Plain English Breakdown
The bill text provided was truncated before listing all conditions for votes (roll call) or other technical details.
Allowing Remote Meetings During Severe Weather
This bill changes the Open Meetings Act to let public groups hold meetings by phone or video if a severe weather alert is active and in-person attendance is not practical.
What This Bill Does
- Allows open or closed meetings to be held entirely by audio or video conference without a quorum physically present during specific conditions.
- Requires the National Weather Service to determine that all or part of the public body's jurisdiction is under a severe weather alert on the day of the meeting.
- Mandates that the head of the public body decides holding an in-person meeting is not practical due to the severe weather alert.
- Ensures all members can hear each other, verify their identity, and participate in discussion during remote meetings.
- Requires at least one member or official to be physically present at the regular meeting location unless the severe weather makes this impossible.
Who It Names or Affects
- Public bodies subject to the Illinois Open Meetings Act
Terms To Know
- Quorum
- The minimum number of members required to be present for a meeting to legally take place.
- Severe Weather Alert
- A determination by the National Weather Service that an area is subject to dangerous weather conditions.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify which types of severe weather alerts qualify, only that one must be active.
- It is unclear if this rule applies equally to all public bodies or if specific procedural rules adopted by the body further limit attendance.