This section defines key terms like “consent agenda,” “meeting,” “public body,” and “quorum,” and says the chapter does not apply to chance meetings or social gatherings with no vote or other action.
§13. Definitions A. For the purposes of this Chapter: (1) "Consent agenda" means a grouping of procedural or routine agenda items that can be approved with general discussion. (2) "Meeting" means the convening of a quorum of a public body to deliberate or act on a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. It shall also mean the convening of a quorum of a public body by the public body or by another public official to receive information regarding a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. (3) "Public body" means village, town, and city governing authorities; parish governing authorities; school boards and boards of levee and port commissioners; boards of publicly operated utilities; planning, zoning, and airport commissions; and any other state, parish, municipal, or special district boards, commissions, or authorities, and those of any political subdivision thereof, where such body possesses policy making, advisory, or administrative functions, including any committee or subcommittee of any of these bodies enumerated in this paragraph. (4) "Quorum" means a simple majority of the total membership of a public body. B. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to chance meetings or social gatherings of members of a public body at which there is no vote or other action taken, including formal or informal polling of the members. Added by Acts 1979, No. 681, §1. Amended by Acts 1981, Ex.Sess., No. 21, §1, eff. Nov. 19, 1981; Acts 1988, No. 821, §1; Acts 2010, No. 861, §23; Acts 2013, No. 416, §1. NOTE: Former R.S. 42:13 was redesignated as R.S. 42:28 by Acts 2010, No. 861, §23.