BILL NUMBER: S1689
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to providing press
access to open meetings of an agency or authority
 
PURPOSE:
This bill establishes open access by press at all public meetings of
agencies and authorities, requires that notice of such meetings be sent
to local governments, and that draft agendas for all public meetings
must be posted on agency websites no later than twenty-four hours before
meetings.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends section 102 of the public officers law by adding a new subdivi-
sion 4 to define professional journalist in line with definitions found
in New York's journalist shield laws. Adds a section 103-a to guarantee
press access to open meetings of agencies and authorities. Amends subdi-
visions 1 and 2 of section 104 of the public officers law to require
notice of public meetings be sent to local governments and that meetings
scheduled at least one week prior to happening be publicly posted at
least ninety-sex hours or four business days before such meeting, and
adds a new subdivision 7 requiring that draft meeting agendas be posted
to agency's websites no more than twenty-four hours before any scheduled
open meetings.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York Open Meetings Law is critical in ensuring that state
government is open and transparent to the public. It helps to guarantee
that public meetings of agencies and government bodies are conducted in
the open, with the public able to monitor and understand the conduct of
their state officials. To expand the accessibility of these meetings,
this legislation proposes three common sense amendments to the Open
Meetings Law.
First, it will establish in law the right of professional journalists to
attend duly constituted open meetings, except for executive sessions.
Second, it extends notice requirements for public meetings to four busi-
ness days or ninety-six hours and includes local governments among those
who must be notified of public meetings.
Third, it requires that agencies post a draft agenda to their website
for any scheduled open meetings, no more than twenty-four hours before a
meeting.
These three common sense reforms will greatly increase the ability of
the public to stay informed, provide input, and to know the subject of
meetings with enough notice to engage constructively in the state's
governing processes.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S.1253 (May)
2021-2022 - S.4419 (May)
2019-2020 - S.7379 (May)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1689: 102 public officers law