§ 42:17 — Exceptions to open meetings

§17. Exceptions to open meetings
A. A public body may hold an executive session pursuant to R.S. 42:16 for one or
more of the following reasons:
(1) Discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental
health of a person, provided that such person is notified in writing at least twenty-four hours,
exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the scheduled time contained in
the notice of the meeting at which such executive session is to take place and that such
person may require that such discussion be held at an open meeting. However, nothing in
this Paragraph shall permit an executive session for discussion of the appointment of a
person to a public body or, except as provided in R.S. 39:1593(C)(2)(c), for discussing the
award of a public contract. In cases of extraordinary emergency, written notice to such
person shall not be required; however, the public body shall give such notice as it deems
appropriate and circumstances permit.
(2) Strategy sessions or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining,
prospective litigation after formal written demand, or litigation when an open meeting would
have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body.
(3) Discussion regarding the report, development, or course of action regarding
security personnel, plans, or devices, including discussions concerning cybersecurity plans,
financial security procedures, and assessment and implementation of any such plans or
procedures.
(4) Investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct.
(5) Cases of extraordinary emergency, which shall be limited to natural disaster,
threat of epidemic, civil disturbances, suppression of insurrections, the repelling of invasions,
or other matters of similar magnitude.
(6) Any meeting of the State Mineral and Energy Board at which records or matters
entitled to confidential status by existing law are required to be considered or discussed by
the board with its staff or with any employee or other individual, firm, or corporation to
whom such records or matters are confidential in their nature, and are disclosed to and
accepted by the board subject to such privilege, for the exclusive use in evaluating lease bids
or development covering state-owned lands and water bottoms, which exception is proved
pursuant to and consistently with the Public Records Act, being Chapter 1 of Title 44 of the
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other statutes to which the board is
subject.
(7) Discussions between a city or parish school board and individual students or the
parents or tutors of such students, or both, who are within the jurisdiction of the respective
school system, regarding problems of such students or their parents or tutors; provided
however that any such parent, tutor, or student may require that such discussions be held in
an open meeting.
(8) Presentations and discussions at meetings of civil service boards of test questions,
answers, and papers produced and exhibited by the office of the state examiner, municipal
fire and police civil service, pursuant to R.S. 33:2492 or 2552.
(9) The portion of any meeting of the Second Injury Board during which records or
matters regarding the settlement of a workers' compensation claim are required to be
considered or discussed by the board with its staff in order to grant prior written approval as
required by R.S. 23:1378(A)(6).
(10) The portion of any meeting or hearing of the Board of Pardons or committee on
parole during which a victim or the spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim presents
testimony pursuant to R.S. 15:572.4, 573, 574.2, or 574.4.1.
(11) Consideration of any other matters now provided for or as may be provided for
by the legislature.
B. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to judicial proceedings.
C. The provisions of this Chapter shall not prohibit the removal of any person or
persons who willfully disrupt a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is
seriously compromised.
D. The provisions of R.S. 42:19 and R.S. 42:20 shall not apply to any meeting of a
private citizens' advisory group or a private citizens' advisory committee established by a
public body, when the members of such group or committee do not receive any compensation
and serve only in an advisory capacity, except textbook advisory committees of the State
Department of Education or the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. However,
all other provisions contained in this Chapter shall be applicable to such group or committee
and the public body which established such group or committee shall comply with the
provisions of R.S. 42:19 in providing the required notice of meetings of such group or
committee.
E. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to meetings of the Louisiana
Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1976, No. 665, §1. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 681, §1; Acts 1982, No. 215, §1; Acts 1989, No. 389, §1; Acts 2003, No. 336, §1, eff. June 13, 2003; Acts 2006, No. 90, §1, eff. May 25, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 196, §7, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 861, §23; Acts 2011, No. 188, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §15, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 628, §1; Acts 2021, No. 66, §2, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 237, §3, eff. May 23, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 128, §3.