Social Media Tests Bounds Of Minn. Meeting Law

February 26, 2013 11:40 AM

(credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – If a majority of members on a city council zing messages back and forth on Facebook, Twitter or another social media platform, is that considered an official government meeting?

Not if a bill starting its travel through the Minnesota Legislature prevails. The House Government Operations Committee on Tuesday discussed the bill that would make clear that those types of communications don’t trigger the open meeting law.

Republican Rep. Duane Quam’s bill would adapt Minnesota’s open meeting law to newer technologies. To comply, however, government officials wouldn’t be able to take votes via social media or substitute required public hearings for virtual ones.

A lawyer for the Minnesota Newspaper Association raised concerns about social media being used to foster off-line deliberations. The bill was set aside for further consideration.

http://www.twytter.net/blog/social-media-tests-bounds-of-minn-meeting-law/ Social Media Tests Bounds Of Minn. Meeting Law

[...] Read more at CBS Local. [...]
http://www.secretsofthecity.com/secrets/view/social-media-meetings-like-or-dislike Social Media Meetings: Like or Dislike? — Secrets of the City — Minneapolis + St. Paul

[...] and the Associated Press, The House Government Operations Committee wants to create a bill specifying that social media interactions do not constitute an “open meeting” where ideas can be exchanged and reviewed. Thus, a string of messages between city council [...]