Bill would allow trustees to meet electronically

Auburn University trustees would be allowed to meet by telephone or video conferencing if the Legislature passes bills introduced by Sen. Ted Little and Rep. Mike Hubbard, both of Auburn. The bill requires that notice of meetings be provided in accordance with Alabama's Open Meetings Act, and that the public be allowed to listen to or observe such meetings as they unfold.

"The law specifically states that the board still has to abide by the Open Meetings Act and the public has to have access," said Felicia Mason, executive director of the Alabama Press Association. "In many ways, this could actually broaden public access for people who cannot travel, and trustees want that kind of flexibility so they don't always have to spend the day traveling."

Hubbard, a Republican, has introduced the House version, HB 69, while Little, a Democrat, has introduced the Senate version, SB 45. A nearly identical bill covering University of Alabama board of trustee meetings passed the Legislature last year.

"We looked at that as somewhat of a test, just to see how it would work," Mason said. "Our papers have not reported any issues."

Both bills would allow the full board, the board's executive committee or any other committee established by the board to participate in "virtual" meetings.

The current Alabama Open Meetings Act, passed in 2005, provides that electronic communications should not be used to circumvent provisions of the act, but both Mason and sponsor Little said that is not the intent of the act.

"One reason to seek passage is that now, under a constitutional amendment passed in 2000, we've got trustees from out of state," Little said.

The trustee reform amendment passed that year provides for two at-large seats, which can be filled by out-of-state residents. One is currently filled by Sam Ginn, a private investor and adviser to start-up companies in the telecommunications industry. An AU engineering graduate, he donated $20 mil