Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee |
SSB 5553
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Requiring public agencies, special purpose districts, and municipalities to post certain information on their web sites.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, Pridemore and Chase).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/24/11
Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).
Background:
The Open Public Meetings Act (Act) applies to all public agencies and requires that all meetings of such agencies be open to the public. "Public agencies" include:
cities and counties;
special purpose districts;
school districts;
any state department, board, commission, committee, or educational institution; and
any other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state.
The governing body of a public agency must establish the time for holding regular meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaws, or by whatever other rule is required for the conduct of business by that body.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the governing body of a public agency or by a majority of the members of the governing body. Notification of the meeting must be delivered either personally by written notice, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail at least 24 hours before the meeting, to each of the following:
the members of the governing body;
local newspapers of general circulation; and
local radio or television stations on file with the governing body with a written request to be notified.
Notice of special meetings must specify the time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted.
Summary of Bill:
The agenda of all regular meetings of the governing body of every public agency that owns and maintains a website must be posted 72 hours before a meeting. The text of any ordinance, rule, or regulation that is under consideration at the meeting must be included on the website at the same time the agenda is posted.
The agenda of all special or emergency meetings must be posted 24 hours before a meeting. The posting must indicate if the agenda is in draft form.
The minutes of all regular and special meetings of the governing body of every public agency that owns or maintains a website must be posted within 15 business days after approval. All such postings must remain on the website for one calendar year.
The website of a public agency must at all times include: (1) a roster of the names of all members of the governing body; (2) the members' positions within that body; and (3) the identification of each member's constituency.
Counties with a population of less than 30,000, the special purpose districts and school districts located within those counties, and cities or towns with a population of less than 8,000 are exempt from requirements pertaining to website notification of public meetings.
Any action of a public agency relating to the purchase of municipal bonds is exempt.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.