§17.4. Exception for meetings of the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council

            A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council, as provided in R.S. 40:1005, may conduct and its members may attend and participate in a meeting via electronic means if the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the advisory council, and its presiding officer comply with all of the requirements of this Section.

            B. No later than twenty-four hours prior to a meeting conducted pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the advisory council shall provide for all of the following:

            (1) The notice and agenda for the meeting, which shall be posted on the website of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, emailed to any member of the public or the news media who requests notice of meetings of the public body, and widely distributed to every known news media outlet that broadcasts or publishes news within the geographic area within the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.

            (2) Detailed information regarding how members of the public may participate in the meeting and submit comments regarding matters on the agenda, which information shall be posted on the website of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, emailed to any member of the public or the news media who requests notice of meetings of the public body, and widely distributed to every known news media outlet that broadcasts or publishes news within the geographic area within the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.

            C. For each meeting conducted pursuant to this Section, all of the following requirements shall apply:

            (1) The advisory council shall provide a mechanism to receive public comment electronically both prior to and during the meeting.

            (2) The advisory council shall properly identify and acknowledge all public comments during the meeting and shall maintain those comments in its record of the meeting.

            (3) The presiding officer of the advisory council shall ensure that each person participating in the meeting is properly identified.

            (4) The presiding officer shall ensure that all parts of the meeting, excluding any matter discussed in executive session, are clear and audible to all participants in the meeting including the public.

            D. For the purposes of this Section, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

            (1) "Meeting via electronic means" means a meeting occurring via teleconference or video conference.

            (2) "Teleconference" means a method of communication which enables persons in different locations to participate in a meeting and to hear and otherwise communicate with each other.

            (3) "Video conference" means a method of communication which enables persons in different locations to participate in a meeting and to see, hear, and otherwise communicate with each other.

            Acts 2023, No. 14, §2.