HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 692        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1699

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Denise Provost

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the use of audio or video recordings as minutes of public bodies.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/17/2017

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

 

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 692        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1699

By Ms. Provost of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1699) of Denise Provost and others relative to the use of audio or video recordings as minutes of public bodies.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2806 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the use of audio or video recordings as minutes of public bodies.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 30A, section 18 of the General Laws, appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding to the definition of “minutes”, the following:-  “The requirement for a written record may be satisfied by maintaining an audio or video of the meeting prepared by an employee or agent of the municipality, along with the meeting notice and agenda, certified by the Chair, Vice-Chair or Clerk of the public body or the designee of the public body.  Nothing shall prevent however a public body from having written minutes or certifying portions of written minutes based on the audio or video recording.”

SECTION 2.  Chapter 66, section 5A of the General Laws, appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding “The requirement for a record may be satisfied by maintaining an audio or video of the meeting prepared by an employee or agent of the municipality, along with the meeting notice and agenda, certified by the Chair, Vice-Chair or Clerk of the public body or the designee of the public body.  Nothing shall prevent however a public body from having written minutes or certifying portions of written minutes based on the audio or video recording.”