if the open call exceeds thirty minutes, the public body has the option to continue it later in the meeting. The bill also mandates that if individuals are required to submit requests to speak, they must be allowed to do so until the open call concludes. Furthermore, if a meeting agenda only includes an open call, it cannot be scheduled adjacent to another meeting of the same body.

The bill clarifies that the requirements for open calls do not prevent public bodies from holding additional calls during the meeting. It also specifies that certain activities, such as prayers, pledges, or recognitions, do not count as official business. The bill includes technical changes and will take effect on the general effective date. Overall, these updates aim to enhance transparency and public participation in governmental proceedings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-431.01