HB 1284-FN is a bill that clarifies the role of planning boards as quasi-judicial administrative agencies or bodies of local municipalities. It adds requirements for the duties, procedures, and disqualification of board members. The bill also specifies the composition of planning boards in different types of municipalities and establishes procedures for appointing or electing board members. Additionally, the bill requires planning boards to adopt and operate under a set of rules of procedure. The bill inserts new legal language into current law to clarify the responsibilities and procedures of planning board members. It requires board members to understand that they are engaging in a quasi-judicial board and that decisions are made by the majority of the board. The bill also allows for the recusal or disqualification of a specific board member upon request, and establishes a process for addressing these requests. The bill addresses conflict of interest disqualification for board members who have a direct interest in a parcel under development or have a work relationship with an applicant. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may result in costs associated with expanding the scope of bodies accepting sworn testimony and conducting investigations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 673:2