Senate Bill 2378

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-41-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE POSTING OF BOARD MINUTES BY STATE AGENCIES ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 25-41-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-41-11. (1) (a) Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of a public body, whether in open or executive session, showing the members present and absent; the date, time and place of the meeting; an accurate recording of any final actions taken at such meeting; and a record, by individual member, of any votes taken; and any other information that the public body requests be included or reflected in the minutes. The minutes shall be recorded within a reasonable time not to exceed * * * ~~thirty (30)~~ sixty (60) days after recess or adjournment and shall be open to public inspection during regular business hours.

(b) Minutes recorded by a state agency, other than a legislative committee, shall be posted on the state agency's website or the Department of Finance and Administration's searchable website created by the Mississippi Accountability and Transparency Act, Section 27-104-153 et seq. The state agency shall post such minutes within a reasonable time after the meeting, not to exceed sixty (60) days after the meeting. For purposes of this subsection, the term "state agency" means an agency, department, institution, board, commission, council, office, bureau, division, committee or subcommittee of the state. However, the term "state agency" does not include institutions of higher learning, community and junior colleges, counties or municipalities.

(2) Minutes of a meeting conducted by teleconference or video means shall comply with the requirements of Section 25-41-5.

(3) Minutes of legislative committee meetings shall consist of a written record of attendance and final actions taken at such meetings.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.