Requires state authorities to conduct open meetings and provide an internet broadcast of its meetings, where practicable

BILL NUMBER:S308A REVISED 6/10/15

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring open meetings and the internet broadcast of open meetings of each state authority

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would require state and local authorities to webcast, record, archive and provide access to their meetings via the Internet to the public.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends public authorities law by requiring all state authorities to comply with the open meetings law., Requires state authorities to webcast their board and committee meetings, to record said meetings, to archive said meeting and to provide access to said archive on its website for the prior year.

*Provides a webcasting exception for executive sessions.

*Provides a one year waiver of the webcasting requirement for authorities which do not satisfy respective one million dollar thresholds,

*Establishes standing to enforce compliance with the statute.

Section 2 is the effective date

Justification

This bill would ensure that the public business being performed at state and local public benefit corporations is in an open and public manner which is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society and to the ensure transparency and accountability at state public authorities. New affordable and innovative technology allows all public authorities to webcast their meetings. This bill would modernize the open meeting law for the 21st century. Under this law, New Yorkers would be provided a window into the secluded board rooms where decisions impacting the public happen every day. Just as the state legislative proceeding are webcast and archived so should the entities that are delegated legislative authority. For the majority of the public who cannot personally attend board meetings, this would allow them to access them from home, at work or at a time/place convenient for them.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined

Effective date

This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall become law.