(1) No council member may be absent from three (3) consecutive council meetings, or 50 percent or more of the council’s meetings within any 12-month period, unless those absences are excused by the council chair, acting chair, or majority vote of the council. Reasons for granting excused absences shall be the following:
    (a) Illness or injury of the council member;
    (b) Illness, injury or death of a member of the council member’s family;
    (c) Court order, subpoena, or business with a court which has the sole prerogative of setting the date of such business;
    (d) Unavoidable travel delays or cancellations;
    (e) Any conflict or extraordinary circumstance or event approved by the council Chair.
    (2) An otherwise excused absence is not excused if the council member fails to notify the council office of the impending absence prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at which the absence will occur. If failure to notify the council office is the result of circumstances surrounding the reason for the absence, the absence may be excused by the council chair, acting chair, or majority vote of the council, after the absence has occurred.
    (3) Unexcused absences as set forth in subsection (1), will be reported to the Department.
Rulemaking Authority 455.207(3), 468.4315, FS. Law Implemented 455.207(3), 468.4315, FS. History-New 12-27-17.