NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - House vote would let local officials meet online

House vote would let local officials meet online

Associated Press - April 2, 2009 12:25 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The House has unanimously passed a measure to allow members of local governments to communicate in online chat rooms without violating Tennessee's open meetings laws.

Republican Rep. Bill Dunn, the bill's main sponsor, says the proposal would be modeled on a pilot program in effect in his hometown of Knoxville.

Any online discussions would have to be open to public inspection, and all votes would have to be made in person. It would be up to local governments to decide whether to participate in the online program.

The House passed the measure on a 97-0 vote. The companion bill is awaiting a full Senate vote.

Read HB0533 at: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.