This bill amends existing law to require that county commission and delegation meetings, which are open to the public, allow for remote participation by members when in-person attendance is not reasonably practical. The introductory paragraph of RSA 91-A:2, III is modified to include an exception for RSA 91-A:2-c, IV, which mandates that all county commission and delegation meetings must permit electronic participation. The bill specifies that any reasons for not attending in person must be documented in the meeting minutes, and it establishes that a quorum must be physically present unless an emergency situation arises, as determined by the chairman or presiding officer.

Additionally, the bill outlines requirements for remote participation, ensuring that all members can hear and speak to one another, and that the public can also hear the discussions. It prohibits meetings from being conducted via electronic mail or other means that do not allow for real-time public access to the discussions. Members participating remotely are considered present for voting purposes, and all votes must be conducted by roll call. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 91-A:2-c
HB1518 text: 91-A:2-c