Senate Bill S7809A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7809A

SPONSOR: HOYLMAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to providing a
videoconferencing exemption from the open meetings law for certain
community boards and certain other public bodies

 
PURPOSE:

To authorize New York City community boards and certain other public
bodies to utilize remote meeting options.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision (C) of Section 103 of the
public officers law, to exempt New York City community boards, the board
of education of the city of New York, and community education councils,
or any other public body of which more than half of the members are
uncompensated, from this subdivision which requires public bodies to
allow the public to attend, listen, and observe at any site at which
              

videoconferencing is available.

Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 4 of section 104 of the public
officers law to exempt New York City community boards, the board of
education of the city of New York, and community education councils, or
any other public body of which more than half of the members are uncom-
pensated, from the requirement to allow the public to attend public
meetings at any location where videoconferencing will be used. Further
the subdivision is amended to clarify community boards shall inform the
public via the required public notice of the internet address at which
members of the public can view a meeting.

Section 3 of the bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

When the pandemic made it unsafe to conduct public business in person,
New York City Community Boards and other voluntary public bodies
successfully transitioned to videoconferencing software to host the
frequent meetings they are required to have.

In the process, community boards, other voluntary public bodies, and the
public they serve have demonstrated how useful these tools are for all
that wish to participate in our most local form of democracy.  We saw
participation levels and diversity of all kinds increase in these impor-
tant deliberative bodies.

Parents with children who might not be able to take hours of their even-
ing at a community meeting before, now videoconferenced in to discuss
local concerns. Busy working adults and younger community members were
more easily able to participate in community board meetings. Those with
disabilities and mobility issues who previously struggled to get around
town to join meetings, were able to easily attend public meetings and
have their voice heard. Videoconferencing has been a boon to our local
democracy and empowered countless New Yorkers to participate in their
communities more fully.

The benefits we have experienced due to the advent of videoconferencing
in these public bodies was triggered by the pandemic but should be made
permanent. This bill updates antiquated public officers law to adapt to
new technologies and facilitate video-conferencing by exempting communi-
ty boards, the board of education of the city of New York, and community
education councils, or any other public body of which more than half of
the members are uncompensated, from the requirement to have each
location made open and public where videoconferencing is available. In
practice, this meant that the home of each individual public body member
participating in a public meeting had to be open to the public. This
legislation resolves this issue and allows the public to continue enjoy-
ing remote access to these vital community meetings during this current
surge in COVID-19 cases and also moving forward once this pandemic
finally ends.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None, new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.