Bill Text: GA HB1305 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Local government entities; citizens have right to speak at meetings; provide

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-09 - House Second Readers [HB1305 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB1305-Introduced.html

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10 LC 28 5155

House Bill 1305

By: Representatives Hatfield of the 177th, Loudermilk of the 14th, Roberts of the 154th, Allison of the 8th, Davis of the 109th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to provide that citizens shall have the right to address or speak to the county or municipal governing authority or school board on official actions or other topics relating to the business of the governing authority or school board at meetings of the governing authority or school board under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, is amended by revising Code Section 36-80-1, which was previously reserved, as follows:

"36-80-1.

Reserved Any citizen shall have the right to address or speak to the governing authority of the county or the municipality in which such citizen resides or the school board of the school district in which such citizen resides for not longer than five minutes on official actions or other topics relating to the business of the governing authority or school board at meetings of the governing authority or school board by expressing his or her desire to speak no later than the beginning of the meeting at which such citizen desires to address or speak to the governing authority or school board. The governing authority or school board may enact reasonable restrictions on the exercise of such right, including, but not limited to, decorum and identification of speakers; provided, however, that the governing authority or school board shall not impose any requirements that such citizens sign up or express their desire to speak at any earlier time or date than provided in this Code section."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.