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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
public meetings; comments; members
Purpose
Allows members of a public body to discuss matters raised during an open call to the public at a public meeting.
Background
Current statute requires that all meetings of any public body be public meetings and stipulates that all persons desiring to attend and listen to the deliberations and proceedings may do so. All legal action of public bodies must occur during a public meeting. A public body may make an open call to the public during a public meeting, subject to restrictions, to allow individuals to address the public body on any issue within the jurisdiction of the public body. Members of the public body may respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the public body, ask staff to review a matter or ask that a matter be put on a future agenda, but must not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during an open call to the public unless the matters were properly noticed for discussion and legal action (A.R.S. § 38-431.01).
Statute defines a public body as the Legislature, all boards and commissions of the state or political subdivisions, all multimember governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions and instrumentalities of the state or political subdivisions. Public body includes: 1) without limitation all corporations and other instrumentalities whose boards of directors are appointed or elected by the state or a political subdivision; 2) all quasi-judicial bodies and all standing, special or advisory committees or subcommittees of, or appointed by, the public body; and 3) all commissions and other public entities established by the Arizona Constitution or by way of ballot initiative, including the independent redistricting commission (A.R.S. § 38-431).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows members of a public body to discuss matters raised during an open call to the public at a public meeting.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 12, 2024
JT/MA/slp