HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2454 FILED ON: 1/17/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2867
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 passage of the accompanying:
An Act relative to the use of audio or video recordings as minutes of public bodies.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Denise Provost | 27th Middlesex |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2454 FILED ON: 1/17/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2867
By Ms. Provost of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2867) of Denise Provost relative to the use of audio or video recordings as minutes of public bodies. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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.”
