H. B. No. 129 As Introduced

As Introduced

127th General Assembly

Regular Session

2007-2008

H. B. No. 129

Representatives Evans, Book

Cosponsors: Representatives Seitz, McGregor, J., Stebelton, Peterson, Yuko, Chandler, Letson, Wagoner, Garrison, Sayre

A BILL

To authorize for a two-year period a pilot program 1
that allows the members of the Ohio Developmental 2
Disabilities Council, the Ohio Statewide 3
Independent Living Council, the Governor's Council 4
on People with Disabilities, and the facility 5
governing board and judicial advisory board that 6
govern or advise on the STAR Community Justice 7
Center in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, to be present at 8
board meetings by teleconference or interactive 9
video teleconference, and to require reports on 10
the effects of member participation in meetings in 11
this manner. 12

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. For a period of two years immediately following 13
the effective date of this act, a pilot program is hereby 14
authorized that allows the Ohio Developmental Disabilities 15
Council, the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, the 16
Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, and the facility 17
governing board and the judicial advisory board that are created 18
under section 2301.51 of the Revised Code and that are involved in 19
governing and advising on the STAR Community Justice Center 20
located in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, each to adopt a rule that 21
authorizes its members to be present at council or board meetings 22
open to the public by teleconference or interactive video 23
teleconference, in lieu of being present in person at those 24
meetings, in order to be considered present or to vote at those 25
meetings and for purposes of determining whether a quorum is 26
present at those meetings. A council or board that desires to 27
allow its members to participate in meetings in this manner shall 28
adopt a rule authorizing the participation of the council's or 29
board's members in the pilot program. The rule also shall 30
establish a method to authenticate the identity of a member who 31
will be present at those meetings by teleconference or interactive 32
video teleconference. 33

       Section 2. If a rule described in Section 1 of this act is 34
adopted by a council or either or both the facility governing 35
board or the judicial advisory board, the council or the Executive 36
Director of the STAR Community Justice Center shall submit, not 37
later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act, 38
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority 39
Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the 40
Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate a report that 41
describes the effects on the operation of the council or board of 42
member participation in council or board meetings by 43
teleconference or interactive video teleconference. The report 44
shall describe any additional costs the council or board incurred, 45
and any cost savings the council orboard realized, through member 46
participation in council or board meetings in this manner. 47

        If any of the recipients of the report determines that the 48
results of the pilot program described in Section 1 of this act 49
could be profitably applied to meetings of all public bodies or 50
only to public bodies whose members must travel long distances to 51
attend meetings of the public body, the recipient may recommend 52
the relevant type of legislation for introduction. 53

Section 1. For a period of two years immediately following	13
the effective date of this act, a pilot program is hereby	14
authorized that allows the Ohio Developmental Disabilities	15
Council, the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, the	16
Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, and the facility	17
governing board and the judicial advisory board that are created	18
under section 2301.51 of the Revised Code and that are involved in	19
governing and advising on the STAR Community Justice Center	20
located in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, each to adopt a rule that	21
authorizes its members to be present at council or board meetings	22
open to the public by teleconference or interactive video	23
teleconference, in lieu of being present in person at those	24
meetings, in order to be considered present or to vote at those	25
meetings and for purposes of determining whether a quorum is	26
present at those meetings. A council or board that desires to	27
allow its members to participate in meetings in this manner shall	28
adopt a rule authorizing the participation of the council's or	29
board's members in the pilot program. The rule also shall	30
establish a method to authenticate the identity of a member who	31
will be present at those meetings by teleconference or interactive	32
video teleconference.	33

Section 2. If a rule described in Section 1 of this act is	34
adopted by a council or either or both the facility governing	35
board or the judicial advisory board, the council or the Executive	36
Director of the STAR Community Justice Center shall submit, not	37
later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act,	38
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority	39
Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the	40
Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate a report that	41
describes the effects on the operation of the council or board of	42
member participation in council or board meetings by	43
teleconference or interactive video teleconference. The report	44
shall describe any additional costs the council or board incurred,	45
and any cost savings the council orboard realized, through member	46
participation in council or board meetings in this manner.	47

If any of the recipients of the report determines that the	48
results of the pilot program described in Section 1 of this act	49
could be profitably applied to meetings of all public bodies or	50
only to public bodies whose members must travel long distances to	51
attend meetings of the public body, the recipient may recommend	52
the relevant type of legislation for introduction.	53