| Chapter 217 |
| 2021 -- H 6433 Enacted 07/10/2021 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS |
Introduced By: Representatives Cardillo, Marszalkowski, Hawkins, and Casey |
| Date Introduced: June 16, 2021 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 42-46-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open |
| Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 42-46-7. Minutes. |
| (a) All public bodies shall keep written minutes of all their meetings. The minutes shall |
| include, but need not be limited to: |
| (1) The date, time, and place of the meeting; |
| (2) The members of the public body recorded as either present or absent; |
| (3) A record by individual members of any vote taken; and |
| (4) Any other information relevant to the business of the public body that any member of |
| the public body requests be included or reflected in the minutes. |
| (b) (1) A record of all votes taken at all meetings of public bodies, listing how each member |
| voted on each issue, shall be a public record and shall be available to the public at the office of the |
| public body within two (2) weeks of the date of the vote. The minutes shall be public records and |
| unofficial minutes shall be available to the public at the office of the public body within thirty-five |
| (35) days of the meeting or at the next regularly scheduled meeting, whichever is earlier, except |
| where the disclosure would be inconsistent with §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 or where the public body |
| by majority vote extends the time period for the filing of the minutes and publicly states the reason. |
| (2) In addition to the provisions of subsection (b)(1), all volunteer fire companies, |
| associations, fire district companies, or any other organization currently engaged in the mission of |
| extinguishing fires and preventing fire hazards, whether it is incorporated or not, and whether it is |
| a paid department or not, shall post unofficial minutes of their meetings within twenty-one (21) |
| days of the meeting, but not later than seven (7) days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, |
| whichever is earlier, on the secretary of state's website. Except for discussions related to finances, |
| the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a volunteer fire company if the matters of the |
| volunteer fire company are under the supervision, control, or jurisdiction of another public body. |
| (c) The minutes of a closed session shall be made available at the next regularly scheduled |
| meeting unless the majority of the body votes to keep the minutes closed pursuant to §§ 42-46-4 |
| and 42-46-5. |
| (d) All public bodies shall keep official and/or approved minutes of all meetings of the |
| body and shall file a copy of the minutes of all open meetings with the secretary of state for |
| inspection by the public within thirty-five (35) days of the meeting; provided that this subsection |
| shall not apply to public bodies whose responsibilities are solely advisory in nature. |
| (e) All minutes and unofficial minutes required by this section to be filed with the secretary |
| of state shall be electronically transmitted to the secretary of state in accordance with rules and |
| regulations that shall be promulgated by the secretary of state. If a public body fails to transmit |
| minutes or unofficial minutes in accordance with this subsection, then any aggrieved person may |
| file a complaint with the attorney general in accordance with § 42-46-8. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC003015 |
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