SB 55

This bill authorizes city councils and the boards of villages, counties, school

districts, and technical college districts to satisfy their legal obligation to publish the

proceedings of regular and special meetings by posting a copy of the proceedings in

a public place, electronically placing a copy of the proceedings on the Internet site

maintained by the respective governmental unit, and transmitting a copy to the

newspaper designated by the governmental unit or likely to give notice in the

territory of the governmental unit. Generally, proceedings are defined as the

substance of every official action taken by a local governing body at any meeting of

the governing body. With some exceptions, current law requires each of these

governmental units to publish proceedings of meetings held by the council or board

in a newspaper published in the jurisdiction.

Under the bill, before the governmental unit may discontinue publication in a

newspaper, the governmental unit must do the following:

1. Provide 180 days' notice to the newspaper.

2. Publish two separate notices in the newspaper indicating that it will

discontinue publication in the newspaper and will instead post, electronically place,

and transmit the proceedings. The governmental unit may discontinue publication

of its proceedings 30 days after the second notice required under this provision.

3. Establish an electronic notification service to notify interested individuals

and organizations in the governmental unit each time the proceedings are posted,

electronically placed, and transmitted.