1. Public Attendance
(a) At any open session of the Open Meetings Act Compliance Board ("OMCB"), the general public is invited to attend and observe.
(b) Except in instances when the OMCB expressly invites public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation, or when public participation is otherwise authorized by law, no member of the public attending an open session may participate in the session.
2. Disruptive Conduct
(a) A person attending an open session of the OMCB may not engage in any conduct, including visual demonstrations such as the waving of placards, signs, or banners, that disrupts the session or that interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the session.
(b) (1) The presiding officer may order any person who persists in conduct prohibited by subsection (a) of this section or who violates any other rule concerning the conduct of the open session to be removed from the session and may request police assistance to restore order.
(2) The presiding officer may recess the session while order is restored.
3. Recording, Photographing, and Broadcasting of Open Session
(a) A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may record the OMCB's discussions at an open session by means of a tape recorder or any other recording device if the device does not create an excessive noise that disturbs the OMCB's members or other persons attending the session.
(b) A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the OMCB's proceedings at an open session by means of any type of camera if the camera:
(1) Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs the OMCB's members or other persons attending the session; and
(2) Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs the OMCB members or other persons attending the session.
(c) A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the OMCB's proceedings at an open session if the equipment used:
(1) Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs the OMCB's members or other persons attending the session; and
(2) Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs the OMCB's members or other persons attending the session.
(d) The presiding officer may restrict the movement of a person who is using a recording device, camera, or broadcasting or television equipment if such restriction is necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the session.
4. Recording Not Part of Record
A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or any transcript derived from such a recording, may not be deemed a part of the record of any OMCB proceeding.
(Adopted August 9, 2018)