 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
open meetings; call to public
Purpose
Requires an open call to the public in a meeting of a public body to be made at the beginning of the meeting and before the public body conducts any official business. Outlines requirements relating to the conduct of an open call to the public.
Background
All meetings of a public body must be public and all persons must be allowed to attend and listen to the deliberations and proceedings. A public body may make an open call to the public during a public meeting, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, to allow individuals to address the public body on any issue within the jurisdiction of the public body. At the conclusion of an open call to the public, individual members of the public body may: 1) respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the public body; 2) ask staff to review a matter; or 3) ask that a matter be put on a future agenda. Members of a public body may not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during an open call to the public, unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action (A.R.S. ยง 38-431.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, if a public body makes an open call to the public, the open call to be made at the beginning of the meeting and before the public body conducts any official business.
2. Allows, if an open call to the public at the beginning of a meeting exceeds 30 minutes, the public body to continue the remainder of the open call at a later time during the meeting.
3. Requires, if a public body requires individuals to submit a request to speak before addressing the public body during an open call to the public, the public body to allow individuals to submit requests to speak until the open call has concluded.
4. Prohibits, if a public body posts a meeting agenda that only includes an open call to the public, the public body from scheduling the meeting before or after another meeting of the same public body.
5. Specifies that the requirements relating to open calls to the public do not restrict a public body from making any additional open calls to the public at other times throughout a meeting.
6. Specifies that, for the purposes of open calls to the public, official business does not include a prayer, a pledge or the recognition of a person or organization.
7. Makes technical changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 3, 2025
AN/SDR/slp