Conspicuous Statement

The legislature made several changes to Arizona’s Open Meeting Law this year. The changes have taken effect on July 29th 2010. In order to meet this requirement, Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center will post all meeting notices electronically via the website on the district homepage at www.aaechs.com. A hard copy of the agenda will be posted at the district office in the lobby located at 3636 N. Central AVE. Phoenix Arizona 85012 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

The Legislature made several changes to Arizona’s Open Meeting Law this year. These changes impact all public bodies, including Charter Schools, and will take effect on July 29, 2010. See HB 2209 (Laws 2010, 2nd Reg. Sess., ch. 88)

Notice Requirements for Charter Schools

Charter schools were previously required to file a statement with the Arizona Secretary of State indicating where the public notices of their meetings would be posted. They no longer need to do so. Instead, charter schools now must:

• “conspicuously post” on their website a statement indicating the physical and electronic locations where all public notices of their meetings will be posted; and
• post all public meeting notices on their website; and
• provide “additional public notice” of all meetings as is “reasonable and practicable.”

Technical Problems

The law also provides that if a public body’s website experiences a technological problem or failure that either prevents the posting of the required meeting notices or that temporarily or permanently prevents the use of all or part of the website, it may still hold the meeting without violating the Open Meeting Law, as long as it has complied with all of the other public notice requirements. A.R.S. § 38-431.02(A)(1).

Open Meeting Law Training Materials Requirements

There are new requirements for the distribution and review of Open Meeting Law training materials. Previously, such materials were distributed directly to new members before they took office. Now these training materials, which are prepared and approved by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, must be conspicuously posted on the Arizona Secretary of State’s website, and a newly-elected or newly-appointed member must review the materials at least one day before taking office. A.R.S. § 38-431.01(G).

Charter schools should make certain that new members locate and review the training materials before they begin their public service.