(A) The requirement in division (C) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code that a member of a public body be present in person at a meeting open to the public in order to be part of a quorum or to vote does not apply to the board of directors of a port authority if the board holds the meeting by interactive video conference or by teleconference in the following manner:

(1) The board establishes a primary meeting location that is open and accessible to the public;

(2) Meeting-related materials that are available before the meeting are sent via electronic mail, facsimile, hand- delivery, or United States postal service to each board member;

(3) In the case of an interactive video conference, the board causes a clear video and audio connection to be established that enables all meeting participants at the primary meeting location to see and hear each board member;

(4) In the case of a teleconference, the board causes a clear audio connection to be established that enables all meeting participants at the primary meeting location to hear each board member;

(5) All board members have the capability to receive meeting-related materials that are distributed during a board meeting;

(6) A roll call voice vote is recorded for each vote taken; and

(7) The minutes of the board meeting identify which board members remotely attended the meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference.

If the board proceeds under this division, use of an interactive video conference is preferred, but nothing in this section prohibits the board from conducting its meetings by teleconference or by a combination of interactive video conference and teleconference at the same meeting.

(B) A port authority board of directors shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. At a minimum, the rules shall do all of the following:

(1) Authorize board members to remotely attend a board meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference, or by a combination thereof, in lieu of attending the meeting in person;

(2) Establish a minimum number of board members that must be physically present in person at the primary meeting location if the board conducts a meeting by interactive video conference or teleconference;

(3) Require that not more than one board member remotely attending a board meeting by teleconference is permitted to be physically present at the same remote location;

(4) Establish geographic restrictions for participation in meetings by interactive video conference and by teleconference;

(5) Establish a policy for distributing and circulating meeting-related materials to board members, the public, and the media in advance of or during a meeting at which board members are permitted to attend by interactive video conference or teleconference; and

(6) Establish a method for verifying the identity of a board member who remotely attends a meeting by teleconference.

Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 455, §1, eff. 4/6/2017.