New York Webcasting Executive Order
From:
Steven Clift
Date:
2007 Mar 01 17:08 UTC
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Steven Clift
http://dowire.org
From:
http://tinyurl.com/27q85o
New York to Require Agencies to Webcast Meetings
February 27, 2007 News Release
New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer's Executive Order Number Three
requires that each state agency and public authority shall, by March
1, "Submit to the secretary to the governor a plan that: (a)
identifies all meetings of such agency or authority that are subject
to the Open Meetings Law; and (b) specifies a timetable for ensuring
that all such meetings are broadcast on the Internet." The order
contains provisions for exemption, but other than that: "All agency
and authority meetings that are subject to the Open Meetings Law
shall be broadcast on the Internet commencing no later than July 1,
2007. Every agency and public authority shall submit a report to the
secretary to the governor by December 31, 2007, setting forth the
number of meetings webcast during the prior year, together with a
summary of any comments received from the public regarding the
webcasting, and any recommendations for changes or improvements to
the program."
The Executive Order itself:
http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/exeorders/3.html
EXECUTIVE ORDER
No 3: PROMOTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT DECISIONMAKING
WHEREAS, it is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society
that the public business be performed in an open and public manner;
and
WHEREAS, the citizens of this State be fully aware of and able to
observe the performances of public officials and attend and listen to
the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public
policy; and
WHEREAS, the people must be able to remain informed if they are to
retain control over those who are their public servants; and
WHEREAS, the Open Meetings Law requires every meeting of a public
body shall be open to the general public; and
WHEREAS, the majority of New Yorkers are unable to attend such
meetings; and
WHEREAS advances in technology allow for the broadcast of meetings on
the Internet through the use of webcasting;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the
laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
1. Definitions
"Agency" shall mean any state agency, department, office, board,
commission or other instrumentality of the State, other than a public
authority.
"Public authority" shall mean a public authority or public benefit
corporation created by or existing under any State law, at least one
of whose members is appointed by the Governor (including any
subsidiaries of such public authority or public benefit corporation),
other than an interstate or international authority or public benefit
corporation.
2. Requirement to Broadcast Public Meetings
By March 1, 2007, every agency and public authority shall submit to
the Secretary to the Governor a plan that: (a) identifies all
meetings of such agency or authority that are subject to the Open
Meetings Law; and (b) specifies a timetable for ensuring that all
such meetings are broadcast on the Internet. Such plan may identify
circumstances in which such webcasting is either impractical or
inappropriate, and may seek approval for exemption from the
requirement for webcasting. Except in those circumstances where an
exemption is granted, all agency and authority meetings that are
subject to the Open Meetings Law shall be broadcast on the Internet
commencing no later than July 1, 2007. Every agency and public
authority shall submit a report to the Secretary to the Governor by
December 31, 2007, setting forth the number of meetings webcast
during the prior year, together with a summary of any comments
received from the public regarding the webcasting, and any
recommendations for changes or improvements to the program.
G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City
of Albany this first day of January in the year two thousand seven.
Eliot Spitzer, Governor
Richard Baum, Secretary to the Governor
^ ^ ^ ^
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