La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § I-713

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-713 - Public Comments

A. To carry on its business in an orderly and efficient manner, the board utilizes committees. Full discussion of board business optimally occurs at the committee level, and public comment should be received at that time, rather than after a recommendation has been forwarded to the board. Opportunity to comment publicly on a committee or board agenda item shall be provided to a representative number of proponents and opponents according to the following procedures.

1. Persons desiring to address the committee/board should complete a request to comment card and submit it to the presiding officer or a BESE staff member prior to the beginning of the meeting. The completed card should identify the issue or item to be addressed. Other members of the public may be recognized at the discretion of the presiding officer or chair.

2. All speakers shall conduct themselves in a decorous manner.

3. The presiding officer or chair shall have the right to limit, in time, the length of public comment on each motion, if time is of a critical nature.

4. The order of discussion shall be left solely to the discretion of the presiding officer or chair.

5. Persons addressing the committee/board shall confine remarks to the merits of a specific agenda item before the committee/board; refrain from attacking a board member's motives; address all remarks through the presiding officer or chair; refrain from speaking adversely on a prior action not pending; read reports only without objection; and refrain from disturbing the meeting.

6. Submission of comment cards at least five minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting is encouraged.

7. Persons making public comments shall identify themselves and the group they represent, if any.

8. Groups and/or organizations should designate one spokesperson.

9. Public comments are limited to no more than three minutes per individual and five minutes per designated spokesperson of a group/organization. The chair may increase or decrease the time allotted to speakers, within time constraints.

10. The presiding officer or chair shall have discretion to manage situations not addressed in these procedures.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § I-713

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 34:422 (March 2008), amended LR 36:59 (January 2010), LR 37:2141 (July 2011), LR 38:3154 (December 2012), LR 39:3265 (December 2013).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10) and R.S. 42:14.