Bill
HB 2972
Allows Police Officers' Pension Investment Fund committees to participate remotely and count toward quorum, relaxing the Open Meetings Act's physical-presence rule.
Status and sponsor
- Introduced February 6, 2025 by Representative Michael J. Kelly (104th General Assembly).
- Amends the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2.01).
- Referred to the Rules Committee after first reading.
Purpose / intent
- To create an exception to the Open Meetings Act’s physical‑presence quorum requirement for committees of the Police Officers’ Pension Investment Fund, allowing committee members to participate remotely (audio/video) and be counted toward a quorum.
Key provisions
- Modifies Section 2.01 of the Open Meetings Act to state that the rule requiring a quorum of members to be physically present at the location of an open meeting does not apply to committees of the Police Officers’ Pension Investment Fund.
- Permits members of those committees to participate in (and be counted for) open and closed meetings via video or audio conference.
- Leaves the Open Meetings Act’s other notice and public‑access requirements in place except where explicitly altered by this change.
Who is affected
- Committees of local Police Officers’ Pension Investment Funds (i.e., subcommittees or committees handling investment matters for police pension funds).
- Members of those committees (gain greater flexibility to attend remotely).
- The public and journalists who monitor pension committee meetings (may see changes in how meetings are accessed or how public participation is handled).
Potential impacts and considerations
- Pros: Increased member attendance and scheduling flexibility; easier participation by geographically dispersed or unavailable committee members; potentially more efficient committee operations.
- Cons / transparency concerns: Remote participation can raise issues around public access, real‑time observation, and informal deliberation outside public view. The bill does not eliminate other Open Meetings Act requirements for notice and public access; implementation details (how remote access is provided, how public locations are identified, how records are kept) will shape transparency outcomes.
- Implementation: The change becomes effective if enacted as a statutory amendment; administrative rules or local procedures may be needed to specify how remote access is provided and documented.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Currently at the committee referral stage (Rules Committee). Further committee action, floor votes, and executive action would be required to enact the amendment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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