Terre Haute Regional Airport Authority board members can now participate in meetings without being in the room.

The board Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution setting guidelines for electronic participation, which is allowed under recent state law.

House Enrolled Act 1154 permits members of the governing body of an airport authority to remotely connect to meetings, so long as the public can still communicate with them during the proceedings.

The question is logistics, board attorney Scott Craig said during the meeting. Members, for example, could dial in by phone.

“It can be that simple,” Craig said. “It just needs to be a way that people in the audience can hear you and you can be heard by them.”

Members who participate remotely may vote at the meeting, according to the airport’s policy. All votes during a meeting wher any member is present electronically must be taken by roll call.

The policy requires that at least two of the board’s four members be physically present in the meeting room.

Each member must physically attend at least one meeting per year. Public board meetings are held once a month in the terminal building.

HEA 1154 allows for policies that require a member to request authority to participate remotely within a certain time before the meeting so the technology can be ready.

Airport authorities may also limit how many members can take part in any one meeting remotely, and restrict the total number of meetings held electronically in a calendar year.

Craig said the policy acknowledges that members’ schedules may prevent them from attending every meeting in person.

But HEA 1154 drew opposition from the Hoosier State Press Association, which said the law allows board members to have meetings wher a majority isn’t physically present.

“HSPA opposes the concept as a step backward for government transparency,” the organization wrote in a General Assembly wrap-up this spring.