The Arizona Open Meeting Law - Arizona School Boards Association

The Public's Rights at a Public Meeting
Rule 5 Citizens have the right to attend and record public meetings but do not
have the right to participate in discussions unless public participation is
allowed by policy.
5.1 Citizens have a right to attend and listen.
5.2 Citizens have a right to record a meeting by audio or videotape, provided that the
recording equipment does not prevent others from viewing or listening to the meeting.
5.3 Citizens have a right to expect the public body to follow its policies and rules for the
conduct of its meetings, unless formally waived by the public body or contrary to law.
5.4 Citizens have a right to address the public body if policy allows it. Otherwise, they
have no right to participate.
The Call to the Public
Rule 6 A governing board may conduct an open call to the public but may not
discuss or take legal action on a matter raised during a call to the public
unless the matter has been placed on the meeting agenda. 38-431.01.G
6.1 A board may limit comments made during the call to the public to items appearing
on the agenda.
6.2 If a speaker raises an issue that is not on the agenda, board members may not discuss
the matter with the speaker or among themselves. However, at the conclusion of an
open call to the public, an individual member “may respond to criticism made by
those who have addressed the public body, may ask staff to review a matter, or may
ask that a matter be put on a future agenda.”
6.3 The public body may adopt and enforce reasonable time, place and manner
regulations to promote the efficient conduct of its meetings. However, it may not
block a comment because of its content or viewpoint.
Superintendent’s or Governing Board Member’s Report
Rule 7 A superintendent or governing board member may give a summary of
current events without listing the matters summarized in the agenda,
provided that the summary is listed on the agenda and the public body
does not discuss or take legal action on any matter that is not specifically
identified on the agenda. A.R.S. 38-431.02.K
Executive Sessions
Rule 8 A public body may discuss a matter in executive session only if it falls
within one of seven authorized reasons for an executive session and all
procedural requirements have been met.
8.1 “Executive session” means “a gathering of a quorum of members of a public body
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