Section 3345.82 | Electronic attendance of board of trustees' meetings.
(A) As used in this section, "electronic communication" means live, audio-enabled communication that permits the trustees attending a meeting, the trustees present in person at the place where the meeting is conducted, and all members of the public present in person at the place where the meeting is conducted to simultaneously communicate with each other during the meeting.
(B) Notwithstanding division (C) of section 121.22 and sections 3335.06 and 3343.04 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of a state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, may establish a policy that allows trustees to attend a meeting of the board of trustees via means of electronic communication. The policy shall specify at least all of the following:
(1) The number of regular meetings at which each trustee shall be present in person, which may not be less than one-half of the regular meetings of the board annually; and
(2) All of the following minimum standards regarding a meeting conducted using means of electronic communication:
(a) That at least one-third of the trustees attending the meeting shall be present in person at the place where the meeting is conducted;
(b) That all votes taken at the meeting are taken by roll call vote; and
(c) That a trustee who intends to attend a meeting via means of electronic communication notified the chairperson of that intent not less than forty-eight hours before the meeting, except in the case of a declared emergency.
(C) Notwithstanding division (C) of section 121.22 and sections 3335.06 and 3343.04 of the Revised Code, a trustee who attends a meeting via means of electronic communication is considered to be present at the meeting, is counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, and may vote at the meeting.
(D) Except as provided in this section, no person shall limit the number of trustees who may attend a meeting via means of electronic communication, limit the total number of meetings that the board may conduct using means of electronic communication, limit the number of meetings in which any one trustee may attend via means of electronic communication, or impose other limits or obligations on a trustee by virtue of the trustee's attending a meeting via means of electronic communication.
Last updated September 9, 2021 at 9:52 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 30, 2021 – Enacted by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly [ View September 30, 2021 Version ]