2017 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 147 BY SENATOR WALSWORTH A RESOLUTION To urge and request that legislation allowing school boards and local governing authorities be authorized to go into executive session when discussing economic development projects be included in the call for any special legislative session in 2017. WHEREAS, current law provides that a public body may hold executive sessions upon an affirmative vote, taken at an open meeting for which notice has been given pursuant to R.S. 42:19, of two-thirds of its constituent members present; and WHEREAS, an executive session shall be limited to matters allowed to be exempted from discussion at open meetings by R.S. 42:17; however, no final or binding action shall be taken during an executive session; and WHEREAS, the vote of each member on the question of holding such an executive session and the reason for holding such an executive session shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the meeting; and WHEREAS, nothing in current law shall be construed to require that any meeting be closed to the public; and WHEREAS, exceptions that allow for executive sessions described in R.S. 42:17 are authorized by law; and WHEREAS, the undertaking of an economic development project may require school boards and local governing authorities to hold executive sessions to discuss pertinent matters related to the projects; and WHEREAS, it is essential that school boards and local governing authorities are permitted to hold executive sessions for discussion of economic development projects; and WHEREAS, it is appropriate to request that legislation allowing school boards and local governing authorities be authorized to go into executive session to discuss economic development projects be included into the call for any special legislative session that may be called in 2017. Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 147 ENROLLED THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby request that legislation allowing school boards and local governing authorities be authorized to go into executive session when discussing economic development projects be included in the call for any special legislative session in 2017. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Governor John Bel Edwards. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 2 of 2