REMOTE ATTENDANCE FOR DISABILITY; MEETINGS S.B. 870 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 870 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to allow a member of a public body with a disability to fully participate in a meeting remotely upon request.
"Disability" would mean a determinable physical or mental characteristic of an individual, which may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth, or functional disorder, if the characteristic substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that individual. "Participate" would include, but would not be limited to, discussing, debating, or voting on a motion, proposal, recommendation, resolution, order, ordinance, bill, or any other measure on which a vote by members of the public body is required and by which the public body effectuates or formulates public policy.
The bill would not apply to a meeting of a State legislative body at which a formal vote was taken.
BRIEF RATIONALE
Generally, meetings subject to the Act must be open to the public, held in a place available to the public, and members must be present to participate, except for remote participation accommodating members absent due to active miliary duty. According to testimony before the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety, individuals with disabilities often face barriers to participation, including the need to arrange transportation and lack of accessibility to certain specialized tools that cannot be transported to meetings. It has been suggested to accommodate remote attendance for individuals with disabilities to better allow opportunities to participate in public bodies.
Legislative Analyst: Eleni Lionas
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 10-4-24 Fiscal Analyst: Bobby Canell
Joe Carrasco, Jr.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.