Section 10-509 - Minutes; tape recordings. - Maryland Statutes

§ 10-509. Minutes; tape recordings.
 

(a)  Scope of section.- This section does not: 

(1) require any change in the form or content of the Journal of the Senate of Maryland or Journal of the House of Delegates of Maryland; or 

(2) limit the matters that a public body may include in its minutes. 

(b)  Required.- As soon as practicable after a public body meets, it shall have written minutes of its session prepared. 

(c)  Contents.-  

(1) The minutes shall reflect: 

(i) each item that the public body considered; 

(ii) the action that the public body took on each item; and 

(iii) each vote that was recorded. 

(2) If a public body meets in closed session, the minutes for its next open session shall include: 

(i) a statement of the time, place, and purpose of the closed session; 

(ii) a record of the vote of each member as to closing the session; 

(iii) a citation of the authority under this subtitle for closing the session; and 

(iv) a listing of the topics of discussion, persons present, and each action taken during the session. 

(3) (i) A session may be tape recorded by a public body. 

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the minutes and any tape recording of a closed session shall be sealed and may not be open to public inspection. 

(4) The minutes and any tape recording shall be unsealed and open to inspection as follows: 

(i) for a meeting closed under § 10-508(a)(5) of this subtitle, when the public body invests the funds; 

(ii) for a meeting closed under § 10-508(a)(6) of this subtitle, when the public securities being discussed have been marketed; or 

(iii) on request of a person or on the public body's own initiative, if a majority of the members of the public body present and voting vote in favor of unsealing the minutes and any tape recording. 

(d)  Access.- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, minutes of a public body are public records and shall be open to public inspection during ordinary business hours. 

(e)  Retention of minutes or tape recordings.- A public body shall keep a copy of the minutes of each session and any tape recording made under subsection (c)(3)(i) of this section for at least 1 year after the date of the session. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 76A, §§ 11, 13; 1984, ch. 284, § 1; 1991, ch. 655; 2004, ch. 440; 2009, ch. 60, § 5.]