VA FOIA; meeting by electronic communication means by certain committees, etc. of State bodies. (SB1263)
Introduced By
Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; meeting by electronic communication means by certain committees, subcommittees, etc., of state public bodies; personal matters. Authorizes an advisory public body, defined as any state public body classified as advisory pursuant to 2.2-2100 or any committee, subcommittee, or other entity, however designated, of a state public body created to advise the state public body, to meet by electronic communication means without a quorum of the advisory public body being physically assembled at one location, provided, among other requirements, the meeting is conducted utilizing a combined audio and visual communication method. The bill requires any advisory public body holding this kind of electronic communication meeting to make an audiovisual recording of the meeting, which recording shall be preserved by the advisory public body for a period of three years from the date of the meeting. The bill also enhances the annual reporting requirements for any public body authorized to conduct electronic communication meetings and requires the FOIA Council to develop a form that an authorized public body must make available to the public at any such meeting for public comment. The above described provisions of the bill by its terms will expire on July 1, 2014. Finally, the bill allows a member of any public body to participate in a meeting by electronic communication means due to personal matters under certain circumstances. Currently, such remote participation is allowed only for emergency, medical condition, or distance from the meeting location of more than 60 miles. The bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/11/2013 | Presented and ordered printed |
01/11/2013 | Presented and ordered printed 13103272D |
01/11/2013 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
01/28/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1263) |
02/04/2013 | Reported from General Laws and Technology (12-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/05/2013 | Blank Action (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/05/2013 | Read second time and engrossed |
02/05/2013 | Bills placed in block (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/05/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/05/2013 | Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/11/2013 | Placed on Calendar |
02/11/2013 | Read first time |
02/11/2013 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
02/11/2013 | Assigned GL sub: #2 FOIA/Procurement |
02/14/2013 | Reported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/18/2013 | Read second time |
02/19/2013 | Read third time |
02/19/2013 | Passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N) |
02/19/2013 | VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/22/2013 | Enrolled |
02/22/2013 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1263ER) |
02/22/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1263ER) |
02/22/2013 | Signed by Speaker |
02/23/2013 | Signed by President |
03/21/2013 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 694 (effective 7/1/13) |
03/21/2013 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0694) |
Comments
ACLU of Virginia is monitoring this legislation. Although the Virginia ACLU supports laws that allow the use of technology to expand public access to meetings and public information, it is not clear that this legislation accomplishes those goals.