Bill Text: NH HB1470 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to quorums for meetings under the right-to-know law.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-05 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote [HB1470 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2014-HB1470-Introduced.html

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HB 1470 – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2264

01/05

HOUSE BILL 1470

AN ACT relative to quorums for meetings under the right-to-know law.

SPONSORS: Rep. R. Brown, Graf 2; Rep. Bartlett, Merr 19; Rep. Rideout, Coos 7; Rep. Theberge, Coos 3

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

Under this bill, a quorum shall be physically present at meetings under the right-to-know law; provided, however, that if a member or members necessary to meet such a quorum must travel in excess of 60 miles to the meeting, such member or members may participate electronically or otherwise.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2264

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT relative to quorums for meetings under the right-to-know law.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Right-to-Know; Quorum. Amend RSA 91-A:2, III(b) to read as follows:

(b)(1) Except in an emergency or as provided in subparagraph (2), a quorum of the public body shall be physically present at the location specified in the meeting notice as the location of the meeting. For purposes of this subparagraph, an “emergency” means that immediate action is imperative and the physical presence of a quorum is not reasonably practical within the period of time requiring action. The determination that an emergency exists shall be made by the chairman or presiding officer of the public body, and the facts upon which that determination is based shall be included in the minutes of the meeting.

(2) The physical presence of a quorum of the public body as required under subparagraph (1) shall not apply to any meeting of a board or commission if a member or members required for a quorum must travel in excess of 60 miles to attend the meeting. The facts justifying application of this subparagraph shall be included in the minutes of the meeting.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2015.