Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Virginia FOIA Council Meets

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Council met Tuesday, August 4, 2020 to elect a new chair and vice chair, appoint subcommittees, and to review legislation referred to the council during the 2020 session of the Virginia General Assembly. The meeting of the Council was held virtually under emergency provisions for public proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Council members elected Senator Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton) Chair and Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax) as Vice-Chair. 

The Council also reviewed HB321 (Levine) which was referred for review during he 2020 session of the General Assembly. Delegate Mark Levine was present and provided the Council with an overview and history of the bill. Delegate Levine explained that the legislation would allow members of public boards and commissions exemptions to attend a meeting electronically when a serious medical condition of an immediate family member exists. The legislation would permit a public body to conduct a meeting through electronic communication means if, on or before the day of a meeting, a member of the public body holding the meeting notifies the chair of the public body that he is unable to attend due to a serious medical condition of an immediate family member that prevents the member's physical attendance. The bill also limits such participation in an electronic meeting due to a personal 2 matter to either two meetings per calendar year or 10 percent of the meetings held that calendar year, rounded up to the nearest whole number, whichever is greater. 

Senator Locke thanked Delegate Levine for his presentation and informed Council members that the legislation would be reviewed further at its next meeting.

To review the agenda of the FOIA Council meeting, please click here. If you have any questions about the actions taken during this meeting, please contact VSBA Government Relations Specialist J.T. Kessler at jason@vsba.org.