D.C. Law 25-53. Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2023.

AN ACT

To amend, on a temporary basis, the Open Meetings Act of 2010 to provide that a meeting shall be deemed open to the public if the public body takes steps reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2023".

Sec. 2. The Open Meetings Act of 2010, effective March 31, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-350; D.C. Official Code § 2-571 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 405(a) (D.C. Official Code § 2-575(a)) is amended as follows:

(1) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase "; or" and inserting a semicolon in its place.

(2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase "; or" in its place.

(3) A new paragraph (4) is added to read as follows:

"(4) The public body takes steps reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable.".

(b) Section 407(a)(1) (D.C. Official Code § 2-577(a)(1)) is amended by striking the phrase "attend the meeting;" and inserting the phrase "attend the meeting, or steps are taken that are reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable;" in its place.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813, D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.