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<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="3-305" title_number="3" title_name="Open Meetings Act" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Open Meetings Requirements">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The exceptions in subsection (b) of this section shall be strictly construed in favor of open meetings of public bodies.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Subject to subsection (d) of this section, a public body may meet in closed session or adjourn an open session to a closed session only to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>discuss:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whom it has jurisdiction; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>protect the privacy or reputation of an individual with respect to a matter that is not related to public business;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related to the acquisition;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>consider the investment of public funds;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>consider the marketing of public securities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>consult with counsel to obtain legal advice;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate to the negotiations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>discuss public security, if the public body determines that public discussion would constitute a risk to the public or to public security, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the deployment of fire and police services and staff; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the development and implementation of emergency plans;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>prepare, administer, or grade a scholastic, licensing, or qualifying examination;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or possible criminal conduct;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicially imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding or matter;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="14">
      <text>discuss, before a contract is awarded or bids are opened, a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal, if public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="15">
      <text>discuss cybersecurity, if the public body determines that public discussion would constitute a risk to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>security assessments or deployments relating to information resources technology;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>network security information, including information that is:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>related to passwords, personal identification numbers, access codes, encryption, or other components of the security system of a governmental entity;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental entity to prevent, detect, or investigate criminal activity; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>related to an assessment, made by or for a governmental entity or maintained by a governmental entity, of the vulnerability of a network to criminal activity; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>deployments or implementation of security personnel, critical infrastructure, or security devices.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A public body that meets in closed session under this section may not discuss or act on any matter not authorized under subsection (b) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless a majority of the members of a public body present and voting vote in favor of closing the session, the public body may not meet in closed session.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Before a public body meets in closed session, the presiding officer shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>conduct a recorded vote on the closing of the session; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>make a written statement of the reason for closing the meeting, including a citation of the authority under this section, and a listing of the topics to be discussed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a person objects to the closing of a session, the public body shall send a copy of the written statement to the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The written statement shall be a matter of public record.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A public body shall keep a copy of the written statement for at least 3 years after the date of the session.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>To the extent practicable, a public body shall post online the written statement required to be kept under paragraph (5) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
