                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CLOSED MEETINGS PROCEDURES; CERTIFICATION OF PROCEEDINGS (§ 2.2-3712)

A. No closed meeting shall be held unless the public body proposing to convene
such meeting has taken an affirmative recorded vote in an open meeting approving
a motion that (i) identifies the subject matter, (ii) states the purpose of the
meeting as authorized in subsection A of &#xA7; 2.2-3711 or other provision of
law and (iii) cites the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements
provided in subsection A of &#xA7; 2.2-3711 or other provision of law. The
matters contained in such motion shall be set forth in detail in the minutes of
the open meeting. A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the
authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of
the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for
holding a closed meeting.

B. The notice provisions of this chapter shall not apply to closed meetings of
any public body held solely for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the
position of chief administrative officer. Prior to any such closed meeting for
the purpose of interviewing candidates, the public body shall announce in an
open meeting that such closed meeting shall be held at a disclosed or
undisclosed location within 15 days thereafter.

C. The public body holding a closed meeting shall restrict its discussion during
the closed meeting only to those matters specifically exempted from the
provisions of this chapter and identified in the motion required by subsection
A.

D. At the conclusion of any closed meeting, the public body holding such meeting
shall immediately reconvene in an open meeting and shall take a roll call or
other recorded vote to be included in the minutes of that body, certifying that
to the best of each member&#8217;s knowledge (i) only public business matters
lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this chapter and (ii)
only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the
closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting
by the public body. Any member of the public body who believes that there was a
departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii), shall so state prior to
the vote, indicating the substance of the departure that, in his judgment, has
taken place. The statement shall be recorded in the minutes of the public body.

E. Failure of the certification required by subsection D to receive the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the public body present during
a meeting shall not affect the validity or confidentiality of such meeting with
respect to matters considered therein in compliance with the provisions of this
chapter. The recorded vote and any statement made in connection therewith, shall
upon proper authentication, constitute evidence in any proceeding brought to
enforce the provisions of this chapter.

F. A public body may permit nonmembers to attend a closed meeting if such
persons are deemed necessary or if their presence will reasonably aid the public
body in its consideration of a topic that is a subject of the meeting.

G. A member of a public body shall be permitted to attend a closed meeting held
by any committee or subcommittee of that public body, or a closed meeting of any
entity, however designated, created to perform the delegated functions of or to
advise that public body. Such member shall in all cases be permitted to observe
the closed meeting of the committee, subcommittee or entity. In addition to the
requirements of &#xA7; 2.2-3707, the minutes of the committee or other entity
shall include the identity of the member of the parent public body who attended
the closed meeting.

H. Except as specifically authorized by law, in no event may any public body
take action on matters discussed in any closed meeting, except at an open
meeting for which notice was given as required by &#xA7; 2.2-3707.

I. Minutes may be taken during closed meetings of a public body, but shall not
be required. Such minutes shall not be subject to mandatory public disclosure.

HISTORY: 1989, c. 358, § 2.1-344.1; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2001, c. 844; 2012, c.
428; 2017, c. 616.