University of Virginia Library

APPROVAL OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL

RESOLVED, the Board of Visitors approves and endorses the proposed legislation which would extend until July 1, 2007, certain exemptions to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act relative to meetings of the Board and its Committees, in which Members may participate by video or telephone. The proposed legislation, which follows, would extend exemptions granted to the University and which expire on July 1, 2005:

§ 2.2-3709. (Effective until July 1, 2005 2007) Meetings of Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia.

• A. Members of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia may participate by video, telephone, or video and telephone at their meetings or meetings of their committees, including closed meetings convened in accordance with the procedures of § 2.2-3712, where (i) at least a quorum of such board or its committees is physically assembled at its regular, primary location or other location, (ii) any such meeting is duly convened with advance public notice in accordance with § 2.2-3707, including advance public notice of the location of the physically assembled quorum, and (iii) a speaker phone is provided at the location where the quorum of such membership is physically present.
  No more than 25 percent of all meetings held annually by such board or its committees, including meetings of any ad hoc committees, may be held by telephonic or video means.


• B. When the required quorum of such board or its committees is physically assembled at one location for the purpose of conducting a meeting authorized under this section, additional members of such board or its committees may participate in the meeting through telephonic means if

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  the public is permitted to hear such participation during any open meeting. Any interruption in the telephonic or video broadcast of the meeting shall result in the suspension of action at the open meeting until repairs are made and public access is restored.


• C. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all meetings shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter. Any meeting conducted pursuant to this section shall not be considered an "electronic communication meeting" for purposes of § 2.2-3708; however, such board or its committees shall comply with the provisions of subsection D of § 2.2-3708, requiring minutes, recordation and preservation of the audio or audio/visual recording of the meeting. Votes taken by those participating by telephone or video shall also be publicly recorded by name in roll-call fashion and shall be included in the minutes, which shall be approved by such board or its committees in public session.
  (1998, cc. 777, 839, § 2.1-343.1:1; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 475.)