Brief Description: Allowing fax and electronic mail notice of special meetings.

Sponsors: By Representatives Clibborn, Pettigrew, Shabro, Nixon, B. Sullivan, Moeller, Jarrett, Hunter, Hudgins, Upthegrove, Tom, Morrell, P. Sullivan, Wallace and Kilmer.

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

Under the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the governing body of a public agency must be open and public, and the agency is required to give the public advance notice of all regular meetings. Under some circumstances a special meeting may be convened. In that instance, a notice must be delivered personally or by mail to each member of the governing body and to the appropriate media at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Summary:

Fax and electronic mail are added to the list of means available for a public agency to notify each member of its governing body and the media of a special meeting. A subscriber may select his or her preferred method of communication.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
Senate   46   0

Effective: July 24, 2005