OPEN MEETINGS ACT; AG COMMODITY GROUPS H.B. 4603:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
House Bill 4603 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Joseph N. Bellino, Jr.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Open Meetings Act to allow, on and after March 31, 2021, an agriculture commodity group to hold a public meeting electronically or telephonically under any circumstances.
The Open Meetings Act requires all meetings of a public body to be open to the public and to be held in a place available to the general public. All decisions of a public body must be made at a meeting open to the public. The Act allows a meeting of a public body to be held, in whole or in part, electronically by telephonic or video conferencing as prescribed by the Act under the following circumstances:
-- On and after March 31, 2021, through December 31, 2021, only under those circumstances requiring accommodation of members absent because of military duty, a medical condition, or a statewide or local state of emergency or state of disaster.
-- After December 31, 2021, only under circumstances requiring accommodation of members absent because of military duty.
Under the bill, on and after March 31, 2021, a public body that was an agricultural commodity group could hold a meeting, in whole or in part, electronically by telephonic or video conferencing under any circumstances, including any of the circumstances requiring accommodation of a member absent because of military duty, a medical condition, or a statewide or local state of emergency or state of disaster.
"Agricultural commodity group" would mean any of the following:
-- A committee as that term is defined in the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act.
-- The State Beef Industry Commission.
-- The Potato Industry Commission.
-- The Michigan Bean Commission.
MCL 15.263a Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minimal fiscal impact on State and local government. However, the bill could result in savings to the State if conducting meetings by video conference resulted in a lower cost as compared with in-person meetings, which may involve per diem costs paid to committee members and other in-person meeting expenses.
Date Completed: 6-23-21 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
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.