Council for Quality Growth Drafts Legislation for Remote Meetings

Council for Quality Growth has drafted the following legislature to be introduced in 2023.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to permit meetings and public hearings of development authorities and community improvement districts to be held by teleconference; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is amended by adding a new subsection (h) of Code Section 50-14-1, relating to meetings to be open to public, limitation on action to contest agency action, recording, notice of time and place, access to minutes, and teleconference, to read as follows:

“(h) (1) The following agencies and committees thereof shall be authorized to conduct meetings by teleconference, provided that any such meeting is conducted in compliance with this chapter so long as the notice required by this chapter is provided and means are afforded for the public to have simultaneous access to the teleconference meeting:

(A) Development authorities created pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 62 of Title 36 or by or pursuant to constitutional provisions;

(B) Community improvement districts created pursuant to the provisions of Ga. Const. Art. IX, §VII.  

(2) The participation by teleconference of members of such agencies or committees thereof means full participation in the same manner as if such members were physically present. In the event such teleconference meeting is a public hearing, members of the public must be afforded the means to participate fully in the same manner as if such members of the public were physically present.”

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2023.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.