SB 581

This bill establishes certain requirements for meetings of the board of directors

of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and formally constituted

subunits of the board, such as committees established by the board. Under current

law, the state's open meetings requirements apply to WEDC's board and formally

constituted subunits of the board. In addition to satisfying those requirements,

under the bill, meetings of the board or a formally constituted subunit of the board

that are held at least in part in open session must satisfy all of the following:

1. Be conducted at the state capitol unless otherwise approved by the board.

2. Be broadcast to the public in the same manner and to the same extent as

legislative committee meetings.

3. Include a period of public comment. Current law generally authorizes, but

does not require, a public comment period during which a governmental body may

receive information from members of the public.

The bill also increases the membership of WEDC's board by one majority and

one minority party member of each house of the legislature, bringing the number of

legislative members of the board to eight and the total number of voting members

to 16.