(1) All public meetings of the South Florida Water Management District are open to the public at all times and are authorized to be conducted, in whole or in part, via communications media technology. The Executive Director, or designee, shall determine the use and availability of communications media technology.
    (2) “”Communications media technology”” means the electronic transmission of printed matter, audio, full-motion video, freeze-frame video, compressed video, and digital video by any method available.
    (3) When a quorum is required for a public meeting of the South Florida Water Management District, the quorum shall be established by a simple majority of those members eligible to vote. Eligibility to vote occurs when a person has been duly appointed by an entity or person with lawful authority to appoint and during the term of such appointment, including any statutory holdover period.
    (4) Those participating via communications media technology shall be treated equally to those physically present for purposes of establishing a quorum and voting.
    (5) The District shall ensure that members of the public have a reasonable opportunity to be heard when holding a public meeting via communications media technology to encourage public engagement. Members of the public participating via communications media technology shall have the same opportunity to be heard as those physically present for purposes of public comment.
Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.079(7) FS. Law Implemented 373.079(7) FS. History-New 4-11-21.