Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0585

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Redefines a "meeting" to include gatherings, whether in person or by telephone call, video or audio conference, electronic means (such as e-mail, chat, and instant messaging), or other means of contemporaneous interactive communication, of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business (now, a gathering of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business). Requires that the number of public body members necessary to constitute a quorum must be physically present at an open meeting and permits participation and voting by other members by audio and video conference. Allows members of a public body with statewide jurisdiction who are physically present in Chicago or Springfield to count towards a quorum if the meeting is held simultaneously in both places through interactive videoconference and notice and public access requirements are met. Exempts certain State bodies and boards with advisory or non-binding functions from the requirement of physical presence of a quorum. Requires that a quorum of members of a public body without statewide jurisdiction must be physically present at a closed meeting and permits participation and voting by other members by video or audio conference. Permits a public body to authorize attendance at meetings by audio or video conference, other than closed meetings of public bodies with statewide jurisdiction; authorizes those public bodies to adopt rules for such attendance. Makes other changes.

Removes the exemption for public bodies with statewide jurisdiction from the requirement of physical presence of a quorum at one location of an open meeting when the meeting is held simultaneously in Springfield and Chicago through an interactive video conference. Establishes the same exemption for a public body, except one with jurisdiction limited to a specific geographic area less than statewide, when the meeting is held simultaneously at one of the public body's offices and elsewhere in one or more public buildings through an interactive video conference. Removes the provision that voting members of a public body, other than one with statewide jurisdiction, not physically present at a closed meeting may vote at the closed meeting by means of video or audio conference. Makes other changes.

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