Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 972
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       39-01181A-21                                           2021972__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to administrative entity
    3         telecommunication meetings; amending s. 163.01, F.S.;
    4         authorizing certain legal or administrative entities
    5         to conduct public meetings and workshops by means of
    6         communications media technology; revising criteria
    7         under which legal entities may conduct public meetings
    8         and workshops; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (18) of section 163.01, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         163.01 Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969.—
   15         (18) Any separate legal or administrative entity created
   16  under subsection (7) which has member public agencies located in
   17  at least five counties, of which at least three are not
   18  contiguous, or which has member public agencies located in four
   19  contiguous counties, may conduct public meetings and workshops
   20  by means of communications media technology. The notice for any
   21  such public meeting or workshop shall state that the meeting or
   22  workshop will be conducted through the use of communications
   23  media technology; specify how persons interested in attending
   24  may do so; and provide a location where communications media
   25  technology facilities are available. The participation by an
   26  officer, board member, or other representative of a member
   27  public agency in a meeting or workshop conducted through
   28  communications media technology constitutes that individual’s
   29  presence at such meeting or workshop. As used in this
   30  subsection, the term “communications media technology” means
   31  conference telephone, video conference, or other communications
   32  technology by which all persons attending a public meeting or
   33  workshop may audibly communicate.
   34         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.