Bill > A4930

Introduced Session

This bill requires a board of education to adopt a policy authorizing a member of the board of education to attend and participate in a meeting of the board remotely using virtual or electronic means. Pursuant to the bill, the policy may only permit a board member to remotely attend a board meeting if extenuating circumstances exist which prevent the member from attending the meeting in-person. The policy is to: (1) describe the extenuating circumstances in which a member of the board is permitted to attend the meeting remotely, including accommodating a medical condition, illness, or disability; (2) require a request for remote attendance to be made in advance of the meeting and be approved by the board president; (3) allow for the members of the public and other board members to hear the comments made by the board member attending remotely and for the board member to hear comments made by members of the public and other board members; (4) detail the permitted methods by which a member of the board may attend remotely which may include telephone, video-conferencing, or other electronic means; (5) establish procedures to ensure that a member of the board attending remotely has real-time access to any materials that are presented and available to members of the board attending the meeting in-person; and (6) establish a maximum number of meetings for which a member may attend virtually, which is prohibited from exceeding three consecutive meetings. The bill stipulates that a member attending the meeting remotely pursuant to the policy established under the bill is to be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. The bill also permits a member attending remotely to attend and participate in an executive or closed session of the board provided that certain conditions are met. Finally, the bill requires a board of education to acquire adequate technology and communications equipment to effectuate the purposes of the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Rosaura Bagolie (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 10/21/2024)

Official Document