Senator Erich M. Fabricius submitted the following report regarding Government Bill 90, "An Act to Compel All Student Government Deliberative Bodies to Meet in an Open Public Forum", on Sunday, April 1, 2001, on behalf of the Government Operations Committee, and pursuent to its March 26, 2001 recommendations, by unamimous consent:

As provided by Senate Rule 12(b), the committee requests that the Senate President place GB 90 on the calendar for second reading.

Attendance:

There were six (6) Senators (Burgess-Ford, Carlson, Davis, Denton, Engler, Fabricius.) present;

There were three (3) Senators (Brown, Mangum, Mcilmail.) absent;

A quorum was present.

Purpose of the Legislation:

The Open Meetings Act enacts regulations on the deliberative bodies of student government to ensure that they meet in public and keep records of their meetings. Such regualations are designed to protect a constiuent's ability to know what his or her representives are doing.

Background Information:

There has been disagreement as to rather the North Carolina Open Meetings Law applies to NCSU Student Government. Committees of Senate has variable met in private or refused to meet in private. The open meetings portion of the bill is consistant with the NC Open Meetings Law.

Debate:

Some members questioned the wisdom or practicality of requiring minutes. It was rebuted that minutes allowed absence members to be informed and provided official record of action.

Recommendations:

The Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Senate consider the Open Meetings Act.