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Senate File 425 - 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 2021, 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 1, paragraph a, Code 2021,
13is amended to read as follows:
14a. Except as provided in subsection 3, a governmental body
15shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting
16including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and
17the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably
18calculated to apprise the public of that information.
19Reasonable notice shall include advising the news media who
20have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and
21posting the notice on a bulletin board, an internet site if
22available, or other prominent place which is easily accessible
23to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the
24principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if no such
25office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be
26held.
27 Sec. 3. Section 21.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2021,
28is amended to read as follows:
29a. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice
30conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall
31be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement
32of any meeting of a governmental body, excluding weekend days
33and paid holidays as specified in section 1C.2, unless for
34good cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which
35case as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given.
-1-1For purposes of this subsection, “good cause” shall include a
2personnel or student matter.
3EXPLANATION
4The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
5the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
6This bill relates to the definition of meeting and public
7notice requirements under the open meetings law (Code chapter
821).
9The bill amends the definition of a meeting that is subject
10to the requirements of the open meetings law by expanding the
11definition to include any deliberations or actions (including
12recommendations) taken by a governmental body as defined in
13the open meetings law, that are within a governmental body’s
14budgetary duties.
15The bill provides that reasonable notice of a meeting shall
16include providing notice on an internet site if available.
17The bill excludes weekend days and paid holidays as
18specified in Code section 1C.2 when determining the 24-hour
19time period for purposes of public notice under the open
20meetings law.
21The bill defines “good cause” to include a personnel or
22student matter.
-2-cm/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 2021, 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 1, paragraph a, Code 2021,
13is amended to read as follows:
14a. Except as provided in subsection 3, a governmental body
15shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting
16including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and
17the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably
18calculated to apprise the public of that information.
19Reasonable notice shall include advising the news media who
20have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and
21posting the notice on a bulletin board, an internet site if
22available, or other prominent place which is easily accessible
23to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the
24principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if no such
25office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be
26held.
27 Sec. 3. Section 21.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2021,
28is amended to read as follows:
29a. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice
30conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall
31be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement
32of any meeting of a governmental body, excluding weekend days
33and paid holidays as specified in section 1C.2, unless for
34good cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which
35case as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given.
-1-1For purposes of this subsection, “good cause” shall include a
2personnel or student matter.
3EXPLANATION
4The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
5the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
6This bill relates to the definition of meeting and public
7notice requirements under the open meetings law (Code chapter
821).
9The bill amends the definition of a meeting that is subject
10to the requirements of the open meetings law by expanding the
11definition to include any deliberations or actions (including
12recommendations) taken by a governmental body as defined in
13the open meetings law, that are within a governmental body’s
14budgetary duties.
15The bill provides that reasonable notice of a meeting shall
16include providing notice on an internet site if available.
17The bill excludes weekend days and paid holidays as
18specified in Code section 1C.2 when determining the 24-hour
19time period for purposes of public notice under the open
20meetings law.
21The bill defines “good cause” to include a personnel or
22student matter.
-2-cm/rh