LAC 46:LXI.705. Meetings

A. Regular Meetings. The board shall hold at least four regular meetings each year. B. Special Meetings. The chairman or the secretary may call special meetings when considered necessary. Upon written request of at least six board members, the chairman is required to call a special meeting. C. Open Meetings. Every meeting of the board shall be open to the public, unless closed as an executive session. D. Meeting Dates. Written public notice of the dates, times, and places of all regular meetings shall be given at the beginning of each calendar year. E. Separate Notice of All Meetings. In addition, separate written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting shall be given no later than 24 hours before the holding of the meeting. This separate notice shall include the agenda, date, time and place of the meeting. F. Posting of Notice. The written public notice discussed in §705.D and E shall include: 1. posting a copy of the notice at the office of the board; or 2. publication of the notice on the board website no less than 24 hours before the meeting. G. Notice to Board Members. Notice of all meetings, in conformity with §705.D and E, shall be given in writing to each board member by the executive director. H. Quorum. A simple majority of board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. I. Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the board at all meetings, except as otherwise provided herein or by law. J. Location of Meetings. All meetings shall be held at the board office, unless, in the judgment of the chairman, it is necessary, convenient or preferable to meet elsewhere. K. Meetings via Electronic Means. In any calendar year in which the board holds six or more regular meetings, the board may conduct up to one-third of its meetings via electronic means and will only conduct successive meetings via electronic means as needed. 1. The written public notice of a meeting via electronic means shall include detailed information regarding how members of the public may: a. participate in the meeting via electronic means, including the applicable teleconference and/or video conference link to the meeting. b. submit written comments regarding matters on the agenda prior to the meeting. 2. For any meeting conducted via electronic means, the board shall ensure compliance with all requirements outlined in R.S. 42:17.2(C). 3. The written public notice discussed in §705.D shall indicate which meetings will be conducted via electronic means and which will be conducted as in-person meetings. 4. All board members, whether participating in the meeting at the anchor location or via electronic means, shall be counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum and may vote. 5. An online archive of any meetings conducted via electronic means shall be maintained and available to the public on the board’s website for at least two years. 6. No board member who participates in a meeting via electronic means shall be eligible to or receive per diem for attendance at the meeting. 7. For purposes of this Section, anchor location is defined as the public location at which the board holds in-person meetings or is specifically equipped with the technology necessary to hold meetings via electronic means. 8. For purposes of this Section, meeting via electronic means is defined as a meeting at which one or more board members or members of the public participate via teleconference or video conference. L. Accessibility by People with Disabilities. The board is obligated to provide for participation in all meetings via electronic means on an individualized basis by people with disabilities. 1. For purposes of this Section, people with disabilities are defined as any of the following: a. a member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act; b. a designated caregiver of such a person; or c. a board member with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 2. The written public notice of a meeting shall include the name, telephone number and email address of the board representative to whom people with disabilities may submit requests to participate in the meeting via electronic means. 3. People with disabilities who submit a request to participate in a meeting via electronic means shall be provided with a teleconference and/or video conference link to the meeting as soon as possible following receipt of their request, but no later than the start of the meeting. 4. Board members with disabilities recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act who participate in meetings via electronic means shall be counted for the purposes of establishing a quorum and may vote.