SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 702, 3080, 3188 PRINTER'S NO. 3419
No. 637 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, DeLUCA, FEE, OLASZ, PRESTON, PISTELLA,
TRELLO, LAUGHLIN, VAN HORNE, BILLOW, BELFANTI, DALEY, CAWLEY,
COLAIZZO, CIVERA, GIGLIOTTI, MIHALICH, PESCI, GEIST, STISH,
STABACK, BUNT, STURLA, LESCOVITZ, JOHNSON, LAWLESS,
D. W. SNYDER, SURRA, KING, CORNELL, TELEK, NOYE,
E. Z. TAYLOR, JAMES AND KRUSZEWSKI, MARCH 12, 1991
SENATOR LEMMOND, STATE GOVERNMENT, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED,
APRIL 7, 1992
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388, No.84), entitled "An
2 act requiring public agencies to hold certain meetings and
3 hearings open to the public; and providing penalties,"
4 further providing for open meetings by prohibiting certain
5 rules and regulations; and providing for public comment; AND <--
6 FURTHER PROVIDING FOR RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCAST COVERAGE
7 OF SESSIONS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 10 of the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388,
11 No.84), known as the Sunshine Act, is amended to read:
12 Section 10. Rules and regulations for conduct of meetings.
13 (a) Agency rules.--Nothing in this act shall prohibit the
14 agency from adopting, by official action, the rules and
15 regulations necessary for the conduct of its meetings and the
16 maintenance of order. The rules and regulations shall not be
17 made to violate the intent of this act.
1 (b) Multiple meeting sites.--No agency shall adopt or
2 approve any rule or regulation which will permit an open meeting
3 to be held simultaneously at two different locations or at two
4 different sites at the same location.
5 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
6 Section 10.1. Public comment.
7 The board or council of any county, city, borough, town,
8 township or school district shall provide a reasonable
9 opportunity at each meeting for residents and taxpayers to
10 address the board or council on matters of concern. In addition,
11 nothing in this section shall limit the ability of the board or
12 council of any county, city, borough, town, township or school
13 district to conduct special meetings to receive comments from
14 residents and taxpayers; provided, however, that such special
15 meetings be convened within 30 days of the regular meeting which
16 created the need for the special meeting.
17 SECTION 3. SECTION 11 OF THE ACT IS AMENDED TO READ: <--
18 SECTION 11. USE OF EQUIPMENT DURING MEETINGS.
19 (A) RECORDING DEVICES.--EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION
20 (B), A PERSON ATTENDING A MEETING OF AN AGENCY SHALL HAVE THE
21 RIGHT TO USE RECORDING DEVICES TO RECORD ALL THE PROCEEDINGS.
22 NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT THE AGENCY FROM ADOPTING
23 AND ENFORCING REASONABLE RULES FOR THEIR USE UNDER SECTION 10.
24 (B) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.--THE
25 SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY ADOPT RULES GOVERNING
26 THE RECORDING [OR BROADCAST] OF THEIR SESSIONS AND MEETINGS AND
27 HEARINGS OF COMMITTEES. BEGINNING NO LATER THAN THE SESSION
28 FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, THE SENATE AND HOUSE
29 OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL ADOPT RULES PROVIDING FOR TELEVISION
30 AND RADIO BROADCAST COVERAGE OF THEIR SESSIONS.
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1 Section 3 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days. <--
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