PRINTER'S NO. 414
No. 408 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY JUBELIRER, HART, HELFRICK, MADIGAN, ROBBINS, BELL,
BRIGHTBILL, MOWERY AND PICCOLA, FEBRUARY 16, 1999
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 16, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further defining "meeting;" and
3 prohibiting meetings conducted via telephone or other
4 electronic or telecommunications equipment.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. The definition of "meeting" in section 703 of
8 Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, added
9 October 15, 1998 (P.L.729, No.93), is amended to read:
10 § 703. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 * * *
15 "Meeting." Any prearranged gathering of an agency which is
16 attended [or participated in] by a quorum of the members of an
17 agency held for the purpose of deliberating agency business or
18 taking official action.
1 * * *
2 Section 2. Title 65 is amended by adding a section to read:
3 § 704.1. Certain meetings prohibited.
4 A meeting may not be conducted via telephone or other
5 electronic or telecommunications equipment except as provided in
6 this section. No individual member of an agency may participate
7 in an agency meeting via telephone or other electronic or
8 telecommunications equipment unless the member is incapable of
9 attending the meeting due to a medical emergency. Nothing in
10 this chapter shall be construed to permit discussions of agency
11 business by a quorum of the members of an agency via telephone
12 or other electronic or telecommunications equipment.
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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