Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                        H.638
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                                      H.638
 Introduced by Representative Andriano of Orwell
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: General provisions; common law; general rights; Open Meeting Law;
          Working Group on Asynchronous Open Meetings
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish the
 Working Group on Asynchronous Open Meetings to study and report on the
 technology and best practices available for public bodies to hold asynchronous
 electronic meetings.
    An act relating to the Working Group on Asynchronous Open Meetings
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. OPEN MEETING LAW; WORKING GROUP ON
         ASYNCHRONOUS OPEN MEETINGS; REPORT
    (a) Creation. There is created the Working Group on Asynchronous Open
 Meetings to study and report on the technology and best practices available for
 public bodies to hold asynchronous electronic meetings.
    (b) Membership. The Working Group shall be composed of the following
 members:
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                        H.638
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       (1) two current members of the House of Representatives, not all from
 the same political party, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House;
       (2) two current members of the Senate, not all from the same political
 party, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees;
       (3) the Secretary of State or designee;
       (4) the Attorney General or designee;
       (5) one member representing Vermont’s news media organizations,
 appointed by the Vermont Press Association; and
       (6) one member representing Vermont’s municipalities, appointed by
 the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
    (c) Powers and duties. The Working Group shall study the feasibility of
 asynchronous electronic meetings, including the following issues:
       (1) the current technology and platforms available for public bodies to
 hold asynchronous open meetings;
       (2) whether the public will have sufficient access to and notice of the
 deliberative meetings of public bodies who choose to use an asynchronous
 electronic meeting platform;
       (3) the resources available to enable the public to access asynchronous
 electronic meetings;
       (4) whether asynchronous open meetings are currently used in other
 jurisdictions and whether the public bodies in those jurisdictions have VT LEG #373127 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                        H.638
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 experienced an increase in the attendance of members and engagement of the
 public;
       (5) the best practices, procedures, and guidance available to public
 bodies that use asynchronous electronic meeting platforms to conduct open
 meetings; and
       (6) the estimated costs of asynchronous electronic meeting platforms
 and any information technology equipment and systems necessary for
 operating those platforms.
    (d) Assistance. The Working Group shall have the legal assistance of the
 Office of the Secretary of State. For purposes of scheduling meetings, the
 Working Group shall have the assistance of the Office of Legislative
 Operations.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15, 2025, the Working Group shall
 submit a written report to the House Committee on Government Operations
 and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations
 with its findings and any recommendations for legislative action.
    (f) Meetings.
       (1) The Secretary of State or designee shall call the first meeting of the
 Working Group to occur on or before September 1, 2024.
       (2) The Committee shall select a chair from among its members at the
 first meeting.
                                                                       VT LEG #373127 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.638
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       (3) Four members of the Working Group shall constitute a quorum.
       (4) The Working Group shall cease to exist on January 15, 2025, or the
 date on which the final report is submitted, whichever occurs first.
    (g) Compensation and reimbursement.
       (1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General
 Assembly, a legislative member of the Working Group shall be entitled to per
 diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23
 for not more than six meetings. These payments shall be made from monies
 appropriated to the General Assembly.
       (2) Other members of the Working Group shall be entitled to per diem
 compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A.
 § 1010 for not more than six meetings. These payments shall be made from
 monies appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of State.
    (h) Appropriation. The sum of $2,700.00 is appropriated to the Secretary
 of State from the General Fund in fiscal year 2025 for per diem compensation
 and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Working Group.
 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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