1975 SB243 Enrolled Bills Amendment

SENATE BILL No. 243

INTRODUCED BY: Sen. Foley of Dist. 24 Rep. Hager of Merrimack 21
Sen. R. Smith of Dist. 15 Rep. Chambers of Grafton 13
Sen. Rock of Dist. 12

REFERRED TO: Committee on Judiciary

AN ACT permitting the use of recording devices in public meetings.

ANALYSIS

This bill permits the use of recording devices, including tape recorders, cameras and videotape equipment, by any person at a public meeting of any governmental body or agency subject to the right to know law.


SB 243

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five

AN ACT

permitting the use of recording devices in public meetings.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Recording Devices Permitted. Amend RSA 91-A:2 (supp), as inserted by 1967, 251:1, as amended, by inserting in line three after the word "agencies" the following (Any person shall be permitted to use recording devices, including but not limited to, tape recorders, cameras and videotape equipment, at such meetings.) and by striking out in line seven the words "section 5 of this chapter" and inserting in place thereof the following (RSA 91-A:5) so that said section as amended shall read as follows:

91-A:2 Meetings Open to the Public. All public proceedings shall be open to the public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meetings of those bodies or agencies. Any person shall be permitted to use recording devices, including but not limited to, tape recorders, cameras and videotape equipment, at such meetings. Minutes of all such meetings, including names of members, persons appearing before the bodies or agencies, and a brief description of the subject matter discussed and final decisions shall be promptly recorded and open to public inspection within seventy-two hours of the public meeting, except as provided by RSA 91-A:5, and shall be treated as permanent records of any body or agency, without exception. Except in an emergency or when there is a meeting of a legislative committee, a notice of the time and place of each such meeting shall be posted in two appropriate public places or shall be printed in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town at least twenty-four hours, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, prior to such meetings. An emergency shall mean a situation where immediate undelayed action is deemed to be imperative and the minutes of the meeting shall clearly spell out the need for the emergency meeting. When a meeting of a legislative committee is held, publication made pursuant to the rules of the house of representatives shall be sufficient notice. If the charter of any city or guide lines set down by the appointing authority requires a broader public access to official meetings and records than herein described, such charter provisions or guide lines shall take precedence over the requirements of this chapter.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect sixty days after its passage.