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Choice of Electronic Forum for Open Public Meetings

Choice of Electronic Forum for Open Public Meetings
The COVID-19 Bill Package amended the Open Public Meetings Act to allow public bodies to conduct meetings and receive public comments by means of electronic communication during a state of emergency, public health emergency or state of local disaster emergency. When choosing electronic forums, it is important for public bodies to consider people who do not have access to smart phones, computers or other devices needed to participate in sophisticated electronic forums such as video conferences and social-media streams. In light of this consideration, public bodies that utilize sophisticated electronic forums should also provide a regular telephone dial-in that allows attendees to participate in the meeting.