2021 -- S 0543

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LC002294

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPEN MEETINGS

     Introduced By: Senator Michael J. McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-46-1, 42-46-2, 42-46-4, 42-46-5, 42-46-6, 42-46-7, 42-46-8, 42-

46-11 and 42-46-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open Meetings" are hereby

amended to read as follows:

     42-46-1. Public policy.

     It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed

in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance of

public officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.

Advances in technology should be used to allow and enable the public increased opportunities to

observe the performance and deliberations of their public officials as well as provide greater access

to material used in the course of the making of public policy.

     42-46-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Ceremonial speech or comment" means any comment or speech made by a member

of a public body meant to express thanks, condolences, or other expressions of good will,

fellowship, or fraternity.

     (2) "Joint meeting" means the convening of two (2) or more public bodies to discuss or act

upon a matter over which the public bodies have supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory

power. As used herein, the term "meeting" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of

the foregoing, so-called "workshop," "working," "work sessions", "or retreats."

     (1)(3) "Meeting" means the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter

over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. As used

herein, the term "meeting" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so-

called "workshop," "working," or "work" sessions "or retreats".

     (2)(4) "Open call" means a public announcement by the chairperson of the committee that

the meeting is going to be held in executive closed session and the chairperson must indicate which

exception of § 42-46-5 is being involved.

     (3)(5) "Open forum" means the designated portion of an open meeting, if any, on a properly

posted notice reserved for citizens to address comments to a public body relating to matters

affecting the public business.

     (4) "Prevailing plaintiff" includes those persons and entities deemed "prevailing parties"

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.

     (5)(6) "Public body" means any department, agency, commission, committee, board,

council, bureau, or authority, or any subdivision thereof, of state or municipal government or the

board of directors of any library that funded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its operational

budget in the prior budget year with public funds, and shall include all authorities defined in § 42-

35-1. As used herein, the term "public body" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of

the foregoing, so-called "advisory panels," "review panels," "review committees," or "task forces."

For purposes of this section, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening

is not and should not be considered to be a public body; provided, however, that no such meeting

shall be used to circumvent the requirements of this chapter.

     (6)(7) "Quorum," unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means a simple majority of

the membership of a public body. For purposes of this section, ex officio nonvoting members, and

members of a public body who have recused themselves pursuant to §§ 36-14-5 and 36-14-6 shall

not be included in calculating whether a public body meets a quorum.

     (8) "Recordation" means the recording of the sound or video of an open meeting by use of

any electronic device designed to capture audio, photographs, or video of the public body.

     (9) "Rolling quorum" means any series of gatherings of members of a public body at which:

     (i) Less than a quorum is present, whether in person or by means of electronic

communication, at any individual gathering;

     (ii) The members of the public body attending one or more of the gatherings collectively

constitute a quorum; and

     (iii) The series of gatherings was held to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public

body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.

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     42-46-4. Closed meetings.

     (a) By open call, a public body may hold a meeting closed to the public upon an affirmative

vote of the majority of its members. A meeting closed to the public shall be limited to matters

allowed to be exempted from discussion at open meetings by § 42-46-5. The vote of each member

on the question of holding a meeting closed to the public and the reason for holding a closed

meeting, by a citation to a subdivision of § 42-46-5(a), and a statement specifying the nature of the

business to be discussed, shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the meeting.

     (b) No public body shall discuss in closed session any public matter which does not fall

within the citations to § 42-46-5(a) referred to by the public body in voting to close the meeting,

even if these discussions could otherwise be closed to the public under this chapter.

     (b)(c) All votes taken in closed sessions shall be disclosed once the session is reopened;

provided, however, a the specific vote taken in a closed session need not be disclosed for the period

of time during which its disclosure would jeopardize any strategy, negotiation or investigation

undertaken pursuant to discussions conducted under § 42-46-5(a); and provided, further, however,

the public body must disclose that a vote did occur. The subject and results from a vote not disclosed

at a meeting shall be disclosed at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the public body unless

the public body takes a vote in a properly noticed closed session pursuant to § 42-46-5 affirming

that disclosure of the vote would continue to jeopardize a strategy, negotiation or investigation

exempt from disclosure under § 42-46-5(a) and announces in public that such a vote was taken.

     42-46-5. Purposes for which meeting may be closed -- Use of electronic

communications -- Judicial proceedings -- Disruptive conduct. Purposes for which meeting

may be closed.

     (a) A public body may hold a meeting closed to the public pursuant to § 42-46-4 for one

or more of the following purposes:

     (1) Any discussions of the job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a

person or persons provided that such person or persons affected shall have been notified in advance

in writing and advised that they may require that the discussion be held at an open meeting.

     Failure to provide such notification shall render any action taken against the person or

persons affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the

public body shall state for the record that any the affected persons to be discussed have been so

notified and this statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

     (2) Meetings or work Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work

sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation; provided, however, a public body may not

enter closed session for purposes of discussion with a representative for a group of employees.

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     (3) Meetings to discuss actual or imminent litigation. For purposes of this section, a public

body may only enter closed session for matters of actual or threatened in writing, litigation

concerning the public body or persons employed by the public body. Mere presence of the public

body's legal counsel does not satisfy the requirements for a closed session. In citing to this

subsection, the public body shall list the case caption, the case number, and court or administration

agency where the matter is being litigated if litigation has been filed in court or an administrative

agency.

     (3)(4) Discussion regarding the matter of security including, but not limited to, the

deployment of security personnel or devices.

     (4)(5) Any investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct, either civil or

criminal.

     (5)(6) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property

for public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public

information would be detrimental to the interest of the public.

     (6)(7) Any discussions related to or concerning a prospective business or industry locating

in the state of Rhode Island when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the interest

of the public.

     (7)(8) A matter related to the question of the investment of public funds where the

premature disclosure would adversely affect the public interest. Public funds shall include any

investment plan or matter related thereto, including, but not limited to, state lottery plans for new

promotions.

     (8)(9) Any executive sessions of a local school committee exclusively for the purposes: (i)

of conducting student disciplinary hearings; or (ii) of reviewing other matters which relate to the

privacy of students and their records, including all hearings of the various juvenile hearing boards

of any municipality; provided, however, that any affected student shall have been notified in

advance in writing and advised that he or she may require that the discussion be held in an open

meeting.

     Failure to provide such notification shall render any action taken against the student or

students affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the

public body shall state for the record that any students to be discussed have been so notified and

this statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

     (9)(10) Any hearings on, or discussions of, a grievance filed pursuant to a collective

bargaining agreement.

     (10)(11) Any discussion of the personal finances of a prospective donor to a library.

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     (b) No meeting of members of a public body or use of electronic communication, including

telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be used to circumvent the spirit or

requirements of this chapter; provided, however, these meetings and discussions are not prohibited.

     (1) Provided, further however, that discussions of a public body via electronic

communication, including telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be

permitted only to schedule a meeting.

     (2) Provided, further however, that a member of a public body may participate by use of

electronic communication or telephone communication while on active duty in the armed services

of the United States.

     (3) Provided, further however, that a member of that public body, who has a disability as

defined in chapter 87 of title 42 and:

     (i) Cannot attend meetings of that public body solely by reason of his or her disability; and

     (ii) Cannot otherwise participate in the meeting without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as reasonable accommodation, may participate by use

of electronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the process below.

     (4) The governor's commission on disabilities is authorized and directed to:

     (i) Establish rules and regulations for determining whether a member of a public body is

not otherwise able to participate in meetings of that public body without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodation due to that member's

disability;

     (ii) Grant a waiver that allows a member to participate by electronic communication or

telephone communication only if the member's disability would prevent him/her from being

physically present at the meeting location, and the use of such communication is the only

reasonable accommodation; and

     (iii) Any waiver decisions shall be a matter of public record.

     (c) This chapter shall not apply to proceedings of the judicial branch of state government

or probate court or municipal court proceedings in any city or town.

     (d) This chapter shall not prohibit the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a

meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised.

     42-46-6. Notice.

     (a) All public bodies shall give written notice of their regularly scheduled meetings at the

beginning of each calendar year. The notice shall include the dates, times, and places of the

meetings and shall be provided to members of the public upon request and to the secretary of state

at the beginning of each calendar year in accordance with subsection (f). If the dates, times, or

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places of the regularly scheduled meetings are changed during the calendar year, the public body

shall update the written notice and refile them with the secretary of state in accordance with

subsection (f) of this section.

     (b) Public bodies shall give supplemental written public notice of any meeting within a

minimum of forty-eight (48) hours, excluding weekends and state holidays in the count of hours,

before the date of the hearing. This supplemental notice shall include the date the notice was posted;

the date, time, and place of the meeting; and a statement specifying the nature of the business to be

discussed. Copies of the supplemental notice shall be maintained by the public body for a minimum

of one year in a format that allows for their physical retrieval. Nothing contained herein shall

prevent a public body, other than a school committee, from adding additional items to the agenda

by majority vote of the members. School committees may, however, add items for informational

purposes only, pursuant to a request, submitted in writing, by a member of the public during the

public comment session of the school committee's meetings. Said informational items may not be

voted upon unless they have been posted in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such

additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where

necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public

or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official. Nothing contained

herein shall prevent a public body from adding additional items to the agenda by majority vote of

the members; provided, however, such items shall not be used to circumvent the notice requirement

of this subsection. Such additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be

voted on except when necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate

action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or

official.

     (c) Written public notice shall include, but need not be limited to, posting a copy of the

supplemental notice at the principal office of the public body holding the meeting, or if no principal

office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be held, and in at least one other prominent

place within the governmental unit, and electronic filing of the supplemental notice with the

secretary of state pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, and making a copy available on the

public body's website if a website is maintained.; however, nothing contained herein shall prevent

a public body from holding an emergency meeting, upon an affirmative vote of the majority of the

members of the body when the meeting is deemed necessary to address an unexpected occurrence

that requires immediate action to protect the public. If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting

notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and shall be electronically filed with the

secretary of state pursuant to subsection (f) and, upon meeting, the public body shall state for the

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record and minutes why the matter must be addressed in less than forty-eight (48) hours in

accordance with subsection (b) of this section and only discuss the issue or issues that created the

need for an emergency meeting. Nothing contained herein shall be used in the circumvention of the

spirit and requirements of this chapter.

     (d) Nothing within this chapter shall prohibit any public body, or the members thereof,

from responding to comments initiated by a member of the public during a properly noticed open

forum even if the subject matter of a citizen's comments or discussions were not previously posted,

provided such matters shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except

where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the

public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official. Nothing

contained in this chapter requires any public body to hold an open-forum session to entertain or

respond to any topic nor does it prohibit any public body from limiting comment on any topic at

such an open-forum session. No public body, or the members thereof, may use this section to

circumvent the spirit or requirements of this chapter.

     (d) Beginning January 1, 2022, all public bodies shall post their electronic filing with the

secretary of state containing all public documents to be discussed at the noticed meeting.

     (e) A public body may be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) for

each document found to be in noncompliance with this section.

     (e) A school committee may add agenda items not appearing in the published notice

required by this section under the following conditions:

     (1) The revised agenda is electronically filed with the secretary of state pursuant to

subsection (f), and is posted on the school district's website and the two (2) public locations required

by this section at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting in accordance with

subsection (b) of this section;

     (2) The new agenda items were unexpected and could not have been added in time for

newspaper publication;

     (3) Upon meeting, the public body states for the record and minutes why the agenda items

could not have been added in time for newspaper publication and need to be addressed at the

meeting;

     (4) A formal process is available to provide timely notice of the revised agenda to any

person who has requested that notice, and the school district has taken reasonable steps to make the

public aware of this process; and

     (5) The published notice shall include a statement that any changes in the agenda will be

posted on the school district's website and the two (2) public locations required by this section and

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will be electronically filed with the secretary of state at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of

the meeting in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

     (f) All notices 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. This requirement of the electronic transmission and filing

of notices with the secretary of state shall take effect one year after this subsection takes effect.

     (g) If a public body fails to transmit notices in accordance with this section, then any

aggrieved person may file a complaint with the attorney general in accordance with § 42-46-8.

     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) A summary of the discussions on each subject, and a list of documents and exhibits

used at the meeting;

     (4)(5) 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.; and

     (6) Note where recording is publicly available.

     (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 posted electronically online on a public

body’s website, the secretary of state’s website, and made available to the public at the office of

the public body within two (2) weeks seven (7) days 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) twenty-one (21) days of the meeting or at but no later than five (5) days prior

to 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.

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     (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. At the end of each calendar year, a public body shall make all minutes closed during

the present calendar year available pursuant to this section unless the public body takes a vote in a

properly noticed closed session pursuant to § 42-46-5 and affirms in open session that the minutes

can remain subject to closure pursuant to § 42-64-4(c).

     (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, or within five (5) days of the

next scheduled meeting, whichever is earlier, and made available on the public body's website if a

website exists; 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.

     (f) A public body may be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) for

each document found to be in noncompliance with this section.

     42-46-8. Remedies available to aggrieved persons or entities.

     (a) Any citizen or entity of the state who is aggrieved as a result of violations of the

provisions of this chapter may file a complaint with the attorney general. The attorney general shall

investigate the complaint and if the attorney general determines that the allegations of the complaint

are meritorious he or she the attorney general may file a complaint on behalf of the complainant in

the superior court against the public body. The presence or absence of a person or entity at a meeting

of a public body shall not disqualify the person or entity from seeking remedies available under

this chapter.

     (b) No complaint may be filed by the attorney general after one hundred eighty (180) three

hundred sixty-five (365) days from the date of public approval of the minutes of the meeting at

which the alleged violation occurred, or, in the case of an unannounced or improperly closed

meeting, after one hundred eighty (180) three hundred sixty-five (365) days from the public action

of a public body revealing the alleged violation, whichever is greater.

     (c) Nothing within this section shall prohibit any individual from retaining private counsel

for the purpose of filing a complaint in the superior court within the time specified by this section

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against the public body which has allegedly violated the provisions of this chapter; provided,

however, that if the individual has first filed a complaint with the attorney general pursuant to this

section, and the attorney general declines to take legal action, the individual may file suit in superior

court within ninety (90) days of the attorney general's closing of the complaint or within one

hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged violation, whichever occurs later.

     (d) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff, other

than the attorney general, except where special circumstances would render such an award unjust.

The court may issue injunctive relief and declare null and void any actions of a public body found

to be in violation of this chapter. In addition, the court may impose a civil fine not exceeding five

thousand dollars ($5,000) against a public body or any of its members found to have committed a

willful or knowing violation of this chapter and a civil fine not to exceed one thousand dollars

($1,000) against a public body found to have recklessly violated this chapter. A judgment in the

plaintiff's favor shall not be a prerequisite to obtaining an award of attorneys' fees or costs if the

court determines that the defendant's case lacked grounding in fact or in existing law or a good faith

argument for extension, modification or reversal of existing law.

     (e) Nothing within this section shall prohibit the attorney general from initiating a

complaint on behalf of the public interest.

     (f) Actions brought under this chapter may be advanced on the calendar upon motion of

the petitioner.

     (g) The attorney general shall consider all complaints filed under this chapter to have also

been filed under § 38-2-8(b) if applicable.

     42-46-11. Reported violations.

     Every year the attorney general shall prepare a report summarizing the complaints received

pursuant to this chapter, which shall be submitted to the legislature and which shall include

information as to how many complaints were found to be meritorious and the action taken by the

attorney general in response to those complaints. The attorney general shall publish the full text of

all complaints and the action taken by the attorney general in response to those complaints, as well

as all advisory opinions issued related to this chapter, on a keyword searchable website.

     42-46-13. Accessibility for persons with disabilities.

     (a) All public bodies, to comply with the nondiscrimination on the basis of disability

requirements of R.I. Const., Art. I, § 2 and applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws (29

U.S.C. § 794, chapter 87 of this title, and chapter 24 of title 11), shall develop a transition plan

setting forth the steps necessary to ensure that all open meetings of said public bodies are accessible

to persons with disabilities.

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     (b) The state building code standards committee shall, by September 1, 1989 adopt an

accessibility of meetings for persons with disabilities standard that includes provisions ensuring

that the meeting location is accessible to and usable by all persons with disabilities.

     (c) This section does not require the public body to make each of its existing facilities

accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities so long as all meetings required to be open to

the public pursuant to chapter 46 of this title are held in accessible facilities by the dates specified

in subsection (e).

     (d) The public body may comply with the requirements of this section through such means

as reassignment of meetings to accessible facilities, alteration of existing facilities, or construction

of new facilities. The public body is not required to make structural changes in existing facilities

where other methods are effective in achieving compliance with this section.

     (e) The public body shall comply with the obligations established under this section by July

1, 1990, except that where structural changes in facilities are necessary in order to comply with this

section, such changes shall be made by December 30, 1991, but in any event as expeditiously as

possible unless an extension is granted by the state building commissioner for good cause.

     (f) Each municipal government and school district shall, with the assistance of the state

building commission, complete a transition plan covering the location of meetings for all public

bodies under their jurisdiction. Each chief executive of each city or town and the superintendent of

schools will submit their transition plan to the governor's commission on disabilities for review and

approval. The governor's commission on disabilities with assistance from the state building

commission shall approve or modify, with the concurrence of the municipal government or school

district, the transition plans.

     (g) The supplemental written notice required by § 42-46-6(b) shall be given sufficiently in

advance of the meeting to allow a person to request in a timely manner the presence of an interpreter

or other reasonable accommodation for the meeting.

     (g)(h) The provisions of §§ 45-13-7 -- 45-13-10, inclusive, shall not apply to this section.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-46 of the General Laws entitled "Open Meetings" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-46-3.1. Accommodation and recordings of open meetings.

     (a) Every meeting of all public bodies shall be open to the public unless closed pursuant to

§§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5.

     (b) All reasonable efforts must be made to ensure that the meeting allows for all persons

present to hear and observe an open meeting.

     (c) A public body shall not prohibit the recordation of all or part of any of its open meetings

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as long as such recordation does not interfere with the obligation of the public body to maintain

order under § 42-46-5.

     42-46-3.2. Open electronic communications.

     (a) A communication or exchange of information between members of a public body about

public business or public policy over which the public body has supervision, jurisdiction, advisory

power, or control does not constitute a meeting for purposes of this chapter if:

     (l) The communication is in writing;

     (2) The writing is posted to an online message board or similar Internet application that is

viewable and searchable by the public and cannot be edited; and

     (3) The communication is displayed in real time and displayed on the online message board

or similar Internet application for no less than three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the

communication is first posted.

     (b) A public body may have no more than one online message board or similar Internet

application to be used for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section. The online

message board or similar Internet application must be owned or controlled by the public body,

prominently displayed on the public body's primary Internet webpage, and no more than one click

away from the public body's primary Internet webpage.

     (c) The online message board or similar Internet application described in subsection (a) of

this section may only be used by persons authorized by the public body. In the event that a staff

member posts a communication to the online message board or similar Internet application, the

name and title of the staff member must be posted along with the communication.

     (d) If a public body removes from the online message board or similar Internet application

a communication that has been posted three hundred and sixty-five (365) days, the public body

shall maintain the posting for a period of five (5) years. This communication is public information

and must be disclosed in accordance with chapter 2 of title 38.

     (e) The public body may not vote or take any action on any matter by posting a

communication to the online message board or similar Internet application.

     42-46-5.1. Open electronic communications.

     (a) The use of electronic communication, including telephonic, text, electronic mail,

facsimile, teleconferencing, instant messaging, social networking, or similar means of

communications shall not be used by any member of a public body to, circumvent the spirit or

requirements of this chapter; provided that, electronic communication may be used to:

     (1) Schedule a meeting or determine the availability of members of a public body for the

purpose of conducting a meeting under this chapter.

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     (2) Allow a member of a public body to electronically communicate and participate in a

scheduled meeting of a public body if such member is on active duty in the armed services of the

United States and not physically present in the state of Rhode Island.

     (3) Allow a member of a public body who has a disability as defined in chapter 87 of title

42 and:

     (i) Cannot attend meetings of that public body solely by reason of their disability; and

     (ii) Cannot otherwise participate in the meeting without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodation, to participate by use

of electronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the waiver process

authorized pursuant to subsection (a)(4) of this section.

     (4) The governor's commission on disabilities is authorized and directed to:

     (i) Establish rules and regulations for determining whether a member of a public body is

not otherwise able to participate in meetings of that public body without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodation due to that member's

disability;

     (ii) Grant a waiver that allows a member to participate by electronic communication or

telephone communication only if the member's disability would prevent them from being

physically present at the meeting location, and the use of such communication is the only

reasonable accommodation; and

     (iii) Any waiver decisions shall be a matter of public record.

     42-46-5.2. Exclusions.

     This chapter shall not apply to proceedings of the judicial branch of state government or

probate court or municipal court proceedings in any city or town.

     42-46-5.3. Disruptive conduct.

     Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a

meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised. No one other

than a public body or a person designated to do so by the public body shall order a person removed

for violating the provisions of this section.

     42-46-5.4. Rolling quorum.

     Use of a rolling quorum shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

     42-46-6.1. Joint meeting.

     In the event of a joint meeting each public body shall be responsible for providing public

notice and minutes as otherwise required by this chapter.

     42-46-6.2. Emergency meeting - Notice.

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     (a) A public body may hold an emergency meeting, upon an affirmative vote of the majority

of the members of the body when the meeting is deemed necessary to address an unexpected

occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public.

     (b) If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon

as practicable and shall be electronically filed with the secretary of state pursuant to subsection (c)

and of this section;

     (c) Upon convening of an emergency meeting, the public body shall state for the record

and in the open minutes why the matter must be addressed in less than forty-eight (48) hours in

accordance with § 42-46-6(b) and only discuss the issue or issues which created the need for an

emergency meeting. Nothing contained herein shall be used to circumvent the spirit and

requirements of this chapter.

     42-46-6.3. Public comment.

     (a) A public body, or the members thereof, shall not be prohibited from responding to

comments initiated by a member of the public during a properly noticed open forum even if the

subject matter of a citizen's comments or discussions were not previously posted, provided such

matters shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary

to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer

the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.

     (b) Nothing contained in this chapter requires any public body to hold an open forum

session, to entertain or respond to any topic nor does it prohibit any public body from limiting

comment on any topic at such an open forum session. No public body, or the members thereof, may

use this section to circumvent the spirit or requirements of this chapter.

     (c) All notices 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 which

shall be promulgated by the secretary of state.

     (d) If a public body fails to transmit notices in accordance with this section, then any

aggrieved person may file a complaint with the attorney general in accordance with § 42-46-8.

     42-46-6.4. Compliance by public bodies.

     Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, each public body shall state in

writing to the attorney general that it has designated a certified open meetings compliance officer

who has responsibility for compliance with this chapter and has been provided orientation and

training regarding this chapter. The attorney general may, in accordance with the provisions of

chapter 35 of title 42, promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the requirements

of this section.

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     42-46-7.1. Livestreaming.

     (a) Effective January 1, 2022, all quasi-public boards, agencies and corporations as defined

in § 42-155-3 and provided for in the findings in § 42-155-2, as well as all city and town councils

and elected and appointed school boards or committees excluding subdivisions thereof, shall video

record in digital format its meetings and hearings, or portions thereof, that are required to be public

pursuant to this chapter. Such recordings shall be webcast live, where practicable, and shall be

made available to the public on the public body's website as well as a website maintained by the

secretary of state not more than seventy-two (72) hours after adjournment of the meeting or the

hearing recorded where they shall be available for at least five (5) years.

     (b) The secretary of state shall have the power and authority to promulgate rules and

regulations related to the quality, content, and manner of the livestreaming as well as the hardware

or software necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

     (c) Furthermore, all closed sessions shall be audio or video recorded in digital format and

retained for at least five (5) years such that they are available for public inspection unless otherwise

exempt; provided, however, the attorney general shall have access for purposes of investigating a

complaint pursuant to § 42-46-8.

     SECTION 3. Section 45-9-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-9 entitled "Budget

Commissions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-9-6. Composition of budget commission.

     (a) If a budget commission is established under §§ 45-9-5 or 45-12-22.7, it shall consist of

five (5) members: three (3) of whom shall be designees of the director of revenue; one of whom

shall be the elected chief executive officer of the city; and one of whom shall be a council member

of the town or city elected to serve on the budget commission as chosen by a majority vote of said

town or city council. In cities or towns in which the elected chief executive officer for purposes of

this chapter is the president of the city or town council, one member shall be the appointed city or

town manager or town administrator (or, if none, the city or town chief financial officer) as the fifth

member. For a fire district, it shall consist of five (5) members: three (3) of the members of the

budget commission shall be designees of the director of revenue; one shall be the chairperson of

the district's governing body; and one shall be the fire chief of the district. The budget commission

shall act by a majority vote of all its members. The budget commission shall initiate and ensure the

implementation of appropriate measures to secure the financial stability of the city, town, or fire

district. The budget commission shall continue in existence until the director of revenue abolishes

it.

     The budget commission shall be subject to chapter 2 of title 36 38, "Access to Public

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Records," and chapter 14 of title 36, "Code of Ethics" and chapter 46 of title 42 "Open Meetings

Act". The budget commission shall be subject to chapter 46 of title 42 "Open Meetings" when

meeting to take action on the following matters:

     (1) Levy and assessment of taxes;

     (2) Rulemaking or suspension of rules;

     (3) Adoption of a municipal or fire district budget;

     (4) Approval of collective bargaining agreements and amendments to collective bargaining

agreements; and

     (5) Making a determination under § 45-9-7 that the powers of the budget commission are

insufficient to restore fiscal stability to the city, town, or fire district.

     (b) Action by the budget commission under this chapter shall constitute action by the city,

town, or fire district for all purposes under the general laws, under any special law, and under the

city, town, or fire district charter.

     (c) Until the budget commission ceases to exist, no appropriation, borrowing authorization,

transfer, or other municipal or fire district spending authority, shall take effect until approved by

the budget commission. The budget commission shall approve all appropriations, borrowing

authorizations, transfers, and other municipal or fire district spending authorizations, in whole or

part.

     (d) In addition to the authority and powers conferred elsewhere in this chapter, and

notwithstanding any city, town, or fire district charter provision, or local ordinance, or rule or

regulation to the contrary, the budget commission shall have the power to:

     (1) Amend, formulate, and execute the annual municipal or fire district budget and

supplemental municipal or fire district budgets of the city, town, or fire district, including the

establishment, increase, or decrease of any appropriations and spending authority for all

departments, budget commissions, committees, agencies or other units of the city, town, or fire

district; provided, however, that notwithstanding §§ 16-2-9 and 16-2-18, this clause shall fully

apply to the school department and all school spending purposes;

     (2) Implement and maintain uniform budget guidelines and procedures for all departments;

     (3) Amend, formulate and execute capital budgets, including amending any borrowing

authorization, or financing or refinancing of any debt in accordance with the law;

     (4) Amortize operational deficits in an amount as the director of revenue approves and for

a term not longer than five (5) years;

     (5) Develop and maintain a uniform system for all financial planning and operations in all

departments, offices, boards, commissions, committees, agencies, or other units of the city's,

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town's, or fire district's government;

     (6) Review and approve or disapprove all proposed contracts for goods or services;

     (7) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, establish, increase, or

decrease any fee, rate, or charge, for any service, license, permit, or other municipal or fire district

activity, otherwise within the authority of the city, town, or fire district;

     (8) Appoint, remove, supervise, and control all city, town, or fire district employees and

have control over all personnel matters other than disciplinary matters; provided, that the budget

commission shall hold all existing powers to hire and fire and set the terms and conditions of

employment held by other employees or officers of the city, town, or fire district; provided, further,

that the budget commission shall have the authority to exercise all powers otherwise available to a

municipality or fire district regarding contractual obligations during a fiscal emergency; provided,

further, that no city, town, or fire district employee or officer shall hire, fire, transfer, or alter the

compensation or benefits of a city, town, or fire district employee except with the written approval

of the budget commission; and provided, further, that the budget commission may delegate or

otherwise assign these powers with the approval of the director of revenue;

     (9) Alter or eliminate the compensation and/or benefits of elected officials of the city, town,

or fire district to reflect the fiscal emergency and changes in the responsibilities of the officials as

provided by this chapter;

     (10) Employ, retain, and supervise such managerial, professional, and clerical staff as are

necessary to carry out its responsibilities; provided, however, that such employment, retention and

supervisory decisions are subject to the approval of the director of revenue; provided, further, that

the budget commission shall not be subject to chapter 2 of title 37 or chapter 55 of title 45 in

employing such staff; provided, further, that the budget commission, with the approval of the

director of revenue, shall have authority to set the compensation, terms, and conditions of

employment of its own staff; provided, further, that the city, town, or fire district shall annually

appropriate amounts sufficient for the compensation of personnel hired under this clause as

determined and fixed by the budget commission; provided, further, that, if the city, town, or fire

district fails to appropriate such amounts, the director of revenue shall direct the general treasurer

to deduct the necessary funds from the city's, town's, or fire district's distribution of state aid and

shall expend those funds directly for the benefit of the budget commission;

     (11) Reorganize, consolidate, or abolish departments, commissions, authorities, boards,

offices, or functions of the city, town, or fire district, in whole or in part, and to establish such new

departments, commissions, authorities, boards, offices, or functions as it deems necessary, and to

transfer the duties, powers, functions and appropriations of one department, commission, board,

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office, or other unit to another department, commission, authority, board, or office, and in

connection therewith, remove and appoint new members for any such commission, authority,

board, or department which appointees shall serve the remainder of any unexpired term of their

predecessor;

     (12) Appoint, in consultation with the director of revenue, persons to fill vacancies on any

authority, board, committee, department, or office;

     (13) Sell, lease, or otherwise transfer, real property and other assets of the city, town, or

fire district with the approval of the director of revenue;

     (14) Purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire, property or other assets on behalf of the city,

town, or fire district with the approval of the director of revenue;

     (15) Enter into contracts, including, but not limited to, contracts with other governmental

entities, and such other governmental entities are hereby authorized to enter into such contracts;

     (16) Adopt rules and regulations governing the operation and administration of the city,

town, or fire district that permit the budget commission to effectively carry out this chapter under

§ 42-35-3(b);

     (17) Alter or rescind any action or decision of any municipal or fire district officer,

employee, board, authority, or commission within fourteen (14) days after receipt of notice of such

action or decision;

     (18) Suspend, in consultation with the director of revenue, any rules and regulations of the

city, town, or fire district;

     (19) Notwithstanding any other general law, special act, charter provision, or ordinance,

and in conformity with the reserved powers of the general assembly pursuant to Article XIII, section

5 of the constitution of the state, a budget commission is authorized to issue bonds, notes, or

certificates of indebtedness to fund the deficit of a city, town, or fire district without regard to § 45-

12-22.4, to fund cash flow and to finance capital projects. Bonds, notes, or certificates of

indebtedness issued under authority of this chapter shall be general obligation bonds backed by the

full faith and credit and taxing power of the city, town, or fire district; provided, however, that the

budget commission may pledge future distributions of state aid for the purpose of retiring such

bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness. If any state aid is so pledged, the budget commission

shall execute on behalf of the city, town, or fire district a trust agreement with a corporate trustee,

which may be any bank or trust company having the powers of a trust company within the state,

and any state aid so pledged shall be paid by the general treasurer directly to the trustee to be held

in trust and applied to the payment of principal and interest on such bonds, notes, or certificates of

indebtedness; any earnings derived from the investment of such pledged aid shall be applied as

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needed to the payment of that principal and interest and for trustee's fees and related expenses, with

any excess to be paid to the city, town, or fire district. Bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness

authorized under authority of this chapter shall be executed on behalf of the city, town, or fire

district by a member of the commission and, except as provided for in this chapter, may be subject

to the provisions of chapter 12 of title 45 so far as apt, or may be subject to the provisions of any

special bond act enacted authorizing the issuance of bonds of a city, town, or fire district so far as

apt; provided, however, that any bonds or notes issued for school purposes must be approved by

the general assembly in order to qualify for school housing aid as set forth in chapter 7 of title 16;

and

     (20) Exercise all powers under the general laws and this chapter, or any special act, any

charter provision or ordinance that any elected official of the city, town, or fire district may

exercise, acting separately or jointly; provided, however, that with respect to any such exercise of

powers by the budget commission, the elected officials shall not rescind nor take any action

contrary to such action by the budget commission so long as the budget commission continues to

exist.

     (21) Certify to the Rhode Island department of revenue the need to advance payments of

the state's basic education program under chapter 7 of title 16 in the amount determined by the

budget commission. Said amount shall be advanced, subject to approval of the director of the

department of revenue, notwithstanding any general or public law to the contrary. The director of

the department of revenue shall provide notice of any advance payments to the fiscal advisors of

the house and senate finance committees. The state general treasurer shall deduct the estimated cost

to the state's general fund resulting from any advance payments.

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPEN MEETINGS

***

     This act would amend multiple sections relating to "open meetings" including utilizing

advances in technology for observing meetings, how quorums are calculated, procedures for closed

meetings and notice requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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