HB1338: Security of property and meeting decorum.

Legislative Summary

Security of property and meeting decorum. Allows the governing bodies of certain local government agencies (local agencies) to adopt rules or policies governing the conduct of meetings. Provides that a rule or policy may provide that the presiding member of the governing body of the local agency may: (1) issue warnings to disruptive attendees and direct them to leave the meeting on the third warning; and (2) direct a law enforcement officer to remove disruptive attendees. Provides that the rules and policies must be posted at the meeting entrance or announced before taking public testimony. Specifies that a provision of the tort claims law providing immunity to a government entity or employee in adopting and enforcing a law or rule applies. Provides that a person commits criminal trespass by knowingly or intentionally: (1) entering a locked area without permission; or (2) refusing to leave an area not publicly accessible after being asked to leave by a law enforcement officer or agent of the property owner or operator. Specifies that: (1) the public access counselor serves at the pleasure of the governor; and (2) when issuing an advisory opinion, the public access counselor may consider only the plain text of the public access laws and valid Indiana court opinions. Provides that a committee appointed directly by the governing body or a governing body's designee does not constitute a governing body that is subject to the open door law if the committee: (1) is appointed for the sole purpose of receiving information, deliberating, or making recommendations to the governing body; and (2) has not more than one member of the governing body as a member.