Sec. 1-225a. Meetings of public agencies conducted by electronic equipment. (a) As used in this section, “public agency”, “meeting”, “executive session”, “electronic equipment” and “electronic transmission” have the same meanings as provided in section 1-200. On and after July 1, 2021, a public agency may hold a public meeting that is accessible to the public by means of electronic equipment or by means of electronic equipment in conjunction with an in-person meeting, in accordance with the provisions of this section. Not less than forty-eight hours before any public agency, except for the General Assembly, conducts a regular meeting by means of electronic equipment, such agency shall provide direct notification in writing or by electronic transmission to each member of the public agency and post a notice that such agency intends to conduct the meeting solely or in part by means of electronic equipment (1) in the agency's regular office or place of business, (2) in the office and on the Internet web site of the Secretary of the State for any such public agency of the state or quasi-public agency, in the office of the clerk of such subdivision for any public agency of a political subdivision of the state that is not a quasi-public agency, or in the office of the clerk of each municipal member of any multitown district or agency, and (3) if the agency has an Internet web site, on such Internet web site. Not less than twenty-four hours prior to any such meeting, such agency shall post the agenda for any such meeting in the same manner as the notice of the meeting in accordance with subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection. Such notice and agenda shall include instructions for the public, to attend and provide comment or otherwise participate in the meeting, by means of electronic equipment or in person, as applicable and permitted by law. Any such notice and agenda shall be posted in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225.

(b) Any public agency that conducts a meeting, other than an executive session or special meeting, as described in this section, solely by means of electronic equipment, shall (1) provide any member of the public (A) upon a written request submitted not less than twenty-four hours prior to such meeting, with a physical location and any electronic equipment necessary to attend such meeting in real-time, and (B) the same opportunities to provide comment or testimony and otherwise participate in such meeting that such member of the public would be accorded if such meeting were held in person, except that a public agency is not required to adjourn or postpone a meeting if a member of the public loses the ability to participate because of an interruption, failure or degradation of such person's connection to the meeting by electronic equipment; (2) ensure that such meeting is recorded or transcribed, excluding any portion of the meeting that is an executive session, and such transcription or recording is posted on the agency's Internet web site and made available to the public to view, listen to and copy in the agency's office or regular place of business not later than seven days after the meeting and for not less than forty-five days thereafter; and (3) if a quorum of the members of a public agency attend a meeting by means of electronic equipment from the same physical location, permit members of the public to attend such meeting in such physical location. Any public agency that conducts a meeting shall provide members of the public agency the opportunity to participate by means of electronic equipment, except that a public agency is not required to adjourn or postpone a meeting if a member loses the ability to participate because of an interruption, failure or degradation of that member's connection by electronic equipment, unless the member's participation is necessary to form a quorum.

(c) Any public agency other than the General Assembly that conducts a special meeting shall include in the notice of such meeting whether the meeting will be conducted solely or in part by means of electronic equipment and, not less than twenty-four hours prior to such meeting, shall post such notice and an agenda of the meeting in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 1-225. If such special meeting is to be conducted by means of electronic equipment, such notice and agenda shall include instructions for the public, by means of electronic equipment or in person, to attend and provide comment or otherwise participate in the meeting, as applicable and permitted by law.

(d) Any vote taken at a meeting during which any member participates by means of electronic equipment shall be taken by roll call, unless the vote is unanimous. The minutes of the meeting shall record a list of members that attended such meeting in person and a list of members that attended such meeting by means of electronic equipment.

(e) Any member of a public agency or the public who participates orally in a meeting of a public agency conducted by means of electronic equipment shall make a good faith effort to state such member's name and title, if applicable, at the outset of each occasion that such member participates orally during an uninterrupted dialogue or series of questions and answers.

(f) Whenever a meeting being conducted by means of electronic equipment is interrupted by the failure, disconnection or, in the chairperson's determination, unacceptable degradation of the electronic means of conducting a meeting, or if a member necessary to form a quorum loses the ability to participate because of the interruption, failure or degradation of such member's connection by electronic equipment, the public agency may, not less than thirty minutes and not more than two hours from the time of the interruption or the chairperson's determination, resume the meeting (1) in person, if a quorum is present in person, or (2) if a quorum is restored by means of electronic equipment, solely or in part by such electronic equipment. In each case of resumption of such meeting, electronic access shall be restored to the public if such capability has been restored. The public agency shall, if practicable, post a notification on its Internet web site and inform attendees by electronic transmission of the expected time of resumption or of the adjournment or postponement of the meeting, as applicable, and may announce at the beginning of any meeting what preplanned procedures are in place for resumption of a meeting in the event of an interruption as described in this subsection.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a public agency to offer members of the public who attend a meeting by means of electronic equipment the opportunity for public comment, testimony or other participation if the provision of such opportunity is not required by law for members of the public who attend such a meeting in person.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 149; P.A. 22-3, S. 1.)