Bill > S09705

This bill modifies existing law regarding public meetings held via videoconferencing, specifically for advisory bodies like community boards in large cities. Previously, for a public body to conduct a videoconferenced meeting, a minimum number of members had to be physically present in a location accessible to the public to meet the quorum requirement, which is the minimum number of members needed for a meeting to be valid. This bill allows an advisory body, such as a community board, to opt for a more flexible quorum requirement for videoconferenced meetings, stipulating that at least one-quarter of its members and the presiding officer must be physically present at a public location. The bill also defines an "advisory body" as an entity that primarily provides advice and input on policy and program development, planning, and evaluation, and may or may not have final voting power.