§6-9C-7. Public participation.

(a) If a law of this state or a political subdivision of the state or a rule, practice, or procedure adopted by the public agency requires that members of the public be permitted to participate in a meeting of the public agency, the public agency to the extent practicable shall permit members of the public to participate in a virtual meeting, subject to the conditions that apply at an in-person meeting of the public agency.

(b) If members of the public are permitted to speak at a virtual meeting, the technology used to conduct the meeting shall permit the members of the public agency and members of the public attending the meeting to hear the members of the public who speak at the meeting.

(c) If a public agency considers at a virtual meeting a matter affecting the right or interest of a person entitled by other law of the state or a political subdivision of this state or by rule of the public agency to participate, present evidence, or examine or cross-examine witnesses at an in-person meeting, the public agency shall permit the person to use the same technology that the public agency uses to conduct the virtual meeting, or provide equivalent access, to attend the meeting and present evidence, or examine or cross-examine witnesses in the meeting.

(d) If a person to which §6-9C-7(c) of this code applies objects that the virtual meeting does not allow the person to effectively protect the right or interest referred to in §6-9C-7(c) of this code, the public agency shall consider the objection and may proceed with the matter at a virtual meeting if the agency determines that the virtual meeting will allow the person to effectively protect the right or interest. The determination and the reason for the determination shall be stated in a record.