OPEN MEETINGS: VOTING IN PERSON                                                    H.B. 4363 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4363 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Amanda Price

House Committee:  Oversight

Senate Committee:  Government Operations

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to require the physical presence of a member of an elected public body who was voting on a decision of the public body.

The Act requires all meetings of a public body to be open to the public. Subject to certain exceptions, all deliberations of a public body constituting a quorum of its members must take place at a meeting open to the public. In addition, all decisions of a public body must be made at a meeting open to the public.

Under the bill, a meeting of a public body whose members were elected, including a meeting of an elected governing board of a public institution of higher education, would not be open to the public if a member voted on a decision of the public body without being physically present at the meeting. Any such decision would be void.

The bill would take effect on the 91^st day after it was enacted.

MCL 15.263                                                               Legislative Analyst:  Suzanne Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  6-12-14                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  John Maxwell

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.