SENATE, No. 2147

By Mr. Hedlund (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2147) of Owen O'Malley for legislation to provide public access to House and Senate deliberations. Rules (Senate).
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO HOUSE AND SENATE DELIBERATIONS

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

Chapter 5 of the General laws is hereby amended by adding after section 18 the following new section:-

Section 19. The House and Senate shall make its formal sessions available to the public in a manner reasonably accessible via television or Internet video.  All such images, video, accounts, descriptions and text are the property of the people.

The House and Senate shall provide Web access to roll call votes within one business day of such votes taking place. All bills currently before the Legislature shall be posted on its Web site.

The Legislature shall provide notification via its Web site of the date, time, and place of its public hearings a minimum of 10 days prior to such public hearings.