ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: GE DPA 7-6-0-0

HB2070: open meetings; capacity; posting; violation

Sponsor: Representative Kavanagh, LD 23

Caucus & COW

Overview

Outlines additional requirements for open meetings conducted by public bodies.

History

All meetings of public bodies are open to the public and any person desiring to be in attendance may attend and listen to the proceedings and deliberations. During the meetings, public bodies must provide for the taking of minutes or a recording which is available for public inspection three working days after the meeting (A.R.S. § 38-431.01).

Twenty-four hours' notice must be provided to members of the public body and the general public before a public meeting is held. This period includes Saturdays if the public has access to the physical posted location as well as any website posting, but excludes Sundays and holidays enumerated in statute (A.R.S. § 38-431.01).

Provisions

1. Requires public bodies to provide a reasonable amount of seating to accommodate the anticipated attendance of people desiring to attend the proceedings and deliberations. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that the meeting agenda must include the time that the public will have physical access to the meeting place. (Sec. 2)

3. Asserts that any head of a public body that violates the requirement for seating and physical access time to meetings is liable for a civil penalty as prescribed in statute. (Sec. 1, 2)

4. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

Amendments

Committee on Government & Elections

1. States that, when feasible, public bodies must provide a reasonable amount of seating for the public to attend.

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5. HB 2070

6. Initials SJ/BG Page 0 Caucus & COW

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