Researcher: JS Page 1 4/14/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 467
AN ACT PERMITTING REMOTE PUBLIC MEETINGS UNDER THE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
SUMMARY
Under the state’s Freedom of Information Act, public agencies must
generally make their meetings, other than executive sessions, open to
the public. Current law allows these agencies, until April 30, 2022, to
hold meetings that are accessible to the public through electronic
equipment (e.g., by telephone, video, or other conferencing platforms)
or electronic equipment combined with an in-person meeting (hybrid
meetings) (PA 21-2, June Special Session (JSS), § 149).
This bill removes the sunset date and allows public agencies to
continue holding remote and hybrid meetings, as long as they comply
with existing law’s requirements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
Remote and Hybrid Meeting Requirements
PA 21-2, JSS, § 149, established requirements for public agencies to
hold remote or hybrid meetings. For example, for remote meetings,
agencies must provide members of the public with a physical location
and the equipment needed to attend the meeting in real-time, if
requested, and the same opportunities to participate they would have if
the meeting were held in-person. It also (1) requires agencies to, among
other things, create recordings or transcripts of remote public meetings
and make them available to the public for at least 45 days and (2)
establishes the conditions under which remote meetings that are
interrupted may be resumed.
RELATED BILL 2022SB-00467-R000479-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JS Page 2 4/14/22
sHB 5269, favorably reported by the Planning and Development
committee, also removes the sunset date in PA 21-2, JSS, § 149.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 12 Nay 6 (03/29/2022)