Temporary Waiver of Open Meetings Law Requirements

On September 1, 2021, the Legislature passed a temporary amendment to the Open Meetings Law as part of Chapter 417 of the Laws of 2021, which the Governor signed the next day.

Through January 15, 2022, the following rules apply to charter school education corporation board of trustees meetings:

• Meeting must still be noticed in accordance with the Open Meetings Law but the notice does not have to include the location of every trustee who may be participating via videoconference or conference telephone.
• The meeting notice must include how the public will be able to access the meeting via telephone or videoconference (weblink).
• The meeting must be recorded, and later transcribed, with such transcription to be available through the N.Y. Freedom of Information Law.

As a best practice, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute recommends using a school site as a videoconference location for those who do not have computer or internet access.