The bill amends Section 42-46-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46, which pertains to "Open Meetings." A significant change introduced by this bill is that meetings concerning collective bargaining for public school teachers must be open to the public, overriding the previous exemption that allowed such meetings to be closed. This amendment aims to enhance transparency in the collective bargaining process for public school teachers across all school districts and committees.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions regarding the use of electronic communications in public meetings. It allows members of public bodies to participate remotely under certain conditions, such as when they are on active military duty or have a disability that prevents them from attending in person. The bill also specifies that the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees and the Rhode Island Life Science Hub Board of Directors can participate remotely in open public meetings, provided specific requirements are met to ensure transparency and accessibility. Overall, the bill seeks to improve public access to meetings and ensure that discussions about collective bargaining for teachers are conducted openly.

Statutes affected:
2319: 42-46-5