By Mr. Jones of North Reading (by request), petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3205) of William C. Brown for legislation to require the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business by governmental bodies.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

William C. Brown

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act Relative to Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies Without the Presence of a Quorum.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 23B of chapter 39 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after the sixth paragraph the following new paragraph:—

   A meeting for which notice is filed and posted under the preceding paragraph shall not be convened in open or executive session unless and until a quorum of the governmental body is present.  If such a quorum is not present within a reasonable amount of time after the time stated in the notice, the members then present may convene in open session for the sole purpose of scheduling a subsequent meeting of the governmental body, and shall not deliberate any other matter.  A meeting scheduled under this paragraph shall otherwise conform to the requirements of this section.