MTG ACCOMODATIONS FOR ABSENT MEMBERS                                                S.B. 1261:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1261 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Adam Hollier

Committee:  Elections and Government Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to require a public body to establish procedures to accommodate the absence of any member of the public body due to military duty.

The Act requires all decisions of a public body to be made at a meeting open to the public. The bill would require the public body to establish procedures to accommodate the absence of any member of the public body due to military duty, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

-- Procedures by which the absent member could participate in, and vote on, business before the public body, including, if feasible, procedures that ensured two-way communication.

-- Procedures by which the public was provided notice of the absence of the member and information about how to contact that member sufficiently in advance of a meeting of the public body to provide input on any business that would come before the public body.

MCL 15.263                                                             Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-11-18                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

                                                                                                                   Ryan Bergan

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.