Senate committee approves change in open meetings law

Members of a state or local government board should be allowed to attend any meeting of another government board without giving public notice, according to a measure passed Monday by a South Dakota Senate committee.

According to the current state open meetings law, all state and local boards as well as commissions and other agencies are required to give 24 hours notice with an agenda before holding a meeting. The new law will allow members of a board or commission attending a meeting simply to observe or to provide information to be exempt from providing public notice.