Montana House endorses measure to clarify open meetings laws
HELENA — The Montana House gave initial approval Monday to a bill to clarify that county commissioners can travel together or attend the same event without violating the state's open meeting laws, despite objections that the measure could lead to less public participation.
The bill by Republican state Sen. Pat Connell, of Hamilton, says that a gathering of a majority of county commissioners at an event or traveling in the same vehicle does not constitute a meeting unless official business is discussed. If they discuss business, the members must provide a report at their next public meeting about what happened.
All county commission meetings must be open to the public and notice must be given at least two days ahead of a meeting. County commissioners who gather anywhere without that public notice could be in violation of open meeting laws, under the current law.
Republican state Rep. Denley Loge, of St. Regis, who carried Connell's bill in the House, said the clarification is needed in counties where small populations mean that a quorum of county commissioners can found at a basketball game or even a funeral.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/montana-house-endorses-measure-to-clarify-open-meetings-laws/article_cba5b844-a0d9-5416-b7a3-82f2f4c0cf0c.html