HB 648 — PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides relative to attendance at meetings of public bodies

HLS 26RS-690 ORIGINALENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

Provides relative to attendance at meetings of public bodies AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.42:14(E)(1)and(2),17.2(F)(2),and17.2.1(A),relativetopublicTo bodies;amend and reenact R.S.

to42:17.2(F)(2) providefortheparticipationand of17.2.1(A), certainpeoplerelative duringpublicto meetings;public bodies;

to provideforparticipationbyaparentorlegalguardianofachildundertheageoffiveprovidefortheparticipationofcertainpeopleduringpublicmeetings; andaproviderofearlychildhoodsupports orservices;

totoprovidefor provideforparticipation exceptionsforby certaina meetingsparent or legal guardian of certaina publicchild bodies;under the age of five and a provider of early childhood supports or services;

to provide for exceptions for certain meetings of certain public bodies;

42:14(E)(1)42:17.2(F)(2) and (2), 17.2(F)(2), and 17.2.1(A) are herebyamendedhereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:

§14.§17.2.

Meetings of public bodies to be open to the public * * * E.(1) Each public body that has the capability to allow a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five years old, a provider of early childhood supports orservices,oranymemberofthepublicwithadisabilityrecognizedbythe Americans with Disabilities Act or a designated caregiver of such a person to participate in its meetings via teleconference or video conferenceas defined in R.S.

42:17.2 shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to regulate and facilitate Page 1 of 4 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-690 ORIGINAL HB NO.

648 participation via teleconference or video conference for anysuch person who prior to the meeting requests that accommodation.

(2) Each public body that does not have the capability to allow a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five years old, a provider of early childhood supports or services, or any member of the public with a disability recognized bytheAmericanswith Disabilities Actor a designated caregiver of such a person to participate in its meetings via teleconference or video conference as defined in R.S.

42:17.2 shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to facilitate viable alternative methods for a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of fiveyearsold, aproviderofearlychildhoodsupports orservices,oramemberofthe public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a designated caregiver of such a person who so requests to participate in its meetings.

* * * §17.2.

* * * §17.2.1.Page 1 of 3 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-690 ENGROSSED HB NO.

648 §17.2.1.

Notwithstanding anyprovision of this Chapter that requiresamemberof a public body to be physically present in order to be counted for a quorum and to Pageparticipateandvotein 2ameeting,amemberofapublicbodywho is aparentorlegal guardian of 4a CODING:child under the age of five years old, a provider of early childhood supports or services, or has a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act shall be allowed to participate and vote in a meeting via electronic means as defined in R.S.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-690 ORIGINAL HB NO.

648 participateand votein ameeting,amemberofapublicbodywhois aparentorlegal guardian of a child under the age of five years old, a provider of early childhood supports or services, or has a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act shall be allowed to participate and vote in a meeting via electronic means as defined in R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 648 OriginalEngrossed 2026 Regular Session Brass Abstract:

Provides for the participation of a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five or a provider of earlychildhood supports or services inwho ais public meeting held by a publicmember body,of forapublicbodyandfurtherprovidesforapublic publicbodythat meetingsprimarilyfocuses held by a public body that primarily focuses on issues relatedrealty to families with children under the age of five years old,old. and for the participation of a member of a public body who is a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five or a provider of earlychildhood supports or services.

Presentlaw(R.S.42:14)providesthatmeetings ofpublicbodiesaretobeopentothepublic subject to certain limited exceptions.

Provides for the manner in which members of public bodies are to cast their votes.

Provides for the prohibition against certain types of voting.

Provides fornoticerequirementsfor public meetings.

Further provides for the capabilityof public bodies to allow any member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a designated caregiver of such a person to participate in meetings via teleconference or video conference.

Requires public bodies to adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to regulate and facilitate participation via teleconfrenece or video conference, or other viable alternative methods for such persons provided for in present law who request prior to the meetingthat accommodation.

Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires each public body that has the capabilityto allow a parent or legal guardian with a child under the age of five or a provider of early childhood supports or services to participate in its meetings via teleconference or video conference to adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to regulate and facilitate participationviateleconferenceorvideoconference,orotherviablealternativemethods for such persons provided for in proposed law who request prior to the meeting that accommodation.

Providesthatpublicbodiesthat conductmeetingspursuanttopresentlawshalllimitthenumberofsuchmeetingsunlessthe public body is strictly advisory or that primarily focuses on issues dealing with disabilities orassistingmilitaryfamilies.or assistingmilitaryfamilies.

ProvidesforthepublicbodiesthatpresentlawshallProvidesthatpresentlawdoesnotapplytocertainpublicbodies. not apply to.

PageProposed 3law retains present law and provides that if a public body primarily focuses on issues dealing with families with children under the age of 4five CODING:years old the public body is not restricted on the number of meetings conducted pursuant to present law.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-690 ORIGINAL HB NO.

648 Proposed law retains present law and provides that if a public body primarily focuses on issues dealing with families with children under the age of five years old, the public body is not restricted on the number of meetings conducted pursuant to present law.

Proposed law retains present law and provides that if a publicmember bodyof has a memberpublic body who is a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five years old or a provider of early childhood supports or services,services themay member shall be allowed to participate and vote in a meeting via electronic means.means as provided in present law.