What is a Public Meeting?

In accordance with the Legislative Procedures Act, the Legislative Operating Committee is required to host a public meeting and to open a public comment period on each proposal to adopt, amend or repeal an Oneida law or policy. In accordance with the Administrative Rulemaking Law, entities who are delegated rulemaking authority (i.e. “sponsoring agencies”) are required to host a public meeting and to open a public comment period on each proposal to adopt, amend or repeal a Rule that has been promulgated in furtherance of an Oneida law or policy.

The Public Meeting materials (including the draft proposal, legislative analysis and other relevant documents) will be made available at the Public Meeting and can be obtained in advance through the Legislative Reference Office (for legislative proposals) or sponsoring agency (for rules) and will be published here on the Oneida Register.

The Membership is invited to submit data, views or arguments regarding these proposals – either by speaking at public meetings; and/or by submitting written comments during the public comment period.

Oral testimony/spoken comment is accepted at each Public Meeting, and will become part of the record. Participants are encouraged to provide a written transcript or summary of their testimony at the meeting, or before the end of the public comment period. Time limits for providing oral testimony may be imposed on the day of the meeting, but cannot be less than five minutes.

Public comment periods must remain open for at least five business days after a public meeting is held. Written comments for legislative proposals can be submitted to the Tribal Secretary’s Office or the Legislative Reference Office. Written comments for any proposal to adopt, amend or repeal a rule can be submitted to the sponsoring agency. Specific information on how to submit written comments will always be published in the public meeting materials for each proposal.

Before the LOC can submit a final draft proposal to the OBC to consider adopting, the LOC is also required to consider all verbal and written comments received during the public meeting and public comment period. Similarly, the sponsoring agency must consider all verbal and written comments received during the public meeting and the public comment period.