BILL NUMBER: SB 103	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        JANUARY 12, 2011

   An act to amend Section 11123 of the Government Code, relating to
state government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 103, as introduced, Liu. State government: meetings:
teleconferencing.
   Existing law authorizes a state body to conduct teleconference
meetings.
   This bill would urge a state body, to the extent legally or
financially possible, to conduct teleconference meetings.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) That teleconferencing is a green technology, allowing
organizations to mitigate energy use by dramatically reducing the
need to travel.
   (b) By communicating over video or telephone, organizations can
also substantially reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the need
to travel via high-emission methods, such as flying or driving.
   (c) Teleconferencing saves money by reducing the number of trips
taken annually, and this monetary savings is multiplied by the cost
of transportation to and from the airport, the flight, per diem
expenses, salary of time lost in traveling, and other incidental
expenses of travel.
   (d) The amount saved by teleconferencing greatly exceeds the
minimal cost of investing and implementing teleconferencing
solutions, such as the cost for new equipment, services, and
training.
   (e) Therefore it is the intent of the Legislature that state
bodies, to the extent possible, conduct teleconference meetings in
order to save the environment and save the state money.
  SEC. 2.  Section 11123 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   11123.  (a) All meetings of a state body shall be open and public
and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of a state
body except as otherwise provided in this article.
   (b) (1) This article does not prohibit a state body from holding
an open or closed meeting by teleconference for the benefit of the
public and state body. The meeting or proceeding held by
teleconference shall otherwise comply with all applicable
requirements or laws relating to a specific type of meeting or
proceeding, including the following:
   (A) The teleconferencing meeting shall comply with all
requirements of this article applicable to other meetings.
   (B) The portion of the teleconferenced meeting that is required to
be open to the public shall be audible to the public at the location
specified in the notice of the meeting.
   (C) If the state body elects to conduct a meeting or proceeding by
teleconference, it shall post agendas at all teleconference
locations and conduct teleconference meetings in a manner that
protects the rights of any party or member of the public appearing
before the state body. Each teleconference location shall be
identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, and
each teleconference location shall be accessible to the public. The
agenda shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to
address the state body directly pursuant to Section 11125.7 at each
teleconference location.
   (D) All votes taken during a teleconferenced meeting shall be by
rollcall.
   (E) The portion of the teleconferenced meeting that is closed to
the public may not include the consideration of any agenda item being
heard pursuant to Section 11125.5.
   (F) At least one member of the state body shall be physically
present at the location specified in the notice of the meeting.
   (2) For the purposes of this subdivision, "teleconference" means a
meeting of a state body, the members of which are at different
locations, connected by electronic means, through either audio or
both audio and video. This section does not prohibit a state body
from providing members of the public with additional locations in
which the public may observe or address the state body by electronic
means, through either audio or both audio and video. 
   (c) A state body shall, to the extent legally or financially
possible, conduct teleconference meetings, subject to the
requirements set out in subdivision (b).