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Bill > A748


NJ A748

NJ A748
Makes various changes to law addressing meetings of public bodies to provide public with greater access to meetings and information about meetings.


summary

Introduced
01/14/2020
In Committee
01/14/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill revises the "Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act," N.J.S.A.10:4-6 et seq., to provide greater public access to meetings of public bodies and information about those meetings. The bill clarifies and expands the public's right to receive notice of meetings of public bodies, to be present at such meetings and, under certain circumstances, to be heard at meetings, as well as to have access to minutes of meetings. It extends the scope of the act to apply certain of its provisions to subcommittees and to include certain quasi-governmental entities. The bill also addresses issues relating to communications among members of a public body, the recording of meetings, the posting of meeting-related information on the Internet, the use of closed sessions, and penalties for violations.

AI Summary

This bill revises the "Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act" to provide greater public access to meetings of public bodies and information about those meetings. The key provisions include: - Clarifying and expanding the public's right to receive notice of meetings, be present at meetings, and have access to meeting minutes. - Extending the scope of the act to apply certain provisions to subcommittees and quasi-governmental entities. - Addressing issues such as communications among members, recording of meetings, posting of meeting information online, use of closed sessions, and penalties for violations. - Requiring public bodies to prepare comprehensive meeting minutes, record public portions of meetings, and make minutes and recordings promptly available to the public. - Allowing the public to challenge actions taken at non-compliant meetings and seek attorney's fees if successful. - Increasing fines for violations and allowing members of the public to bring enforcement actions.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/14/2020)

bill text


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