Bill > SB1632

This bill amends the Open Meetings Act to expand the circumstances under which licensing boards authorized by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) can hold meetings with members participating through interactive video conference. Specifically, the bill allows these licensing boards to hold open meetings simultaneously at multiple locations within public buildings, with members at each location counting towards the meeting's quorum. The bill requires that public notice and access be provided for all meeting locations. Previously, most public bodies were required to have a quorum physically present at the meeting location, with only a few specific types of organizations (such as statewide bodies or those covering large geographic areas) exempt from this requirement. By adding licensing boards to this list, the bill provides more flexibility for these professional regulatory boards to conduct meetings, potentially making it easier for board members to participate remotely while still maintaining transparency through public notice and access requirements. The term "public building" is defined in the bill as any building or portion of a building owned or leased by a public body.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1632&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104