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House File 2308 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the definition of meeting and public notice
2requirements under the open meetings law.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 21.2, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
2to read as follows:
32. “Meeting” means a gathering in person or by electronic
4means, formal or informal, of a majority of the members of
5a governmental body where there is deliberation or action
6upon any matter within the scope of the governmental body’s
7policy-making or budgetary duties. Meetings shall not include
8a gathering of members of a governmental body for purely
9ministerial or social purposes when there is no discussion of
10policy or budgetary duties or no intent to avoid the purposes
11of this chapter.
12 Sec. 2. Section 21.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2020,
13is amended to read as follows:
14a. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice
15conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall
16be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement
17of any meeting of a governmental body, excluding weekend days
18and paid holidays as specified in section 1C.2, unless for good
19cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which case
20as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given.
21 Sec. 3. Section 21.4, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
22following new subsection:
23 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. For purposes of this section, “good
24cause” includes a personnel or student matter.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28This bill relates to the definition of meeting and public
29notice requirements under the open meetings law (Code chapter
3021).
31The bill amends the definition of a meeting that is subject
32to the requirements of the open meetings law by expanding the
33definition to include any deliberations or actions (including
34recommendations) taken by a governmental body as defined in
35the open meetings law, that are within a governmental body’s
-1-1budgetary duties.
2The bill also excludes weekend days and paid holidays as
3specified in Code section 1C.2 when determining the 24-hour
4time period for purposes of public notice under the open
5meetings law. The bill also provides that good cause for
6purposes of exceptions to public notice requirements under Code
7section 21.4 includes a personnel or student matter.
-2-ec/rh
2requirements under the open meetings law.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 21.2, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended
2to read as follows:
32. “Meeting” means a gathering in person or by electronic
4means, formal or informal, of a majority of the members of
5a governmental body where there is deliberation or action
6upon any matter within the scope of the governmental body’s
7policy-making or budgetary duties. Meetings shall not include
8a gathering of members of a governmental body for purely
9ministerial or social purposes when there is no discussion of
10policy or budgetary duties or no intent to avoid the purposes
11of this chapter.
12 Sec. 2. Section 21.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2020,
13is amended to read as follows:
14a. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice
15conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall
16be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement
17of any meeting of a governmental body, excluding weekend days
18and paid holidays as specified in section 1C.2, unless for good
19cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which case
20as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given.
21 Sec. 3. Section 21.4, Code 2020, is amended by adding the
22following new subsection:
23 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. For purposes of this section, “good
24cause” includes a personnel or student matter.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28This bill relates to the definition of meeting and public
29notice requirements under the open meetings law (Code chapter
3021).
31The bill amends the definition of a meeting that is subject
32to the requirements of the open meetings law by expanding the
33definition to include any deliberations or actions (including
34recommendations) taken by a governmental body as defined in
35the open meetings law, that are within a governmental body’s
-1-1budgetary duties.
2The bill also excludes weekend days and paid holidays as
3specified in Code section 1C.2 when determining the 24-hour
4time period for purposes of public notice under the open
5meetings law. The bill also provides that good cause for
6purposes of exceptions to public notice requirements under Code
7section 21.4 includes a personnel or student matter.
-2-ec/rh