GA Code § 50-14-1 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 50 - State Government|Chapter 14 - Open and Public Meetings|§ 50-14-1. Meetings to Be Open to Public; Limitation on Action to Contest Agency Action; Recording; Notice of Time and Place; Access to Minutes; Teleconference

  As used in this chapter, the term:   "Agency" means:   Every state department, agency, board, bureau, office, commission, public corporation, and authority;   Every county, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state;   Every department, agency, board, bureau, office, commission, authority, or similar body of each such county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state;   Every city, county, regional, or other authority established pursuant to the laws of this state; and   Any nonprofit organization to which there is a direct allocation of tax funds made by the governing body of any agency as defined in this paragraph which constitutes more than 33 1/3 percent of the funds from all sources of such organization; provided, however, that this subparagraph shall not include hospitals, nursing homes, dispensers of pharmaceutical products, or any other type organization, person, or firm furnishing medical or health services to a citizen for which they receive reimbursement from the state whether directly or indirectly; nor shall this term include a subagency or affiliate of such a nonprofit organization from or through which the allocation of tax funds is made.     "Executive session" means a portion of a meeting lawfully closed to the public.     "Meeting" means:   The gathering of a quorum of the members of the governing body of an agency at which any official business, policy, or public matter of the agency is formulated, presented, discussed, or voted upon; or   The gathering of a quorum of any committee of the members of the governing body of an agency or a quorum of any committee created by the governing body at which any official business, policy, or public matter of the committee is formulated, presented, discussed, or voted upon.     "Meeting" shall not include:   The gathering of a quorum of the members of a governing body or committee for the purpose of making inspections of physical facilities or property under the jurisdiction of such agency at which no other official business of the agency is to be discussed or official action is to be taken;   The gathering of a quorum of the members of a governing body or committee for the purpose of attending state-wide, multijurisdictional, or regional meetings to participate in seminars or courses of training on matters related to the purpose of the agency or to receive or discuss information on matters related to the purpose of the agency at which no official action is to be taken by the members;   The gathering of a quorum of the members of a governing body or committee for the purpose of meeting with officials of the legislative or executive branches of the state or federal government at state or federal offices and at which no official action is to be taken by the members;   The gathering of a quorum of the members of a governing body of an agency for the purpose of traveling to a meeting or gathering as otherwise authorized by this subsection so long as no official business, policy, or public matter is formulated, presented, discussed, or voted upon by the quorum; or   The gathering of a quorum of the members of a governing body of an agency at social, ceremonial, civic, or religious events so long as no official business, policy, or public matter is formulated, presented, discussed, or voted upon by the quorum.    This subparagraph's exclusions from the definition of the term "meeting" shall not apply if it is shown that the primary purpose of the gathering or gatherings is to evade or avoid the requirements for conducting a meeting while discussing or conducting official business.          Except as otherwise provided by law, all meetings shall be open to the public. All votes at any meeting shall be taken in public after due notice of the meeting and compliance with the posting and agenda requirements of this chapter.   Any resolution, rule, regulation, ordinance, or other official action of an agency adopted, taken, or made at a meeting which is not open to the public as required by this chapter shall not be binding. Any action contesting a resolution, rule, regulation, ordinance, or other formal action of an agency based on an alleged violation of this provision shall be commenced within 90 days of the date such contested action was taken or, if the meeting was held in a manner not permitted by law, within 90 days from the date the party alleging the violation knew or should have known about the alleged violation so long as such date is not more than six months after the date the contested action was taken.   Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, any action under this chapter contesting a zoning decision of a local governing authority shall be commenced within the time allowed by law for appeal of such zoning decision.     The public at all times shall be afforded access to meetings declared open to the public pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section. Visual and sound recording during open meetings shall be permitted.     Every agency subject to this chapter shall prescribe the time, place, and dates of regular meetings of the agency. Such information shall be available to the general public and a notice containing such information shall be posted at least one week in advance and maintained in a conspicuous place available to the public at the regular place of an agency or committee meeting subject to this chapter as well as on the agency's website, if any. Meetings shall be held in accordance with a regular schedule, but nothing in this subsection shall preclude an agency from canceling or postponing any regularly scheduled meeting.   For any meeting, other than a regularly scheduled meeting of the agency for which notice has already been provided pursuant to this chapter, written or oral notice shall be given at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to the legal organ in which notices of sheriff's sales are published in the county where regular meetings are held or at the option of the agency to a newspaper having a general circulation in such county at least equal to that of the legal organ; provided, however, that, in counties where the legal organ is published less often than four times weekly, sufficient notice shall be the posting of a written notice for at least 24 hours at the place of regular meetings and, upon written request from any local broadcast or print media outlet whose place of business and physical facilities are located in the county, notice by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail to that requesting media outlet at least 24 hours in advance of the called meeting. Whenever notice is given to a legal organ or other newspaper, that publication shall immediately or as soon as practicable make the information available upon inquiry to any member of the public. Upon written request from any local broadcast or print media outlet, a copy of the meeting's agenda shall be provided by facsimile, e-mail, or mail through a self-addressed, stamped envelope provided by the requestor.   When special circumstances occur and are so declared by an agency, that agency may hold a meeting with less than 24 hours' notice upon giving such notice of the meeting and subjects expected to be considered at the meeting as is reasonable under the circumstances, including notice to the county legal organ or a newspaper having a general circulation in the county at least equal to that of the legal organ, in which event the reason for holding the meeting within 24 hours and the nature of the notice shall be recorded in the minutes. Such reasonable notice shall also include, upon written request within the previous calendar year from any local broadcast or print media outlet whose place of business and physical facilities are located in the county, notice by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail to that requesting media outlet.       Prior to any meeting, the agency or committee holding such meeting shall make available an agenda of all matters expected to come before the agency or committee at such meeting. The agenda shall be available upon request and shall be posted at the meeting site as far in advance of the meeting as reasonably possible, but shall not be required to be available more than two weeks prior to the meeting and shall be posted, at a minimum, at some time during the two-week period immediately prior to the meeting. Failure to include on the agenda an item which becomes necessary to address during the course of a meeting shall not preclude considering and acting upon such item.     A summary of the subjects acted on and those members present at a meeting of any agency shall be written and made available to the public for inspection within two business days of the adjournment of a meeting.   The regular minutes of a meeting subject to this chapter shall be promptly recorded and such records shall be open to public inspection once approved as official by the agency or its committee, but in no case later than immediately following its next regular meeting; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the earlier release of minutes, whether approved by the agency or not. Such minutes shall, at a minimum, include the names of the members present at the meeting, a description of each motion or other proposal made, the identity of the persons making and seconding the motion or other proposal, and a record of all votes. The name of each person voting for or against a proposal shall be recorded. It shall be presumed that the action taken was approved by each person in attendance unless the minutes reflect the name of the persons voting against the proposal or abstaining.   Minutes of executive sessions shall also be recorded but shall not be open to the public. Such minutes shall specify each issue discussed in executive session by the agency or committee. In the case of executive sessions where matters subject to the attorney-client privilege are discussed, the fact that an attorney-client discussion occurred and its subject shall be identified, but the substance of the discussion need not be recorded and shall not be identified in the minutes. Such minutes shall be kept and preserved for in camera inspection by an appropriate court should a dispute arise as to the propriety of any executive session.       An agency with state-wide jurisdiction or committee of such an agency shall be authorized to conduct meetings by teleconference, provided that any such meeting is conducted in compliance with this chapter.     As used in this paragraph, emergency conditions shall include declarations of federal, state, or local states of emergency; provided, however, that no such declaration shall be necessary for an agency as defined by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section to find that emergency conditions exist thereby necessitating meeting by teleconference.   Under circumstances necessitated by emergency conditions involving public safety or the preservation of property or public services, agencies or committees thereof not otherwise permitted by subsection (f) of this Code section to conduct meetings by teleconference may meet by means of teleconference so long as the notice required by this chapter is provided and means are afforded for the public to have simultaneous access to the teleconference meeting. The participation by teleconference of members of agencies or committees means full participation in the same manner as if such members were physically present. In the event such teleconference meeting is a public hearing, members of the public must be afforded the means to participate fully in the same manner as if such members of the public were physically present.   On any other occasion of the meeting of an agency or committee thereof, and so long as a quorum is present in person, a member may participate by teleconference if necessary due to reasons of health or absence from the jurisdiction so long as the other requirements of this chapter are met. Absent emergency conditions or the written opinion of a physician or other health professional that reasons of health prevent a member's physical presence, no member shall participate by teleconference pursuant to this subsection more than twice in one calendar year.       (Code 1981, §50-14-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 235, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1061, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1993, p. 784, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 549, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 2012, p. 218, § 1/HB 397; Ga. L. 2021, p. 320, § 1/HB 98.)    The 2021 amendment,  effective May 4, 2021, added paragraph (g)(1); redesignated the existing first sentence of subsection (g) as paragraph (g)(2) and redesignated the last two sentences as paragraph (g)(3); and added the last two sentences of paragraph (g)(2).   Code Commission notes.   - Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1999, "two-week" was substituted for "two week" in paragraph (e)(1).   Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2009, "that" was inserted following "however," in subparagraph (a)(1)(E).   Cross references.   - Preventing or disrupting lawful meetings, gatherings, or processions, § 16-11-34.    Preventing or disrupting General Assembly sessions or other meetings of members; unlawful activities within the state capitol or certain Capitol Square buildings, § 16-11-34.1.   Law reviews.   - For article discussing provisions opening local government meetings to the public, see 13 Ga. L. Rev. 97 (1978). For article discussing Georgia's open government provisions with respect to land use planning, in light of Evans v. Just Open Gov't, 242 Ga. 834, 251 S.E.2d 546 (1979), see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 89 (1979). For article, "Georgia's Open Records and Open Meetings Laws: A Continued March Toward Government in the Sunshine," see 40 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (1988). For annual survey of local government law, see 44 Mercer L. Rev. 309 (1992). For survey article on local government law for the period from June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003, see 55 Mercer L. Rev. 353 (2003). For annual survey of administrative law, see 57 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (2005). For annual survey of local government law, see 57 Mercer L. Rev. 289 (2005). For survey article on administrative law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (2007). For survey article on local government law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 285 (2007). For survey article on zoning and land use law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 493 (2007). For article on the 2012 amendment of this Code section, see 29 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 139 (2012). For annual survey on administrative law, see 64 Mercer L. Rev. 39 (2012). For annual survey on local government law, see 64 Mercer L. Rev. 213 (2012). For annual survey on local government law, see 68 Mercer L. Rev. 199 (2016). For annual survey on local government law, see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 205 (2017). For annual survey on local government law, see 70 Mercer L. Rev. 177 (2018). For annual survey on commercial transportation: a two-year survey, see 71 Mercer L. Rev. 39 (2019). For annual survey on local government law, see 71 Mercer L. Rev. 189 (2019). For note discussing Georgia's Sunshine Law requiring meetings by state and local governmental authorities to be open to the public, see 10 Ga. St. B.J. 598 (1974). For note on 1992 amendment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 344 (1992). For note on 1999 amendment to this Code section, see 16 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 256 (1999).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   ANALYSIS    General Consideration   Application    OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Ga. L. 1972, p. 575, which was subsequently repealed but was succeeded by provisions in this Code section, are included in the annotations for this Code section.    Applicability of O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1. - This section, the "sunshine law," does not cover meetings at which no official action may be taken. 1978 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U78-2 (decided under former Ga. L. 1972, p. 575).    County board of tax assessors and county board of equalization  are subject to the Georgia Open Meetings Law, O.C.G.A. T. 50, C. 14. 1995 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U95-22.   Ad hoc "public record" evaluation.   - Question of whether specific investigation or inspection report is "public record" must be answered on a case-by-case basis. 1980 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 80-105 (decided under former Ga. L. 1972, p. 575).   Insurer's individual loss ratio experience.   - Unless statistical information as to insurer's individual loss ratio experience submitted to Insurance Commissioner constitutes "written memorials of a final action" taken by the Insurance Department, a citizen does not have the right to inspect the information submitted as a public record and the Insurance Commissioner is not required to release the information. 1981 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 81-66.   Meetings of Organized Crime Prevention Council.   - Since the Organized Crime Prevention Council is a law enforcement agency, its proceedings and meetings are not required to be open to the public under the Georgia Open Meetings Statute. 1986 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U86-35 (decided under former Ga. L. 1972, p. 575).   Application to the Drug Utilization Review Board.    - Open Meetings Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 et seq., applies to the Drug Utilization Review Board created by the Georgia Department of Community Health. 2010 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U10-1.   School board meetings regarding personnel matters.   - School board may not close any meeting devoted to the airing of grievances about school personnel by interested members of the public; further, should the board conduct an inquiry into the actions of school personnel, any evidence or argument presented to the board must be held in an open meeting, but the board may close that portion of the meeting consisting of deliberation or discussion of disciplinary action upon proper compliance with the statutory closure provisions. 1995 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U95-15.    Student disciplinary hearings  before local boards of education, including any deliberations of the board at which final action is taken or discussed, are required to be open to the public. 1983 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 83-9.   Meetings by telephone conference call.   - Meetings of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association may be conducted by speaker telephone conference when public access is provided. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-26, modifying 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-122. (Modified by 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. 85-26).   Utilization of a telephonic conference is permissible for a regular meeting of the State Properties Commission; such a meeting may be conducted to meet the requirements of the Open and Public Meetings Act, O.C.G.A. T. 50, C. 14, and members participating by telephonic means in such a meeting may be counted to reach a quorum. 1994 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 94-11.    State Ethics Commission  is an "agency" as contemplated by O.C.G.A. T. 50, C. 14. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-6.    State Ethics Commission activities conducted in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-5-6(b)(10)(A), including convening a quorum to hear testimony, taking evidence, considering argument of the parties, deliberating, and imposing penalties, constitute a "meeting" within the meaning of Open Meetings Law, O.C.G.A. T. 50, C. 14. Accordingly, the commission must conduct all of these activities regarding the resolution of a contested case in accordance with the dictates of the Open Meetings Law. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-6.    Private Industry Councils are "agencies" for purposes of the Open Meetings Law, O.C.G.A. T. 50, C. 14, and records generally maintained by such PIC's are subject to the Open Records Law, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. 1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-5.    Access to deeds, liens, and plats. Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority is required to produce images and index data in response to Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., requests for information contained on the online information system for deeds, liens, and plats, but may do so in accordance with a fee schedule adopted pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94. 2012 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 12-5.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   ALR.   - Emergency exception under state law making proceedings by public bodies open to the public, 33 A.L.R.5th 731.   Attorney-client exception under state law making proceedings by public bodies open to the public, 34 A.L.R.5th 591.