A. Is there a right to participate in public meetings?

We know of no law that broadly confers upon the public a right to comment in public meetings. However, there are statutes governing specific organizations that provide that the public must be given an opportunity to comment at public meetings. Those statutes are as follows:

Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust: The Board of Trustees must hold a public meeting annually to present information on the Forever Wild Land Trust to the public and to give the public an opportunity to have a dialogue with the Board regarding its plans and operations. Ala. Const. Amend. No. 453 § 5(d).

City Boards of Commissioners: All meetings of city boards of commissioners are open to the public "and every citizen of the municipality shall have a right to be heard on any subject relating to the business or conduct of the municipality." Ala. Code § 11-44-127 (1989).

County Boards of Education: County boards of education each must hold an annual meeting to give the public an opportunity to present to the board matters relating to the allotment of public school funds or any other matter relating to the administration of the public schools of the county. Ala. Code §  16-8-3 (2001).

State Board of Education: Before adopting or rejecting any textbook, which must be done at a public meeting, the State Board of Education must allow members of the public a reasonable time to be heard concerning any book recommended for adoption or rejection. Ala. Code §  16-36-61(d) (2001).

State Board of Pardons and Paroles: Any interested person has a right to present his or her views to the board. Ala. Code § 15-22-23(c)(8) (Supp. 2005).

Political parties: The public may attend, but cannot participate in a mass meeting or beat meeting of a political party. Ala. Code § 17-16-43(b) (1995).

Public corporations: Any public corporation adopting rules or procedures for the implementation or enforcement of the powers conferred upon it by the Legislature must have a public hearing and "afford the public and interested parties an opportunity to offer written comments, and to present testimony and evidence in support of their respective positions as to the proposed resolutions, ordinances, remedies or procedures and may have counsel to represent them at their own expense." Ala. Code § 11-89C-4(b)(1) (Supp. 2005).