7. Tickets to Political and Charitable Fundraisers
Regulation 18946.4 provides special rules for tickets provided to public officials to fundraisers for nonprofit and political organizations. Such tickets are not considered gifts to a public official if certain requirements are met. This exception applies only to two tickets provided to an official, and only if it is provided directly by the charity or campaign committee; additional tickets are treated as gifts. The requirements vary depending on whether the organization is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, a non-501(c) (3) nonprofit, or a political organization.
a. Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofit Fundraiser
Regulation 18946.4(a) provides that a ticket to a fundraising event for a nonprofit, tax- exempt organization that is neither a political campaign committee nor a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit shall be valued as follows:
• Where the ticket to the fundraiser clearly states that a portion of the ticket price is a donation to the organization, or the organization provides information indicating the portion of the admission price that constitutes the donation, then the value of the gift is the face value of the ticket or admission reduced by the amount of the donation - i.e., the "nondeductible portion" of the price of admission.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations • If there is no ticket or other official information provided by the organization indicating the value of the nondeductible portion of admission, the value of the gift is the pro-rata share of the cost of any food, catering service, entertainment, and any other item provided to the official that is available to the other guests. A calculation of the pro-rata share means the total cost of the listed expenses, divided by the number of acceptances or the number of attendees. Any other specific benefit provided to the official at the event, such as golf green fees, is valued at fair market value.
b. Fundraiser for a 501(c)(3) Religious, Charitable,
Scientific, Literary or Educational Organization
Where the event is a fundraising event for an organization exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c) (3), such an organization may provide two tickets per event to an official, and the ticket shall have no value. Regulation 18946.4(b). Any additional tickets or admissions provided by the 501 (c) (3) organization, any tickets provided to or controlled by the official, and any tickets not provided directly by the 501 (c) (3) are valued as tickets from a non-501(c) (3) nonprofit. Regulation 18946.4(b).
C. Political Fundraiser
For the gift of a ticket, pass, or other admission privilege to a political fundraising event for a "campaign committee" or a comparable committee regulated under federal law or the laws of another state, the committee or candidate may provide two tickets per event to an official that shall be deemed to have no value. A "campaign committee" is any person or persons who directly or indirectly receives contributions totaling two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more in a calendar year (note: this was increased from $1,000 in 2015), makes independent expenditures totaling one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more in a calendar year, or makes contributions totaling ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in a calendar year to or at the behest of candidates or committees.
Regulation 18406; § 82013.
8. Tickets or Passes to Events Given to Officials by their Agency a. Gift Exception
FPPC Regulation 18944.1 provides that a ticket or pass to an event or function provided to an official by his or her agency and distributed and used in accordance with a written policy adopted by the agency is not a gift under the Political Reform Act if:
(1) the ticket or pass is not earmarked by an outside source for use by a specific agency official; (2) the agency determines, in its sole discretion, who uses the ticket or pass; (3) the distribution of the ticket or pass is reported on Form 802 as described below; and (4) the distribution of the ticket or pass by the agency is made in accordance with a written policy adopted by the agency that meets all of the requirements as described below. Regulation 18944.1 (a).
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations • Application: FPPC Regulation 18944.1 applies only to the benefits the official receives from a ticket or pass to an event or function that are provided to all members of the public with the same class of ticket or pass, when the ticket or pass is provided by an agency to an official of the agency, or at the behest of an agency official. The regulation does not apply to: (1) an admission to an event or function in which the official performs a ceremonial role; or, (2) admission provided to a school, college or university district official, coach, athletic director or employee to attend an amateur event performed by students, which are neither gifts nor income. Regulation 18944.1 (f).
b. Written Policv for Distribution of Tickets.
• Policy Requirements: The distribution of tickets and passes described above must be made pursuant to a written policy duly adopted by the agency's legislative or governing body that must contain the following:
(1) a provision setting forth the public purposes of the agency for which tickets or passes may be distributed; (2) a provision requiring that the distribution of any ticket or pass to, or at the behest of, an official accomplish a stated public purpose of the agency; (3) a provision prohibiting the transfer of any ticket received by an agency official, except to his or her immediate family or no more than one guest solely for their attendance at the event; and (4) a provision prohibiting the disproportionate use of tickets or passes by a member of the governing body, chief administrative officer, political appointee, or department head. Regulation 18944.1 (b).
• Public Purpose: The agency's legislative or governing body must determine whether the distribution of tickets or passes serves a legitimate public purpose of the agency, consistent with state law. Tickets or passes given to officials (other than a member of the governing body, chief administrative officer, political appointee or department head) to support general employee morale, retention or to reward public service is deemed to have a public purpose. Regulation 18944.1 (e). • Public Record: The policy must be maintained as a public record, subject to inspection and copying. The agency must post the policy on the agency website within 30 days of adoption or amendment and send to the FPPC, by email, the agency's website link that displays the policy for posting on the FPPC's website. Regulation 18944.1 (c).
C. Form 802 for Reporting Distribution of Tickets and Passes.
Within 45 days of distributing a ticket or pass, the head of the agency must fill out and certify a Form 802 describing the distribution of tickets or passes to an official. The Form 802 requires: (1) the name of the official who received the ticket or pass, (2) a description and date of the event, (3) the fair value of each ticket or pass, (4) the number of tickets or passes distributed to the official, (5) if the ticket or pass is behested, Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 58 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations the name of the official who behested the ticket, (6) if the official gave the ticket or pass to another person (limited to an immediate family member or no more than one guest), the name of that person, (7) the specific public purpose under which the distribution was made, and (8) a written inspection report of findings and recommendations by the official who received the ticket or pass if it was received for the oversight or inspection of facilities. This form must be maintained as a public record, subject to inspection and copying. The agency must post the form, or a summary of its contents, on its website and send the FPPC, by email, the agency's website link for posting on the FPPC's website. Regulation 18944.1 (d).
d. Other Exceptions.
• Reimbursement. The ticket or pass is not considered a gift if the official reimburses the agency for the ticket within 30 days of receipt. Regulation 18944.1 (h).
• Treated as Income. The ticket or pass is not considered a gift if the official treats the ticket or pass as taxable income. Regulation 18944.1(g).
9. Gifts from a Government Agency to an Official in That Agency A payment by an agency that provides food, beverage, entertainment, goods or services of more than a nominal value to an official in that agency is a gift to that official, unless the payment is a "lawful expenditure of public moneys." Regulation 18944.3.
Several commentators have questioned the need or usefulness of this regulation because a public agency is already prohibited from making a payment that is not a "lawful expenditure of public moneys." Boiled down, the regulation states that it is illegal for an agency to give a gift unless the gift is legal. Until the FPPC issues some formal opinions or advice letters clarifying the regulation, or revises the text, its immediate application is unclear.
10. Wedding Gifts
The value to an official of a wedding gift given to an official and his or her spouse or spouse -to -be is one-half of the gift's total value. Regulation 18946.3. This is an exception to the general rule, described above in "Gifts to an Official's Family," that a single gift to both an official and one or more members of the official's family is a gift to the official for the full value of the gift. The value of a wedding gift may exceed the gift limit, currently set at $520. Regulation 18942(b) (2).
11. Certain Gifts of Travel
Payments for travel for a public official are generally subject to the annual gift limit, unless the payment is otherwise exempt. FPPC regulations define a "payment for travel" as "any payment that provides transportation to an official from one location to Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 59 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations another location as well as a payment for lodging and food connected with the travel." Regulation 18950(b).
For reporting purposes, payments of air travel are valued in accordance with FPPC regulation 18946.5, as follows. Air travel is valued as the price the carrier charges the public for the same class seat on the flight provided to the official in the case of a commercial flight. The value of all other air transportation is the value of the normal and usual charter fare or rental charge for a comparable airplane of comparable size, divided by the number of passengers aboard the flight.
Exceptions for certain gifts of travel are found in both the Act and the FPPC regulations, which are discussed below. Public officials should review these exceptions closely and consult with the agency's legal counsel before relying on them. a. Travel Payments Related to Speeches that Serve a Governmental Purpose
Section 89506(a)(1) exempts from the gift limit any payments, advances, or reimbursements for travel that are reasonably related to a legislative or governmental purpose or issue of public policy if made in connection with a speech given by the official in the U.S. § 89506(a)(1); Regulation 18950(b). These types of payments for travel are not subject to the gift limit, but they must still be reported on a public official's Form 700. § 89506(a)(1); Regulation 18950(a).
b. Travel Payments Related to a Governmental Purpose Made by Government Agencies and Certain Non -Profits
Section 89506(a)(2) exempts from the gift limit any payments, advances, and reimbursements for travel that are reasonably related to a legislative or governmental purpose or issue of public policy if provided by a governmental agency, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit,24 and a few other limited organizations/persons. § 89506(a)(2). These types of payments for travel are generally not subject to the gift limit, but they must still be reported on a public official's Form 700. § 89506(a)(2); Regulation 18950(a). However, Section 89506(f)(3) now clarifies that if a nonprofit is acting as an intermediary or agent of a donor, then the $520 gift limitation would apply and the original donor must be listed as the source of the gift to the official, as well as considered a financial interest for the purpose of conflicts analysis. § 89506(f) (3).
24 With respect to nonprofit organizations that regularly organize and host travel for elected officials and that make payments, advances, or reimbursements totaling more than $10,000 in a calendar year or $5,000 to an individual person, the Act now requires the nonprofits to disclose the names of donors responsible for funding the travel costs. § 89506(f).
An organization "regularly organizes and hosts travel" if the organization's expenses for travel, study tours, or conferences constitutes more than one third of its total expenses. Id. In that case, the nonprofit must disclose the names of donors who contributed $1,000 or more to the nonprofit organization and who accompanied the elected official, either in person or through an agent, for any portion of the travel. § 89506(f).
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations C. Travel for Education, Training, or Intra-Agency Purposes Any payment for travel and per diem expenses received from a state, local, or federal agency is not a gift or income if used by the official for "education, training, or other inter -agency programs or purposes." Regulation 18950(c) (2). d. Travel in a Vehicle or Plane Owned by Another Official or Agency Regulation 18950(c) (3) provides that "transportation provided to an official in a vehicle or aircraft owned by another official or agency when each official is traveling to or from the same location for an event as a representative of their respective offices" does not constitute a "payment" and therefore does not count as a gift. Regulation 18950(c) (3). e. Travel Made in Conjunction with Official Agency Business Regulation 18950.1 provides an exception for travel payments that do not confer a personal benefit on an official, when made by sources other than local, state, or federal agencies, are for the purpose of facilitating the public's business, and are therefore not gifts or income because the payment is made for an official agency purpose in lieu of using agency funds. This exemption applies only to travel payments that meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The payment is made directly to or coordinated with the government employer and not made to the employee using
the travel;
(2) The payment is used for official agency business;
(3) The government employer determines which official will use the payment for travel;
(4) The payment provides no personal benefit to the official who uses the payment;
(5) The duration of travel is limited to that necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the travel was provided; and
(6) The government employer reports the payment, as specified below.
The first requirement above - that the payment is made directly to or coordinated with the government employer - is satisfied if the payment is made directly to the government employer or by arranging with the government employer any payments for transportation and lodging that are made directly to the provider of those services.
Food may be accepted for attendance at an event where food is provided as part of the admission to the event. All other payments for food must be made to the government employer pursuant to the employer's per diem travel policy. Regulation 18950.1 (b).
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations The second requirement above - that the payment be used for official agency business - is satisfied under any of the following circumstances:
• The payment is made pursuant to a provision in a contract requiring the contracting party to pay any expenses associated with any required governmental travel resulting from the government agency's participation in the contract and the payment is used for that purpose; • The payment is made for the travel expenses of an official for the purpose of performing a regulatory inspection or auditing function that the governmental employer is mandated to perform;
• The payment is made for the travel expenses of an official and the official is attending solely for purposes of providing training or educational information directly related to the governmental employer's functions or duties under the laws that it administers for individuals who are affected by those laws, and the payment is made by an organization to provide such training for its members;
• The payment is made for the travel expenses of an official to an educational conference directly related to the governmental employer's functions or duties under the laws that it administers, the official is a named presenter at the conference, and the payment is made by the organizers of the event;
• The payment is made for the travel expenses of an official for the purpose of receiving training directly related to the official's job duties and the payment is provided by an organization that commonly provides such training;
• The payment is made for food provided to all attendees at a working group meeting in which the agency official participates as a representative of his or her agency in a working group meeting under his or her officially assigned job duties and the agency is authorized to provide an official to attend the meeting; or
• The payment is for travel expenses that are required to attend a location to view an in place operation, structure, facility, or available product where the viewing would substantially enhance an official's knowledge and understanding in making an informed decision to enter into a contract regarding a similar operation, structure, facility or purchase of the product pursuant to the jurisdictional authority of the official's governmental employer. Regulation 18950.1 (c).
The third requirement is satisfied if the governmental employer selects the official who will make use of the payment. However, if the payment is for expenses related to an oral presentation to either provide training on a subject on which the governmental employer provides training, or discuss policy and direction in implementing the Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 62 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations functions of the governmental employer, the donor may request the official who is most qualified to make the presentation. Regulation 18950.1(d).
The fourth requirement above - that the payment of travel does not provide a personal benefit to the official - is satisfied under Regulation 18950.1(e) if both of the following requirements are met:
• The travel is for purposes approved by the governmental employer under the same requirements applicable to travel using its own funds, and the official is representing his or her governmental employer in the course and scope of his or her official duties; and
• Travel expenses are limited to no more than the expenses allowable for travel for agency business that would reasonably be paid at agency expense.
The latter requirement does not apply to either of the following:
• Payment for food where food is provided as part of the admission to the event. Otherwise, any payments for food must be made to the government employer pursuant to the employer's per diem travel policy.
Regulation 18950.1 (b).
• Payment for any lodging or food if the lodging and food is provided at a site where the official attends a widely attended meeting or conference and the value is substantially equivalent in value to the lodging or food typically made available to the other attendees. Regulation 18950.1 (g).
The sixth requirement above - that the payment is reported - is satisfied by the agency reporting the payment on a quarterly basis on a form prescribed by the FPPC.
Regulation 18950.1 (f). All such forms must be maintained as a public record and subject to inspection and copying under Government Code Section 81008, and posted on the agency's website, if it has one.
f. Travel in Connection with Bona Fide Business
The FPPC regulations reiterate the general rule in Government Code Section 89506(d)(3), whereby a payment for transportation, lodging, or food, made in connection with a bona fide business, trade, or profession, and which satisfies the criteria for federal income tax deductions for business expenses specified in Internal Revenue Code Sections 162 and 274, is not an honorarium or gift, unless the sole or predominant activity of the business, trade, or profession is making speeches.
Regulation 18950.2.
g. Travel Paid from Campaign Funds
A payment made to an official who is a candidate to cover his or her transportation, lodging or food, in connection with campaign activities, is a contribution to the campaign committee of that official. Regulation 18950.3(a). A payment made to an Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 63 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations official by or at the behest of a committee for the official's actual travel expenses (including food and lodging), or for other actual and allowable campaign expenses, is neither income nor a gift to the official so long as the expenses are reportable by the committee under the relevant sections of the Political Reform Act (Government Code Sections 84100 et seq.) or applicable federal law. Regulation 18950.3(b). Any other payment for travel from a committee to an official that is not covered by Regulation 18950.3(a) and (b) described above is considered income or a gift. Regulation 18950.3.
B. Prohibitions on Receipt of Honoraria
Government Code Section 89502 provides that an elected officer of a local government agency and any official listed in Section 87200 shall not accept an honorarium. This prohibition also applies to candidates for elective office in a local government agency. § 89502(b). An "honorarium" means any payment made in consideration for any speech given, article published, or attendance at any public or private conference, convention, meeting, social event, meal, or like gathering. § 89501.
1. Exceptions to the Prohibition on Honoraria
a. Earned Income Exception
"Honorarium" does not include income earned for personal services if:
• The services are provided in connection with an individual's business or the individual's practice of or employment in a bona fide business, trade, or profession, such as teaching, practicing law, medicine, insurance, real estate, banking, or building contracting; and
• The services are customarily provided in connection with the business, trade, or profession.
Regulation 18932.
b. Informational Materials
"Honorarium" does not include informational materials such as books, calendars, videotapes, or free or discounted admission to educational conferences that are provided to assist the official in the performance of official duties. Regulation 18932.4(a).
C. Family Payments
"Honorarium" does not include a payment received from one's spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, parent -in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle or first cousin or the spouse of any such person. However, a payment from any such person is an honorarium if the donor is acting as an agent or intermediary for any person not listed in this paragraph. Regulation 18932.4(b).
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations d. Campaign Contributions
"Honorarium" does not include a campaign contribution that is required to be reported. Regulation 18932.4(c).
e. Personalized Plaque or Trophy
"Honorarium" does not include a personalized plaque or trophy with an individual value of less than $250. Regulation 18932.4(d).
f. Admission and Incidentals at Place of Speech
"Honorarium" does not include free admission, refreshments and similar non -cash nominal benefits provided to an official during the entire event at which the official gives a speech, participates in a panel or seminar, or provides a similar service, and actual intrastate transportation and any necessary lodging and subsistence provided directly in connection with the speech, panel, seminar, or service, including but not limited to meals and beverages on the day of the activity. Regulation 18932.4(e). g. Incidentals at Private Conference
Likewise, "honorarium" does not include any of the following items, when provided to an individual who attends any public or private conference, convention, meeting, social event, meal, or like gathering without providing any substantive service:
• Benefits, other than cash, provided at the conference, convention, meeting, social event, meal, or gathering; or
• Free admission and food or beverages provided at the conference, convention, meeting, social event, meal, or gathering.
However, the foregoing may be reportable as gifts. Regulation 18932.4(f). h. Travel that Is Exempt from Giffs
Any payment made for transportation, lodging, and subsistence that is exempt by the gift exceptions listed in Section 89506 and Regulation 18950 et seq. also does not constitute an honorarium. Regulation 18932.4(g).
C. Prohibitions on Receipt of Certain Types of Loans
1. Prohibition on Loans Exceeding $250 from Other City Officials, Employees, Consultants, and Contractors
Elected officials and other city officials specified in Section 87200, including council members, may not receive a personal loan that exceeds $250 at any given time from an officer, employee, member, or consultant of their city or any local government agency over which their city exercises direction and control. § 87460(a), (b). In Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 65 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations addition, elected officials and other city officials specified in Section 87200 may not receive a personal loan that exceeds $250 at any given time from any individual or entity that has a contract with their city or any agency over which their city exercises direction and control. § 87460(c), (d).
2. Requirement for Loans of $500 or More from Other Persons and Entities to be in Writing
Elected local officials may not receive a personal loan of $500 or more unless the loan is made in writing and clearly states the terms of the loan. The loan document must include the names of the parties to the loan agreement, as well as the date, amount, interest rate, and term of the loan. The loan document must also include the date or dates when payments are due and the amount of the payments. § 87461.
3. Exceptions to Loan Limits and Documentation Requirements The following loans are not subject to the limits and documentation requirements specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 above:
• Loans received from banks or other financial institutions, and retail or credit card transactions, made in the normal course of business on terms available to members of the public without regard to official status. • Loans received by an elected officer's or candidate's campaign committee.
• Loans received from the elected or appointed official's spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, parent -in-law, brother-in- law, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle, or first cousin, or the spouse of any such person unless he or she is acting as an agent or intermediary for another person not covered by this exemption.
• Loans made, or offered in writing, prior to January 1, 1998.
4. Loans that Become Gifts are Subject to the Gift Prohibition Under the following circumstances, as stated in Government Code Section 87462, a personal loan received by any public official (elected and other officials specified in Section 87200, as well as any other local government official or employee required to file a Statement of Economic Interests) may become a gift and subject to gift and reporting limitations:
• If the loan has a defined date or dates for repayment and has not been repaid, the loan will become a gift when the statute of limitations for filing an action for default has expired.
• If the loan has no defined date or dates for repayment, the loan will become a gift if it remains unpaid when one year has elapsed from the Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 66 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations later of: the date the loan was made; the date the last payment of $100 or more was made on the loan; or the date upon which the official has made payments aggregating to less than $250 during the previous 12- month period.
5. Exceptions - Loans that Do Not Become Gifts
The following loans will not become gifts to an official:
• A loan made to an elected officer's or candidate's campaign committee.
• A loan on which the creditor has taken reasonable action to collect the balance due.
• A loan described above on which the creditor, based on reasonable business considerations, has not undertaken collection action. (However, except in a criminal action, the creditor has the burden of proving that the decision not to take collection action was based on reasonable business considerations.)
• A loan made to an official who has filed for bankruptcy and the loan is ultimately discharged in bankruptcy.
• A loan that would not be considered a gift as outlined in paragraph 3 above (e.g., loans from family members).
§ 87462.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations IV. PROHIBITION AGAINST MASS MAILINGS
The Political Reform Act also prohibits the sending of newsletters and other so-called "mass mailings" at public expense. §§ 89001, 89002.25 A "mass mailing" is defined as the mailing or distribution at public expense of 200 or more items within a calendar month featuring the name, office, photograph or other reference to an elected officer of the agency. § 82041.5. The Government Code also prohibits a mass mailing from being sent within the 60 days preceding an election by or on behalf of a candidate whose name appears on the ballot. § 89003. The underlying intent of the Government Code provision and the implementing FPPC Regulation is to preclude elected officials from using public agency newsletters as indirect campaign flyers for themselves. The law and regulations are intended to clamp down on prior abuses of newsletters so that elected officials cannot use publicly funded newsletters to bolster their name or accomplishments while in office.
A. Test for Prohibited Mass Mailing
The FPPC regulations previously included a four prong test to determine the legality of mass mailings. Under the statutory text, which now incorporates the requirements from the prior regulation, a mass mailing is prohibited if each of the following elements is present:
• It includes the delivery of a tangible item;
It "features" an elected officer, or includes a reference to, an elected officer and is sent in cooperation with the elected officer; • It is sent at public expense; and
A quantity of more than 200 substantially similar items are sent in a single calendar month.
§ 89002. Most public agencies that publish newsletters attempt to avoid the prohibition by ensuring that the newsletter does not meet the second element of the test. Each of the four elements is discussed in numerical order below.
1. Delivery of Tangible Item
First, a court will determine whether any "item sent is delivered, by any means, to the recipient at his or her residence, place of employment or business, or post office box.
The item delivered to the recipient must be a tangible item, such as a videotape, record, or button, or a written document." § 89002(a)(1). This means that if a city intends to deliver a written document, such as a city newsletter, by U.S. mail or by hand to residents or businesses, this element is satisfied.
25 Section 89002 incorporates Regulation 18901 into the statutory language to clarify the circumstances when a mailing would be prohibited by the general rule in Section 89001 and to identify certain situations when the prohibition would not apply. The FPPC has repealed Regulation 18901 now that the statute includes the same text.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations
2. Features or Includes Reference to an Elected Official The second part of the test is the most important and requires that the item sent either:
• Features an elected officer affiliated with the agency which produces or sends the mailing, or
• Includes the name, office, photograph, or other reference to an elected officer affiliated with the agency which produces or sends the mailing, and is prepared or sent in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer.
§ 89002(a)(2). The term "features an elected officer" is defined to mean that "the item mailed includes the elected officer's photograph or signature or singles out the elected officer by the manner of display of his or her name or office in the layout of the document, such as by headlines, captions, type size, type face, or type color." § 89002(c)(2). And the term "elected officer affiliated with the agency" in this manner means "an elected officer who is a member, officer, or employee of the agency, or of a subunit thereof such as a committee, or who has supervisory control over the agency or appoints one or more members of the agency." § 89002(c)(1).
This means that if the written document includes the photograph of a council member, even if it just shows the council member cutting a ribbon on a civic project or giving out a plaque to a member of the community, this element would be satisfied. It also precludes articles about an elected city official or articles in which they are "singled out" for discussion or reference.
The other way this second part of the mass mailing test can be satisfied is if an elected city official's "name, office, photograph, or other reference" is included in a written document and the document, or any part of it "is prepared or sent in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the elected officer." This restriction presents elected officials with a choice. If the elected official involves him or herself in the preparation of the document, then even the official's name is excluded from appearing in the document pursuant to this second subpart. If, on the other hand, the elected official does not involve him or herself in the preparation of the document, his or her name may appear in the document, but not in a way that it is "featured" by way of headlines, captions, type size, type face, or type color.
3. Public Expense
The third part of the test is whether:
• Any of the costs of distribution are paid for with public money, or • Costs of design, production, and printing exceeding $50 are paid with public money, and the design, production, or printing is done with the intent of sending the item other than as permitted by the statute.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations § 89002(a)(3). This part of the test precludes the city from either paying the costs of mailing a mass mailing, or paying more than $50 of the cost of having it produced if another person or entity pays for the cost of distributing the mailing.
4. More than 200 Copies of the Item
The fourth and final element of the test to determine whether a mass mailing is prohibited is whether "[m]ore than 200 substantially similar items are sent in a single calendar month, excluding any item sent in response to an unsolicited request..." § 89002(a)(4). This means that if more than 200 copies of the same written document, such as a city newsletter, are sent to the public in the same month, this element will be satisfied, with minor exceptions discussed below.
A city newsletter is particularly prone to violating the mass mailing proscriptions, especially the first, third and fourth elements of the test. The key to a lawful newsletter is to ensure that each issue of the newsletter fully avoids meeting the criteria of the second element of the test. This means that the newsletter cannot "feature" an elected city official and cannot include an elected official's name or reference if that official participates in the preparation of the newsletter, as discussed above. For example, many cities issue proclamations and awards at council meetings, and it is customary for an honoree to be photographed with the mayor. In order to comply with the mass mailing restrictions, the cities take two photographs: one of the honoree shaking the mayor's hand, for distribution to non -city publications such as a local newspaper, and one of the honoree standing alone, for publication in the city newsletter.
B. Exceptions to the Mass Mailing Prohibition
The statute now contains a list of certain types of documents that are exempt from the prohibition of mass mailings. The first of these documents is a letter on city letterhead where the elected official's name only appears in the letterhead along with a list of all other elected officers of the city and the letter does not contain other references to the elected official. § 89002(b)(1). Under this exemption, a non -elected official, such as the city manager, may send a letter on city letterhead at city expense to members of the community but an elected officer, such as the mayor, cannot do the same because the signature on the letter will be considered a separate reference to the elected official. If a letter signed by the mayor is to be sent to the community, a private individual or group would have to pay for the cost of producing and sending that letter.
Other exemptions include press releases to the media, inter -agency communications, intra-agency communications, tax statements and bills, telephone directories, limited meeting or event announcements, and meeting agendas. § 89002(b). All of these items are subject to their own specific limitations, as set forth in the statutory text.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations V. EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT OR DEFEAT
A BALLOT MEASURE
A local government may not spend public funds to assist with the passage or defeat of an initiative or other ballot measure or to contribute to a campaign for or against a candidate. § 54964. Public monies may not be spent on commercials, announcements, banners or any other promotional materials. This is based on the theory that it would be unfair to voters with opposing views to use public funds in this way. The prohibition also serves to prevent elected officials from using government funds to promote themselves or their allies in office. Stanson v. Mott, 17 Cal. 3d 206, 217 (1976); League of Women Voters v. County -Wide Criminal Justice Coordinating Comm'n, 203 Cal. App. 3d 529 (1988). However, this section does not prohibit the expenditure of city funds to provide information to the public about the possible effects of the ballot measure on the activities, operations, or policies of the city, as long as these activities are otherwise allowed under California law, and the information is factual, accurate, fair, and impartial. § 54964(c).
The leading California case setting forth the basic rule with respect to government involvement in political campaigns is Stanson v. Mott, 17 Cal. 3d 206 (1976). In Stanson, the California Supreme Court addressed the question of whether the State Director of Beaches and Parks was authorized to expend public funds in support of certain state bond measures for the enhancement of state and local recreational facilities. The court concluded that the Director lacked such authority and set forth the basic rule that "in the absence of clear and explicit legislative authorization, a public agency may not expend public funds to promote a partisan position in an election campaign." Only impartial "informational" communications would be permissible, such as a fair presentation of the facts in response to a citizen's request for information.
The Stanson Court also recognized that the line between improper "campaign" expenditures and proper "informational" activities is not always clear. "[T] he determination of the propriety or impropriety of the expenditure depends upon a careful consideration of such factors as the style, tenor, and timing of the publication; no hard and fast rule governs every case." Id. at 221-22. The Stanson test was reaffirmed by the California Supreme Court in Vargas v. City of Salinas, 46 Cal. 4th 1 (2009).
Prior to Vargas, courts attempting to interpret and apply Stanson used varying tests to determine the permissibility of expenditures. For example, in California Common Cause v. Duffy, an appellate court held that a local sheriff's use of public facilities and personnel to distribute postcards critical of then -Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird was "political" and not "informational" as permitted by Stanson because the cards presented only one side of Justice Bird's fitness to be retained in office. 200 Cal. App. 3d 730, 746-747 (1987). In another appellate decision, Schroeder v. City Council of Irvine, the court of appeal upheld Irvine's "Vote 2000" Program. 97 Cal. App. 4th 174 (2002). The program encouraged voter registration, without specifically advocating a particular position on any measure. Although the city had taken a public position in Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 71 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations favor of the proposed ballot measure, the materials it distributed did not advocate any particular vote on the measure and rarely mentioned the measure at all. The Schroeder court held that the funds spent on the Vote 2000 Program would be political expenditures and unlawful under Stanson only if the communications expressly advocated, or taken as a whole unambiguously urged, the passage or defeat of the measure. Because the city presented a neutral position on "Measure F," at least in the campaign materials, the court upheld the program as valid.
However, in Vargas v. City of Salinas, the California Supreme Court decided that "express advocacy" is an insufficient standard. In Vargas, proponents of a local ballot initiative to repeal the city's utility users tax ("Measure O") sued the city alleging improper government expenditures, the court held that even if a communication does not expressly advocate for either side of an issue, a Stanson analysis must nonetheless be conducted to determine whether the activity was for informational or campaigning purposes based on its style, tenor, and timing. Although the court did not specifically refer to the Schroeder analysis in its opinion, the court clearly stated that the "express advocacy" standard does not meaningfully address potential constitutional problems arising from the use of public funds for campaign activities that were identified in Stanson. Thus, local governments must look to Vargas rather than Schroeder for the proper standard to evaluate whether an expenditure is permissible.
A variety of factors led to the Vargas court's conclusion that the communications were informational, including the fact that the publications avoided argumentative or inflammatory rhetoric and did not urge citizens to vote in a particular manner. The challenged expenditures were made pursuant to general appropriations in the city's regular annual budget pertaining to the maintenance of the city's website, the publication of the city's regular quarterly newsletter, and the ordinary provision of information to the public regarding the city's operations. The Supreme Court found that in posting on the city's website the minutes of city council meetings relating to the council's action along with reports prepared by various municipal departments and presented by officials at city council meetings, the city engaged in informational rather than campaign activity. Similarly, the city did not engage in campaign activity in producing a one -page document listing the program reductions that the city council voted to implement should Measure O be approved, or in making copies of the document available to the public at the city clerk's office and public libraries. The court reasoned that viewed from the perspective of an objective observer, the document clearly constituted an informational statement that merely advised the public of specific plans that the city council voted to implement should Measure O be approved.
Finally, the court found that the city engaged in permissible informational activity by mailing to city residents the fall 2002 "City Round -Up" newsletter containing articles describing proposed reductions in city services. Although under some circumstances the mailing of material relating to a ballot measure to a large number of voters shortly before an upcoming election would constitute campaign activity, a number of factors supported the court's conclusion that the mailing of the newsletter constituted informational rather than campaign activity: it was a regular edition of the newsletter that was mailed to all city residents as a general practice, the style and tenor of the Summary of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations Page 72 © 2021 Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations publication was entirely consistent with an ordinary municipal newsletter and readily distinguishable from traditional campaign material, and the article provided residents with important information about the tax in an objective and nonpartisan manner.
The Supreme Court illustrated the insufficiency of the "express advocacy" standard by suggesting that if the city were to post billboards throughout the city prior to an election stating, "IF MEASURE O IS APPROVED, SIX RECREATION CENTERS, THE MUNICIPAL POOL, AND TWO LIBRARIES WILL CLOSE," it would defy common sense to suggest that the city had not engaged in campaign activity even though such advertisements would not have violated the express advocacy standard.
Vargas and Stanson reflect that local agencies must exercise caution when communicating to voters about local measures. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule to assist public officials in distinguishing improper partisan campaign expenditures from permissible expenditures for "informational activities." Whether a communication is permissible will be based on a combination of these factors, and public officials should therefore seek the advice of the city attorney on a case -by -case basis. Assistance may also be obtained from the FPPC.
Last, public officials should also be aware of a fairly new mass mailing rule that regulates communications pertaining to candidates and ballot measures. In 2009, the FPPC adopted a new regulation to prohibit government agencies from paying for mass mailings that expressly advocate or "unambiguously urge" a particular result in an election. Regulation 18901.1 prohibits a mailing if all of the following criteria are met:
• A delivery of a tangible item such as a written document, video tape, record, or button and is delivered to the recipient at his or her residence, place of employment or business, or post office box;
• The item sent expressly advocates or unambiguously urges a particular result in an election;
• The public agency (1) pays to distribute the item or (2) pays costs, exceeding $50, reasonably related to designing, producing, printing or formulating the content of the item including, but not limited to, payments for polling or research and payments for the salary, expenses, or fees of the agency's employees, agents, vendors, or consultants with the intention of sending the item; and
• More than 200 substantially similar items are sent during the course of the election including items sent during the qualification drive or in anticipation of an upcoming election.
A mailing "unambiguously urges a particular result in an election" if the communication can be reasonably characterized as campaign material or activity and is not a fair presentation of facts serving only an informational purpose when taking into account the style, tenor, and timing of the communication.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations There are exceptions to this rule, and the following are not considered campaign related mass mailings: (1) an agency report providing the agency's internal evaluation of a measure sent to a member of the public upon the individual's request; (2) a written argument sent to a voter in the voter information pamphlet; and (3) a communication clearly and unambiguously authorized by law. Essentially, this regulation utilizes the standards articulated by the Supreme Court in the Vargas case and provides that communications that violate those standards are prohibited mass mailings.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations VI. PROHIBITION ON GIFTS OF PUBLIC
FUNDS
Article XVI, Section 6 of the California Constitution prohibits state and local governments from making gifts of public funds or property. A transfer of property without consideration is a gift. Civ. Code § 1146. However, where property is transferred for a "public purpose" it will not be considered a gift of public funds. There, "[t]he benefit to the government from an expenditure for a 'public purpose' is in the nature of consideration and funds expended are therefore not a gift even though private persons are benefited therefrom." 69 Ops. Cal. Att'y Gen. 168 (1986) (citing California Employment Stabilization Comm'n v. Payne, 31 Cal. 2d 210, 216 (1947); Alameda County v. Janssen, 16 Cal. 2d 276, 281 (1940)).
In determining whether a legislative body has made a gift of public funds, courts will look first at "whether the money is to be used for a public or private purpose." Oakland v. Garrison, 194 Cal. 298, 302 (1941). "If it is for a public purpose within the jurisdiction of the appropriating board or body, it is not, generally speaking, to be regarded as a gift." Id. As the California Court of Appeal explained in Board of Supervisors v. Dolan, "[i]t is settled that if a public purpose is served by the expenditure of public funds, the constitutional prohibition is not violated even though there may be incidental benefits to private persons." 45 Cal. App. 3d 237, 243 (1975). However, to avoid violating the constitutional prohibition, public financial assistance must be tailored or "directly related" to a public purpose. California Housing Finance Authority v. Elliott, 17 Cal. 3d 575 (1976). Thus, financial assistance that does not directly further the proffered public purpose may still be found to be unconstitutional.
Courts defer to the legislative body's determination of what constitutes a "public purpose." The concept of public purpose has been "liberally construed by the courts," and a city council's determination of public purpose will be upheld unless it is "totally arbitrary." County of Alameda v. Carleson, 5 Cal. 3d 730, 746 (1971). Where a city acts pursuant to a state statute or in furtherance of a state statute, courts will defer to the state legislature in determining whether a public purpose exists.
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Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements of Principal Conflicts of Interest Laws and Regulations VII. CONCLUSION
More often than not, determining the application of conflicts of interest laws in particular circumstances requires complicated analysis. Because the consequences for a violation of these laws can be very serious, it is important that potential conflicts be identified as soon as possible to ensure that the appropriate analysis can be performed.
To that end, we recommend that public agency staff prepare maps of council member residences and other real property interests (and those of other public officials, such as planning commissioners) so that such officials may be alerted to projects that are located within 500 and 1,000 feet of their real property interests. Even though the materiality standards for real property interests have changed over the years, this is still an important starting point for a conflicts analysis.
We encourage all public officials to keep in mind that it is the individual responsibility of each public official to determine whether he or she has a conflict in a particular decision.
We encourage officials and staff to seek advice from the city attorney when in doubt about a conflicts of interest issue. Because only a formal, written opinion from the FPPC can immunize someone from prosecution, we strongly encourage officials and staff to seek advice from the city attorney as early as possible, so that, if necessary, the public agency may request a formal opinion from the FPPC prior to any participation in a decision where a public official may have a conflict.
In addition, the Legislature has enacted a statute that requires public officials to take at least two hours of ethics training every two years if the local agency provides that official with any type of compensation, salary, or stipend or provides reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by that official in the performance of his or her official duties. § 53235(a). Ethics training would also be required of any employee designated by the local agency to receive such training. § 53234(c). Please seek advice from the city attorney regarding further details about ethics training.
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SECTION 8
�, Brown Act
�. HANDBOOK
r*4 Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements
of the Ralph M. Brown Act
) Summary and Discussion of the Major Provisions of the Brown Act ) Text of the Ralph M. Brown Act
) Updated including changes effective January 1, 2021
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................iii PART
ONE: SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
OF THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT....................................................................................................... l
I.
APPLICATION OF BROWN ACT TO "LEGISLATIVE BODIES".........................................................1 II.
DEFINITION OF "MEETING"...............................................................................................................2 III.
EXCEPTIONS TO MEETING REQUIREMENT......................................................................................2 A. The Individual Contact Exception...................................................................................3 B. The Seminar or Conference Exception...........................................................................3 C. The Community Meeting Exception................................................................................3 D. The Other Legislative Body Exception.............................................................................3 E. The Social or Ceremonial Occasion Exception............................................................4 F. The Standing Committee Exception...............................................................................4 IV.
PERMITTED LOCATIONS OF MEETINGS AND TELECONFERENCING...........................................4 A. Permitted Locations of Meetings.....................................................................................4 B. Teleconferencing................................................................................................................4 1) Background on the COVID-19 pandemic.......................................................5 2) Emergency Executive Orders Regarding the Brown Act ..............................5 V.
ADA COMPLIANCE...........................................................................................................................6 VI.
SIMULTANEOUS OR SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS..................................................................................7 1) There is a subsequent legislative body............................................................. 7 2) The compensation or stipend, if any, each member may receive as a result of the multiple meetings....................................................7 3) The form of the compensation or stipend that will be provided.................................................................................................................. 7 VII.
SERIAL MEETINGS...............................................................................................................................8 A. Contacts with Staff.............................................................................................................9 B. Contacts with Constituents, Developers and Lobbyists............................................10 C. Contacts with Fellow Members of the Same Legislative Body ................................ l 1
D. Contacts on Social Media..............................................................................................1 1 VIII.
NOTICE, AGENDA AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS................................................................12 A. Time of Notice and Content of Agenda......................................................................12 B. Action and Discussion on Non -agenda Items.............................................................15 C. Reporting of Actions.........................................................................................................16 IX.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION...................................................................................................................16 Ralph M. Brown Act Page i
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A. Regular Meetings..............................................................................................................16 B. Public Comments at Special Meetings........................................................................17 C. Limitations on the Length and Content of Public Comments.................................18 D. Additional Rights of the Public.......................................................................................18 X. CLOSED SESSIONS...........................................................................................................................20 XI. ENFORCEMENT................................................................................................................................21 XII. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................23 PART TWO: The Ralph M. Brown Act........................................................................................................24 PART THREE: Executive Orders Altering Brown Act reuquirements during the Covid-19 state of emergency.....................................................................................................................................68 Ralph M. Brown Act Page ii
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INTRODUCTION
This Handbook is prepared to provide you with a summary of the major provisions of California's open meeting law for local governments - the Ralph M. Brown Act, including rules about calling and holding various types of meetings and closed sessions, as well as guidelines for how to avoid serial meetings. The second part contains the complete text of the Brown Act. The third part contains the text of Executive Orders N-25-20, N-29-20, and N-35-20, issued by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2020, which make several temporary changes to certain Brown Act provisions during the state of emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . While it is unclear how long these orders will ultimately be in place, the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that they will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. This Handbook is designed for local government officials and staff and we hope you will find it useful.
Should you have any questions about the information included in this Handbook, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Richards, Watson & Gershon
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Part One:
Summary of the Major Provisions
and Requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act
RWG
LAW
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Summary of the Major Provisions
and Requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act
The Ralph M. Brown Act, more commonly known as the "Brown Act," is California's "sunshine" law for local government. The Brown Act is found in the California Government Code commencing with Section 54950. In a nutshell, the Brown Act requires local government business to be conducted at open and public meetings, except in certain limited situations. This Handbook briefly summarizes and discusses the major provisions of the Brown Act.
I. APPLICATION OF BROWN ACT TO
"LEGISLATIVE BODIES"
The requirements of the Brown Act apply to "legislative bodies" of local governmental agencies. The term "legislative body" is defined to include the governing body of a local agency (e.g., the city council or the board of supervisors) and any commission, committee, board, or other body of the local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision -making or advisory, that is created by formal action of a legislative body. § 54952(a)-(b).
Standing committees of a legislative body, that have either "continuing subject matter jurisdiction" or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action of the legislative body, are also subject to the requirements of the Brown Act. Some common examples include the finance, personnel, or similar policy subcommittees of a legislative body. Standing committees exist to make routine, regular recommendations on a specific subject matter. These committees continue to exist over time and survive resolution of any one issue or matter. They are also a regular part of the governmental structure.
The Brown Act does not apply to "ad hoc" committees comprised solely of members of the legislative body that are less than a quorum of the body, provided these committees do not have a "continuing subject matter jurisdiction," or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action of the legislative body. Such ad hoc committees are purely advisory; they generally serve only a limited or single purpose, are not perpetual, and are dissolved when their specific task is completed.
Advisory and standing committees, but not ad hoc committees, are required to have agendas, and to have their agendas posted at least 72 hours in advance of their meetings. If this is done, the meeting is considered to be a regular meeting for all purposes. § 54954(a). If the agenda is not posted at least 72 hours in advance, the meeting must be treated as a special meeting, and all of the limitations and requirements for special meetings apply, as discussed later in Section VIII of this Handbook.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act The governing boards of some private corporations, limited liability companies, and private entities may be subject to the Brown Act under certain circumstances. A private entity's governing board constitutes a legislative body within the meaning of the Brown Act if either of the following applies: (i) the private entity is created by an elected legislative body to exercise lawfully delegated authority of the legislative body; or (ii) the private entity receives funds from a local agency and its governing board includes a member of the legislative body of the local agency who was appointed by the legislative body to the governing board as a full voting member. § 54952(c). Additionally, charter schools and entities managing charter schools may also be subject to the Brown Act.
Educ. Code, § 47604.1 (b) (1).
The Brown Act also applies to persons who are elected to serve as members of a legislative body of a local agency even before they assume the duties of office. § 54952.1. Under this provision, the statute is applicable to newly elected, but not -yet - sworn -in, members of the legislative body.
II. DEFINITION OF "MEETING"
The central provision of the Brown Act requires that all "meetings" of a legislative body be open and public. The Brown Act defines the term "meeting" very broadly in § 54952.2(a), and encompasses almost every gathering of a majority of legislative body members, including:
"[A]ny congregation of a majority of the members of a legislative body at the same time and location, including a teleconference, . . . to hear, discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body."
In plain English, this definition means that a meeting is any gathering of a majority of council members, board of directors or other applicable legislative body, to hear, discuss or deliberate any item of local agency business or potential local agency business. It is important to emphasize that a meeting occurs if a majority gathers to hear, discuss or deliberate on a matter and not just voting or taking action on the issue.
III. EXCEPTIONS TO MEETING
REQUIREMENT
There are six types of gatherings that are not subject to the Brown Act. We commonly refer to these exceptions as: (1) the individual contact exception; (2) the seminar or conference exception; (3) the community meeting exception; (4) the other legislative body exception; (5) the social or ceremonial occasion exception; and (6) the standing committee exception. Unless a gathering of a majority of the members of a legislative body falls within one of the exceptions discussed below, even if a majority of members are merely in the same room listening to a discussion of local agency business, they will Ralph M. Brown Act Page 2
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act be participating in a meeting within the meaning of the Brown Act that requires notice, an agenda, and a period for public comment.
A. The Individual Contact Exception
Conversations, whether in person, by telephone, video conferencing, or other means, between a member of a legislative body and any other person do not constitute a meeting under the Brown Act. § 54952.2(c) (1). However, such contacts may constitute a "serial meeting" (discussed below) in violation of the Brown Act, if the individual also makes a series of individual contacts with other members of the legislative body, and communications with these other members are used to "discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body." § 54952.2(a).
B. The Seminar or Conference Exception
Attendance by a majority of the legislative body at a seminar, conference or similar educational gathering is generally exempted from Brown Act requirements. § 54952.2(c)(2). However, in order to qualify under this exception, the seminar or conference must be open to the public and must involve issues of general interest to the public or to local agencies. Attendance at a California League of Cities or California Contract Cities seminar is an example of an educational gathering that fulfills these requirements. However, as with many of the exceptions, this exception will not apply if a majority of legislative body members discuss among themselves items of specific business relating to their own local agency other than as part of the scheduled program.
C. The Community Meeting Exception
The community meeting exception allows a majority of legislative body members to attend privately sponsored neighborhood meetings, town hall forums, chamber of commerce lunches or other community meetings at which issues of local interest are discussed. § 54952.2(c) (3). In order to fall within this exception, however, the community meeting must satisfy specific criteria. First, the community meeting must be "open and publicized." Therefore, a homeowners' association meeting restricted to the residents of a particular development and only publicized to those residents cannot be attended by a majority of the legislative body without following the Brown Act requirements because the meeting does not qualify for the exception. And again, for those meetings that fall within the community meeting exception, a majority of legislative body members cannot discuss among themselves items of business of their own local agency other than as part of the scheduled program.
D. The Other Legislative Body Exception
This exception allows a majority of members of any legislative body to attend open and noticed meetings of other legislative bodies of their local agency, or of another local agency, without treating such attendance as a meeting of the body. § 54952.2(c)(4).
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Of course, the legislative body members are prohibited from discussing items of business of their local agency among themselves other than as part of the scheduled meeting.
E. The Social or Ceremonial Occasion Exception
As has always been the case, the Brown Act does not apply to attendance by a majority of the legislative body members at purely social or ceremonial occasions. § 54952.2(c)(5). This exception only applies if a majority of legislative body members do not discuss among themselves items of business of their local agency.
F. The Standing Committee Exception
The standing committee exception allows members of a legislative body, who are not members of a standing committee of that body, to attend an open and noticed meeting of the committee without making the gathering a meeting of the full legislative body itself. § 54952.2(c)(6). If a majority of the legislative body is created by the attendance of the additional members, the legislative body members who are not members of the standing committee may attend only as "observers." This means that the noncommittee members of the legislative body should not speak at the standing committee's meeting, sit in their usual seat on the dais, or otherwise participate in the meeting. It is generally recommended that, if a standing committee meeting is likely to be attended by other legislative body members, then the meeting should be agendized as a meeting of the whole legislative body. This will allow full participation by all members of the legislative body.
IV. PERMITTED LOCATIONS OF MEETINGS
AND TELECONFERENCING
A. Permitted Locations of Meetings
The Brown Act generally requires all meetings of a legislative body to occur within the boundaries of the local agency. § 54954(b). There are limited exceptions to this rule, however, such as allowing meetings with a legislative body of another local agency in that agency's jurisdiction. Meetings held outside of a local agency's boundaries pursuant to an exception still must comply with agenda and notice requirements, as discussed below.
B. Teleconferencing
The role of "teleconferencing," or using telephonic and/or video technology in public meetings has expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because the Brown Act relies on physical, in -person meetings as the primary means to achieve its goals of public participation and transparency, the law has traditionally limited a local agency's ability to use teleconferencing to hold public meetings.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Generally, teleconferencing may only be used by members of a legislative body as a way to participate fully in the meeting from remote locations. § 54953(b). If one or more members participate in a meeting via teleconferencing, the following requirements apply to that meeting: (1) the remote location must be connected to the main meeting location by telephone, video or both; (2) the notice and agenda of the meeting must identify the remote location; (3) the remote location must be posted and accessible to the public; (4) all votes must be by roll call; and (5) the meeting must comply with the Brown Act, which includes allowing participation by members of the public present in remote locations. A quorum of the legislative body must participate from locations within the jurisdiction, but other members may participate from outside the jurisdiction. These teleconferencing rules only apply to members of the legislative body. Staff members, attorneys or consultants may participate remotely without following the posting and public access requirements of the teleconferencing rules.
However, Governor Newsom has temporarily suspended many of these limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1) Background on the COVID-19 pandemic
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a state-wide state of emergency due to the public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus known as the COVID-19 virus.
Since then, federal, state, and local governments have implemented various methods to control the spread of the virus.
In California, the majority of these measures have been accomplished by emergency Executive Orders issued by Governor Newsom's office. These measures have changed (and are likely to continue to change) overtime as the state tries to respond to the shifting challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has also been complicated by ongoing litigation challenging various state and local measures. If you have any questions about whether any of the following emergency response measures are still in effect or apply in your jurisdiction, please contact your city attorney. 2) Emergency Executive Orders Regarding the Brown Act
In -person gatherings, especially gatherings that are held indoors, significantly increase the risk of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. These risks increase exponentially as more people gather into a single space.
Shortly after the statewide state of emergency was declared, it became clear that in - person public meetings posed a real danger to the public health, particularly if the meetings addressed matters that were significant or controversial within the community.
Governor Newsom issued a series of executive orders which temporarily suspended various portions of the Brown Act. Two of these orders are discussed in detail below. The third order is discussed in Section VII of this Handbook (titled Serial Meetings), below.
On March 12, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20, which suspended measures of the Brown Act that expressly or impliedly require the physical presence of the public as a condition of participation in a public meeting. The order also suspended Ralph M. Brown Act Page 5
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act any measures that expressly or impliedly required the physical presence of legislative body members, the clerk, or other personnel of the legislative body as a condition of a quorum for a public meeting. Executive Order N-25-20 § 11. On March 17, 2020, this order was superseded by Executive Order N-29-20, which preserved the suspensions originally imposed by the March 12 order and also added new requirements for remote meetings. Executive Order N-29-20 will remain in effect during the period in which state or local public health officials have imposed or recommended social distancing measures. Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
Executive Order N-29-20 states that, notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law (including the Brown Act), a local legislative body may hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and address the body.
Executive Order N-29-20 § 3. All contrary requirements in the Brown Act have been temporarily suspended, including:
1. The requirement that local bodies notice each teleconference location from which a member will be participating in a public meeting.
2. The requirement that each teleconference location be accessible to the public.
3. The provision that members of the public may address the body at each teleconference conference location.
4. The requirement that local bodies post physical copies of the agenda at all teleconference locations.
5. The requirement that, during teleconference meetings, at least a quorum of members of the local body participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local body exercises jurisdiction.
Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
The order also imposes notice and accessibility requirements on meetings held by teleconferencing. These requirements are discussed in detail in Section VIII (titled Notice, Agenda, and Reporting Requirements) and Section V (titled ADA Compliance) of this Handbook, respectively.
V. ADA COMPLIANCE
Pursuant to Section 54953.2, all meetings of a legislative body, other than closed session meetings or parts of meetings involving a closed session, are required to be held in a location and conducted in a manner that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This section does not require that local agencies hold in -person meetings in a physical location to accommodate persons with a disability. Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act However, local agencies must ensure that remote meetings are conducted in a manner that allows persons with a disability to participate to the fullest extent possible. In particular, if a legislative body holds a public meeting by teleconferencing and allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting through telephonic or electronic means, then the legislative body must comply with the following requirements:
The legislative body must implement a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable modification or accommodation from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and resolving any doubt whatsoever in favor of accessibility.
2. The legislative body must advertise the procedure by which persons can request a modification or accommodation from persons with disabilities each time that notice is given of the means by which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment.
Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
Additionally, if requested, the agenda and documents in the agenda packet shall be made available in alternative formats to persons with a disability. § 54954.1. The agenda shall include information regarding how, to whom and when a request for disability - related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, may be made by a person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in the meeting. § 54954.2.
VI. SIMULTANEOUS OR SUCCESSIVE
MEETINGS
A legislative body that has convened a meeting and whose membership constitutes a quorum of any other legislative body may convene a meeting of that other legislative body, simultaneously or successively, only if a clerk or a member of the convened legislative body announces the following prior to convening the simultaneous or successive meeting:
1) There is a subsequent legislative body;
2) The compensation or stipend, if any, each member may receive as a result of the multiple meetings; and
3) The form of the compensation or stipend that will be provided.
The compensation and stipend is not required to be announced if it is listed in a statute without additional compensation authorized by the local agency, and in any case, the announced compensation must not include amounts reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred by a member in the performance of his or her official duties. § 54952.3.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act VII. SERIAL MEETINGS
In addition to regulating all gatherings of a majority of the members of a legislative body, the Brown Act also addresses certain contacts between individual members of the legislative body. On the one hand, the Brown Act specifically provides that nothing in the Act is intended to impose requirements on individual contacts or conversations between a member of a legislative body and any other person. § 54952.2(c) (1). This provision even applies to individual contacts between two members of the legislative body (the individual contact exception to the "meeting" described above). Despite this exception, however, the Brown Act prohibits "serial meetings." § 54952.2(b)(1).
A serial meeting is a series of meetings or communications, either in person or by other means, between individual members of the legislative body in which ideas are exchanged among a majority of a legislative body. A serial meeting can occur even though a majority of legislative body members never gather in a room at the same time.
For example, an email response concerning an agency's business circulating among a majority of the members of the legislative body, such as "reply to all," could be considered a serial meeting. A serial meeting typically occurs in one of two ways. The first is when a staff member, a legislative body member or some other person individually contacts a majority of legislative body members and shares ideas among the majority ("I've talked to members A and B and they will vote 'yes.' Will you?"). Alternatively, member A calls member B, who then calls member C and so on, until a majority of the legislative body has discussed or deliberated or has taken action on the item of business.
The prohibition against serial meetings does not, however, prohibit communications between staff and legislative body members for the purpose of answering questions or providing information regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the local agency, as long as the staff person does not communicate with other members of the legislative body, the comments or positions of any other member of the legislative body. § 54952.2(b)(2).
Additionally, for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prohibition against serial meetings does not prevent all members of a local legislative body from receiving updates (including, but not limited to, simultaneous updates) relevant to the declared emergency (including, but not limited to, updates concerning the impacts of COVID-19, the government response to COVID-19, and other aspects relevant to the declared emergency) from federal, state, and local officials. Executive Order N-35-20 § 2.1 During these update sessions, members of the legislative body may ask questions of those federal, state, and local officials in order for members of the legislative body to stay apprised of emergency operations and the impact of the emergency on their constituents. However, members cannot take action on, or discuss amongst themselves, any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body 1 Unlike Executive Order N-29-20, which specifies that it will only remain in effect while state or local governments impose or recommend social distancing measures, Executive Order N-35-20 does not have any conditions for its effectiveness or termination. Therefore, Executive Order N-35-20 will likely remain in effect until either it is terminated by Governor Newsom or the state-wide COVID-19 emergency is terminated, whichever comes first.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act without complying with otherwise -applicable requirements of the Brown Act. Members should therefore be careful not to discuss information received in these updates amongst themselves, especially the answers to any questions that the members ask. These communications should be deferred to a future meeting that complies with the Brown Act. To comply with these requirements, it is advisable to treat these update sessions like a traditional press briefing, which are typically designed to inform or educate participants of relevant issues, rather than to foster debate or create solutions.
Social media interactions between or among members of a legislative body can also raise serial meeting concerns. However, the prohibition against serial meetings does not prevent communication between members of a legislative body and members of the public on internet-based social media platforms to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body provided that: (i) a majority of the members of the legislative body do not use the social media platform to discuss among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, and (ii) members of the legislative body do not respond directly to any communication on a social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body. § 54952.2(b) (3).
Observing the following guidelines can avoid inadvertent violation of the serial meeting rule.
A. Contacts with Staff
Staff can inadvertently become a conduit among a majority of a legislative body in the course of providing briefings on items of local agency business. Originally, the California Court of Appeal held that staff briefings of individual city council members do not constitute an illegal serial meeting under the Brown Act unless there was additional evidence that: (1) staff acted as a personal intermediary for other members of the legislative body; and (2) the meetings led to a collective concurrence among members of the legislative body. Following that decision, the state legislature amended Government Code Section 54952.2 in 2008, effective in 2009, to further clarify that staff briefings of individual city council members for the purpose of answering questions or providing information regarding an item of business do not constitute an illegal serial meeting under the Brown Act as long as a staff person does not communicate the comments or positions of a member of the legislative body to other members. Staff briefings must therefore be handled carefully. To avoid having a staff briefing become a serial meeting:
• Staff briefings of members of the legislative body should be "unidirectional" when done on an individual basis for a majority of the legislative body. This means that information should flow from staff to the member, and the member's participation should be limited to asking questions and acquiring information. Otherwise, if multiple members separately give staff direction thereby causing staff to shape or modify their ultimate recommendations Ralph M. Brown Act Page 9
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act in order to reconcile the views of a majority of the members, a violation might occur.
• A legislative body member should not ask staff to describe the views of any other members of the legislative body, and staff should not volunteer those views if known.
• Staff may present their views to a legislative body member during an individual contact, but staff should not ask for that member's views unless it is absolutely clear that staff is not discussing the matter with a majority of the legislative body.
B. Contacts with Constituents, Developers and Lobbyists A constituent, developer or lobbyist can also inadvertently become an intermediary among a majority of members of a legislative body thereby creating an illegal serial meeting in violation of the Brown Act. Such person's unfamiliarity with the requirements of the Brown Act aggravate this potential problem because they may expect a legislative body member to be willing to commit to a position in a private conversation in advance of a meeting. To avoid violations arising from contacts with constituents, developers and lobbyists:
• State the ground rules "up front." Ask if the person has talked, or intends to talk, with other members of the legislative body about the same subject. If the answer is "yes," then make it clear that the person should not disclose the views of other legislative body member(s) during the conversation. • Explain to the person that you will not make a final decision on a matter prior to the meeting. For example: "State law prevents me from giving you a commitment outside a noticed meeting. I will listen to what you have to say and give it consideration as I make up my mind."
• Do more listening and asking questions than expressing opinions. If you disclose your thoughts about a matter, counsel the person not to share them with other members of the legislative body.
• Be especially careful with discussions about matters involving "quasi- judicial" land use decisions such as subdivision maps, site development plans, conditional use permits or variances. Consult with your city attorney or legal counsel before the meeting in order to avoid any potential problems involving illegal prejudice against the project or illegally receiving evidence about the project outside of the administrative record.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act C. Contacts with Fellow Members of the Same Legislative Body
Direct contacts concerning local agency business with fellow members of the same legislative body - whether through face-to-face or telephonic conversations, notes, letters, online exchanges, email with or to staff members - are the most obvious means by which an illegal serial meeting can occur. This is not to say that a member of a legislative body is precluded from discussing items of local agency business with another member of that legislative body outside of a meeting; as long as the communication does not involve a majority of the legislative body, no "meeting" has occurred. There is, however, always the risk that one participant in the communication will disclose the views of the other participant to a third or fourth legislative body member, creating the possibility of a discussion of an item of business outside a noticed public meeting.
Therefore, avoid discussing city business with a majority of the members of your legislative body and communicating the views of other legislative body members outside a meeting.
D. Contacts on Social Media
Social media engagement can also inadvertently lead to concerns of creating an illegal serial meeting in violation of the Brown Act. The Brown Act was previously silent regarding social media and its use by members of a legislative body, leading to uncertainty as to whether certain uses of social media could result in unintended violations of the Brown Act. Assembly Bill 992, passed in 2020 and effective January 1, 2021, amended certain provisions of the Brown Act until January 1, 2026 to clarify allowable uses of social media under the Act.
A member of a legislative body may engage in separate conversations or communications on an internet-based social media platform to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. However, a majority of the members of the legislative body cannot use the internet-based social media platform to discuss among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. Further, a member of the legislative body is prohibited from responding directly to any communication on an internet-based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body. § 54952.2(b) (3) (A). Unlike other serial meeting restrictions that are invoked when there are contacts of a majority of the legislative body, this provision is triggered when there is interaction between as little as two members of a body. For purposes of these provisions, such interaction includes commenting or using digital icons that express reactions to communications made by other members of the legislative body. § 54952.2(b) (3) (B) (i). Thus, it is now clear that "liking" a post or using a digital icon is considered a discussion under the Brown Act.
Ralph M. Brown Act Page 1 1
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Therefore, to avoid violations arising from social media engagement, members of a legislative body should avoid interacting on social media platforms with any other members of their legislative body regarding matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body.
These suggested rules of conduct may seem unduly restrictive and impractical, and may make acquisition of important information more difficult or time-consuming.
Nevertheless, following them will help assure that your conduct comports with the Brown Act's goal of achieving open government. If you have questions about compliance with the Act in any given situation, you should seek advice from your city attorney or legal counsel. Adherence to the foregoing guidelines is not a substitute for securing advice from your legal counsel.
VIII. NOTICE, AGENDA AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS
A. Time of Notice and Content of Agenda
Two key provisions of the Brown Act which ensure the public's business is conducted openly are the requirements that legislative bodies publicly post agendas prior to their meetings, (§§ 54954.2, 54955, 54956 and 54957.5) and that no action or discussion may occur on items or subjects not listed on the posted agenda (§ 54954.2). The limited exceptions to the rule against discussing or taking action not on a posted agenda are discussed further below.
Legislative bodies, except advisory committees and standing committees, are required to establish a time and place for holding regular meetings. § 54954(a). A "regular" meeting is a meeting that occurs on the legislative body's established meeting day.
Generally, agendas for a regular meeting must be publicly posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting in a place that is freely accessible to the public. However, the requirement that a physical agenda be posted has been temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
To properly notice a remote meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, Executive Order N-29-20 requires that the legislative body give advance notice for the time of, and post the agenda for, each public meeting according to the timeframes otherwise prescribed by the Brown Act. The order also requires that legislative bodies must give notice of the means by which the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment. If there is a change in the means of public observation and/or comment prior to the meeting, the body must advertise an accurate way for the public to observe or comment on the meeting using "the most rapid means of communication available at the time," per Government Code Section 54954, subdivision (e.) This requirement can typically be satisfied by posting the means of access, such as a link to a virtual meeting, to the body's public website. Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Agendas must contain a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting. § 54954.2(a). The description should inform the public of the "essential nature" of the matter, but need not exceed 20 words. San Diegans for Open Government v. City of Oceanside, 4 Cal. App. 5th 637 (2016).
Courts will not uphold a challenge to the sufficiency of an agenda item description when the description provides fair notice of what the agency will consider. The San Diegans for Open Government case provides an example of a sufficient agenda description that provides fair notice. In San Diegans for Open Government, the Oceanside City Council approved a subsidy agreement with a hotel developer using the following agenda item description:
Adoption of a resolution to approve: 1. An Agreement Regarding Real Property (Use Restrictions) between the City of Oceanside and SD Malkin Properties Inc. to guarantee development and use of the property as a full service resort consistent with the entitlements for the project; 2. An Agreement Regarding Real Property to provide a mechanism to share Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) generated by the Project; 3. A Grant of Easement to permit construction of a subterranean parking garage under Mission Avenue; 4. A report required by AB 562 prepared by Paul Marra of Keyser Marston and Associates documenting the amount of subsidy provided to the developer, the proposed start and end date of the subsidy, the public purpose of the subsidy, the amount of the tax revenue and jobs generated by the project; and 5. A License Agreement to permit construction staging for the project on a portion of Lot 26.
The court ruled that this agenda description complied with the requirements of Government Code Section 54954.2 because the agenda description expressly gave the public notice that the council would consider a fairly substantial development of publicly owned property as a hotel, that the City would share the transient occupancy tax generated by the project and that the transaction would involve a subsidy by the City.
Additional information, while helpful, was not necessary to provide fair notice of the essential nature of the action under state law. The court found that the language of the agenda, considered as a whole, provided more than a "clue" that the City planned to provide the developer with a substantial and ongoing financial subsidy in exchange for the project.
In contrast, in Hernandez v. Town of Apple Valley, 7 Cal. App. 5th 194 (2017), the court held that the Apple Valley Town Council's agenda description was insufficient. There, the Apple Valley Town Council adopted three resolutions that called for a special election related to an initiative to adopt a commercial specific plan and the filing of arguments and rebuttal arguments for and against the initiative. In addition, the Town Council adopted a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") that authorized the acceptance of a gift from an interested party, Wal-Mart, to pay for the special election.
The agenda description for the matter read "Wal-Mart Initiative Measure" and included a recommendation for action that read "[p]rovide direction to staff." Ralph M. Brown Act Page 13
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act The court reiterated that the Brown Act requires that each item of business be placed on the agenda. Specifically, the court highlighted that nothing in the agenda description, or even in the agenda packet, indicated that the Town Council was going to consider an MOU to accept a gift from Wal-Mart to pay for a special election to pass the initiative.
The court concluded that the City violated the Brown Act by omitting the MOU from the agenda description because the omission meant that the plaintiff was given no notice of the item of business.
Furthermore, agendas should make clear whether items may be acted on or whether they are informational only. Thus, if an agenda for a meeting states that the legislative body will only "discuss" an item, the legislative body may not take an "action" on that item.
Agendas must also be posted on the local agency's website, if one exists, for City Council meetings, and meetings of any other legislative body where some members are City Council members and are compensated for their appearance. While the language of the 72 hour posting requirement appears absolute, the California Attorney General opined that technical difficulties, such as a power failure, cyber-attack or other third - party interference that prevents a local agency from posting its agenda on its website for the full 72 hours will not necessarily preclude the legislative body from lawfully holding its meeting. 99 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 11 (2016). Whether a public meeting may continue as scheduled requires a fact specific analysis that turns on whether the local agency has otherwise "substantially complied" with the Brown Act's agenda posting requirements by properly posting a physical agenda and making other "reasonably effective efforts" (such as making the agenda available on social media or some other alternative website) to notify the public of the meeting.
Please note that the adoption of a CEQA document, such as an environmental impact report or a negative declaration, by a Planning Commission or a City Council is a distinct item of business separate from the item approving the project and must be expressly described in an agenda.
A "special" meeting is a meeting that is held at a time or place other than the time and place established for regular meetings. For special meetings, the "call and notice" of the meeting and the agenda must be posted, including in some cases on the local agency's website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. § 54956. Additionally, each member of the legislative body must personally receive written notice of the special meeting either by personal delivery or by "any other means" (such as facsimile, email or U.S. mail) at least 24 hours before the time of the special meeting, unless they have previously waived receipt of written notice. Members of the press (including radio and television stations) and other members of the public can also request written notice of special meetings and, if they have, then that notice must be given at the same time notice is provided to members of the legislative body.
An "emergency" meeting may be called to address certain emergencies, such as a terrorist act or crippling disaster, without complying with the 24-hour notice requirement.
Certain requirements apply for notifying the press and for conducting closed sessions as Ralph M. Brown Act Page 14
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act part of those meetings and except as specified, all other rules governing special meetings apply. § 54956.5.
Both regular and special meetings may be adjourned to another time. Notices of adjourned meetings must be posted on the door of the meeting chambers where the meeting occurred within 24 hours after the meeting is adjourned. § 54955. If the adjourned meeting occurs more than five days after the prior meeting, a new agenda for that adjourned meeting must be posted 72 hours in advance of the adjourned meeting. § 54954.2(b)(3).
The Brown Act requires local agencies to mail the agenda or the full agenda packet to any person making a written request no later than the time the agenda is posted or is delivered to the members of the body, whichever is earlier. A local agency may charge a fee to recover its costs of copying and mailing. Any person may make a standing request to receive these materials, in which event the request must be renewed annually.
Failure by any requestor to receive the agenda does not constitute grounds to invalidate any action taken at a meeting. § 54954.1.
B. Action and Discussion on Non -agenda Items
The Brown Act also ensures the public's business is conducted openly by restricting a legislative body's ability to deviate from posted agendas. The statute affords a legislative body limited authority to act on or discuss non -agenda items at regular meetings, but forbids doing so at special meetings.
As a general rule, a legislative body may not act on or discuss any item that does not appear on the agenda posted for a regular meeting. § 54954.2. This rule does not, however, preclude a legislative body from acting on a non -agenda item that comes to the local agency's attention subsequent to the agenda posting which requires immediate action. In order to utilize this exception, the legislative body must make findings of both components of the exception by a two-thirds vote of those present (by unanimous vote if less than two-thirds of the body is present). This means that if four members of a five -member body are present, three votes are required to add the item; if only three are present, a unanimous vote is required. In addition, an item not appearing on an agenda may be added if the legislative body determines by a majority vote that an emergency situation exists. For purposes of this exception, the term "emergency situation" refers to work stoppages or crippling disasters that severely impair public health, safety, or both.
In addition to the two general exceptions discussed above, a legislative body may also discuss non -agenda items at a regular meeting under the following five additional exceptions:
• Members of the legislative body or staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by persons during public comment periods; • Members of the legislative body or staff may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement or make a brief report on their own activities; Ralph M. Brown Act Page 15
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act • Members of the legislative body may, subject to the procedural rules of the body, provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information; • Members of the legislative body may, subject to the procedural rules of the body, request staff to report back to the legislative body at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter; and
• Members of the legislative body may, subject to the procedural rules of the body, take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
Therefore, spending a few minutes to discuss whether a matter should be placed on a future agenda or asking staff procedural questions is permissible. Cruz v. City of Culver City, 2 Cal.App. 5th 239 (2016). The legislative body may not, however, discuss non - agenda items to any significant degree. This means there should not be long or wide- ranging question and answer sessions on non -agenda items between the legislative body and the public or between the legislative body and staff. It is important to follow these exceptions carefully and construe them narrowly to avoid tainting an important and complex action by a non-agendized discussion of the item.
The Brown Act contains even more stringent regulations to restrict action on and discussion of non -agenda items at special meetings. In particular, the statute mandates that only business that is specified in the "call and notice" of the special meeting may be considered by the legislative body. § 54956. Notwithstanding, a special meeting may not be called to discuss compensation of a local agency executive. § 54956(b).
C. Reporting of Actions
The Brown Act mandates the public reporting of individual votes or abstentions by members of legislative bodies on any given motion or action. This requirement may be satisfied in most situations by reporting the individual vote or abstention of each member in the minutes of a meeting. § 54953. As of January 1, 2017, the Brown Act also requires that the legislative body orally report a summary of recommendations made with respect to the salary, salary schedule or compensation paid to a local agency executive. The legislative body must issue the report at the same meeting in which the final action on compensation is being considered. § 54953(c).
IX. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A. Regular Meetings
The Brown Act mandates that every agenda for a regular meeting provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. § 54954.3(a).
In addition, the Brown Act requires the legislative body to allow members of the public to comment on any item on the agenda either before or during the body's consideration Ralph M. Brown Act Page 16
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act of that item. § 54954.3(a). Note that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the public do not have the right to make in -person comments. Executive Order N-29-20 § 3.
However, members of the public should still be able to comment during teleconferenced public meetings to the greatest extent possible. At a minimum, local agencies should make sure that the public can send written comments to the legislative body prior to the meeting and that members of the public can call in to virtual meetings, either telephonically or through other electronic means, to submit oral comments. Also, although not required under the Brown Act or the Executive Orders, local agencies may consider reading written comments received into the public record by the city clerk, or his or her designee, subject to reasonable time and content limitations imposed in accordance with the requirements outlined in Section C (titled Limitations on the Length and Content of Public Comments) below.
Some local agencies accomplish both requirements by placing a general audience comment period at the beginning of the agenda where the public can comment on both agenda and non -agenda items. Others provide public comment periods as each item or group of items comes up on the agenda, and then leaves the general public comment period to the end of the agenda. Either method is permissible, though public comment on public hearing items must be taken during the hearing.
The Brown Act allows a legislative body to preclude public comments on an agenda item in one limited situation sometimes referred to as the "committee exception" -where the item was considered by a committee, composed solely of members of the body, that held a meeting where public comments on that item were allowed. So, if the legislative body has standing committees (which are required to have agendized and open meetings with an opportunity for the public to comment on agenda items) and the committee has previously considered an item, then at the time the item comes before the full legislative body, the body may choose not to take additional public comments on that item. However, if the version presented to the full legislative body is different from the version presented to, and considered by, the committee, then the public must be given another opportunity to speak on that item at the meeting of the full body. § 54954.3.
B. Public Comments at Special Meetings
The Brown Act requires that agendas for special meetings provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body concerning any item listed on the agenda before or during the body's consideration of that item. § 54954.3(a). Unlike regular meetings, though, the legislative body does not have to allow public comment on non -agenda matters at a special meeting. Additionally, unlike regular meetings, the exception to the requirement for public comment opportunity for items already considered by a committee (i.e., the "committee exception") does not apply to special meetings. Preven v. City of Los Angeles, 32 Cal. App. 5th 925, 936 (2019).
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act C. Limitations on the Length and Content of Public
Comments
A legislative body may adopt reasonable regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated to each person for public testimony. Typical time limits restrict speakers to three or five minutes. If an individual utilizes a translator to give testimony and simultaneous translation equipment is not used, the legislative body must allot at least twice the standard amount of time to the speaker. A legislative body may also adopt reasonable regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on legislative matters, such as a zoning ordinance or other regulatory ordinance. § 54954.3(b).
However, setting total time limits per item for any quasi-judicial matter, such as a conditional use permit application, is not recommended because the time restriction could violate the due process rights of those who were not able to speak to the body during the time allotted.
The Brown Act precludes a legislative body from prohibiting public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs or services of the local agency or the acts or omissions of the body. § 54954.3(c). This restriction does not mean that a member of the public may say anything during public testimony. If the topic of the public's comments falls outside the subject matter jurisdiction of the local agency, the legislative body may stop a speaker's comments.
A legislative body also may adopt reasonable rules of decorum that preclude a speaker from disrupting, disturbing or otherwise impeding the orderly conduct of its meetings. § 54954.3(b). The right to publicly criticize a public official does not include the right to slander that official, though the line between criticism and slander is often difficult to determine in the heat of the moment. Care must be given to avoid violating the free speech rights of speakers by suppressing opinions relevant to the business of the legislative body.
Finally, in some circumstances, the use of profanity may serve as a basis for stopping a speaker. It will depend, however, upon what profane words or comments are made and the context of those comments. Therefore, no one should be ruled out of order for profanity unless the language both is truly objectionable and causes a disturbance or disruption in the proceeding.
D. Additional Rights of the Public
The Brown Act grants the public the right to videotape or broadcast a public meeting, as well as the right to make a motion picture or still camera record of such meeting. § 54953.5(a). A legislative body may prohibit or limit recording of a meeting, however, if the body finds that the recording cannot continue without noise, illumination or view obstruction that constitutes, or would constitute, a disruption of the proceedings. § 54953.6.
Any audio or videotape record of an open and public meeting that is made, for whatever purpose, by or at the direction of the local agency is a public record and is Ralph M. Brown Act Page 18
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act subject to inspection by the public consistent with the requirements of the Public Records Act. § 54953.5(b). The local agency must not destroy the tape or film record for at least 30 days following the date of the taping or recording. Inspection of the audiotape or videotape must be made available to the public for free on equipment provided by the local agency.
The Brown Act requires written material distributed to a majority of the body by any person to be provided to the public without delay. This rule is inapplicable, to attorney - client memoranda, the confidentiality of which was affirmed by the California Supreme Court in Roberts v. City of Palmdale, 5 Cal. 4th 363 (1993). However, if non -privileged material is distributed during the meeting and prepared by the local agency, it must be available for public inspection at the meeting. If it is distributed during the meeting by a member of the public, it must be made available for public inspection after the meeting. § 54957.5(c).
If material related to an agenda item is distributed to a majority of the body less than 72 hours prior to an open session of a regular meeting, the writing must be made available at the same time for public inspection at a public office or location that has been designated in advance for such purpose. Each local agency must list the address of the designated office or location on the agendas for all meetings of the legislative body of that agency. § 54957.5(b). Although this Brown Act provision technically requires an agency to list the designated office address on closed session meeting agendas, it does not require an agency to make such closed session documents and materials available for public inspection.
A local agency may also post all documents made available for public inspection pursuant to Section 54957.5(b) on the agency's Internet Web site. However, a local agency may not post the writings to its website in lieu of designating a public office or location for inspection of physical copies of the documents.
We recommend that local agencies implement the following procedures to comply with Section 54957.5(b):
• Place a binder at the agency's principal place of business next to the public counter agenda packet that identifies the contents as follows:
"Disclosable public documents related to an open session agenda item on the Agenda Packet distributed by the [AGENCY] to a majority of the [LEGISLATIVE BODY] less than 72 hours prior to the meeting." • On the agenda template for all meetings, there should be a standard footer or statement that indicates the following: Any disclosable public writings related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the [AGENCY] to at least a majority of the [LEGISLATIVE BODY] less than 72 hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at the Counter at [AGENCY'S PLACE OF BUSINESS] located at [ADDRESS] and [optional] the Counter at the Library located at [LIBRARY ADDRESS] during normal business hours. [Optional] In addition, the Agency may also post such documents on the Agency's Website at Ralph M. Brown Act Page 19
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act [WEBSITE ADDRESS]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, agencies should make these documents available online to the greatest extent possible, especially when public buildings or facilities are temporarily closed to public access.
• On the [AGENCY'S] Website, create a subfolder under the agenda packet folder that identifies the contents of the subfolder as follows: "Disclosable public documents related to an open session agenda item on the Agenda Packet distributed by the [AGENCY] to a majority of the [LEGISLATIVE BODY] less than 72 hours prior to the meeting." • On all documents made available for public inspection pursuant to Section 54957.5(b), make a notation of the date when distributed to at least a majority of the legislative body and placed in the binder at agency's place of business, [optional] the Library, or [optional] on the agency's Website.
• Charge customary photocopying charges for copies of such documents.
One problem left unaddressed by Section 54957.5(b) is what to do when written materials are distributed directly to a majority of the legislative body without knowledge of staff, or even without the legislative body members knowing that a majority has received it. The law still requires these materials to be treated as public records. Thus, it is a good idea for at least one member of the legislative body to ensure that staff gets a copy of any document distributed to members of the legislative body so that copies can be made for the local agency's records and for members of the public who request a copy.
X. CLOSED SESSIONS
The Brown Act allows a legislative body to convene a "closed session" during a meeting in order to meet privately with its advisors on specifically enumerated topics. Sometimes people refer to closed sessions as "executive sessions," which is a holdover term from the statute's early days. Examples of business that may be conducted in closed session include personnel actions and evaluations, threats to public safety, labor negotiations, pending litigation, real estate negotiations and consideration of a response to an audit report. §§ 54956.8, 54956.9, 54957, 54957.6, 54957.75. Political sensitivity of an item is not a lawful reason for a closed session discussion.
The Brown Act requires that closed session business be described on the public agenda.
For a litigation threat against a city made outside an open and public meeting to be discussed in closed session it must be included in the agenda packet made available upon request before open meeting. Fowler v. City of Lafayette, 46 Cal. App. 5th 360, 370 (2020), as modified on denial of reh'g (Mar. 11, 2020), review denied (July 22, 2020).
Moreover, there is a "safe harbor" for using prescribed language to describe closed session items on an agenda in that legal challenges to the adequacy of the description are precluded when such language is used. § 54954.5. This so-called "safe harbor" Ralph M. Brown Act Page 20
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act encourages many local agencies to use a very similar agenda format, especially in light of a California Court of Appeal ruling that a local agency substantially complied with the Brown Act's requirement to describe closed session agenda items even though the notice referred to the wrong subsection of Section 54956.9. Castaic Lake Water Agency v. Newhall County Water District, 238 Cal.App. 4th 1 196 (2015). Audio recording of closed sessions is not required unless a court orders such recording after finding a closed session violation. § 54960.
Closed sessions may be started in a location different from the usual meeting place as long as the location is noted on the agenda and the public can be present when the meeting first begins. Moreover, public comment on closed session items must be allowed before convening the closed session.
After a closed session, the legislative body must reconvene the public meeting and publicly report certain types of actions if they were taken and the vote on those actions. § 54957.1. There are limited exceptions for specified litigation decisions and to protect the victims of sexual misconduct or child abuse. Contracts, settlement agreements or other documents that are finally approved or adopted in closed session must be provided at the time the closed session ends to any person who has made a standing request for all documentation in connection with a request for notice of meetings (typically members of the media) and to any person who makes a request within 24 hours of the posting of the agenda, if the requestor is present when the closed session ends. § 54957.1.
One perennial area of confusion is whether a legislative body may discuss the salary and benefits of an individual employee (such as a city manager) as part of a performance evaluation session under Section 54957. It may not. However, the body may designate a negotiator or negotiators, such as two members of a five -member legislative body, to negotiate with that employee and then meet with the negotiator(s) in closed session under Section 54957.6 to provide directions on salary and compensation issues. The employee in question may not be present in such a closed session. The Brown Act prohibits attendees from disclosing confidential information obtained during a closed session, unless the legislative body authorizes the disclosure. Violations can be addressed through injunctions, disciplinary action, and referral to the grand jury. § 54963.
XI. ENFORCEMENT
There are both civil remedies and criminal misdemeanor penalties for Brown Act violations. The civil remedies include injunctions against further violations, orders nullifying any unlawful action, orders determining that an alleged act violated the Brown Act, orders determining the validity of any rule to penalize or discourage the expression of a member of the legislative body, and remedies for breaching closed session confidences. §§ 54960, 54960.1, 54960.2, 54963.
The procedures for claiming there was a Brown Act violation vary depending upon what the complaining party is seeking. If the complaining party is seeking to invalidate an action based on a violation of the Brown Act, the procedures for doing so are set forth in Ralph M. Brown Act Page 21
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54960.1, as summarized below. If the complaining party is merely seeking a determination that a Brown Act violation occurred or desires the court to impose an order preventing further violations, the procedures for doing so are set forth in Section 54960.2, also as summarized below.
Under Section 54960.1, prior to filing suit to obtain a judicial determination that an action is null and void because of an alleged Brown Act violation, the complaining party must make a written demand on the legislative body to cure or correct the alleged violation.
The written demand must be made within 90 days after the challenged action was taken.
However, if the challenged action was taken in open session and involves a violation of the agenda requirements of Section 54954.2, then the written demand must be made within 30 days. The legislative body is required to cure or correct the challenged action and inform the party who filed the demand of its correcting actions or its decision not to cure or correct, within 30 days. The complaining party must file suit within 15 days after receipt of the written notice from the legislative body or if there is no written response, within 15 days after the 30-day cure period expires. § 54960.1 (b). Under Section 54960.2, prior to filing suit to obtain a judicial determination that an alleged Brown Act violation occurred after January 1, 2013, the district attorney or interested person must submit a cease and desist letter to the legislative body clearly describing the legislative body's past action and the nature of the alleged violation within nine months of the alleged violation. Second, the legislative body may respond within 30 days, including responding with an unconditional commitment to cease and desist from, and not repeat the past action that is alleged to violate the Brown Act. If the legislative agency responds with an unconditional commitment, that commitment must be approved by the legislative body in open session at a regular or special meeting as a separate item of business not on the consent calendar and must be in substantially the form set forth in Section 54960.2(c) (1).
Also, a legislative body may resolve to rescind an unconditional commitment with proper notice to the public and to each person to whom the unconditional commitment was made. Upon rescission, the district attorney or any interested person may file an action pursuant to Section 54960(a). Finally, Section 54960.2 provides further deadlines and requirements that must be met when filing an action in connection with an unconditional commitment. § 54960.2. Note that even where a plaintiff can satisfy the threshold procedural requirements, a Brown Act violation will not automatically invalidate the action taken by the legislative body absent a showing that the violation caused prejudice. Mortis Camp Cmty. Assn v. Cty. of Placer, 53 Cal. App. 5th 569, 592 (2020).
A member of a legislative body will not be criminally liable for a violation of the Brown Act unless the member intends to deprive the public of information which the member knows or has reason to know the public is entitled to under the Brown Act. § 54959. This standard became effective in 1994 and is a different standard from most criminal standards. Until it is applied and interpreted by a court, it is not clear what type of evidence will be necessary to prosecute a Brown Act violation.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act XII. CONCLUSION
The Brown Act's many rules and ambiguities can be confusing, and compliance with it can be difficult. In the event that you have any questions regarding any provision of the law, you should contact your legal counsel for advice.
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Part Two:
The Ralph M. Brown Act
Updated including changes effective January 1, 2021
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act The Ralph M. Brown Act
Government Code §§ 54950-54963
Section 54950. Declaration of public policy
In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and declares that the public commissions, boards and councils and the other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.
The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them.
The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.
Section 54950.5. Title of act
This chapter shall be known as the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Section 54951. "Local agency"
As used in this chapter, "local agency" means a county, city, whether general law or chartered, city and county, town, school district, municipal corporation, district, political subdivision or any board, commission or agency thereof or other local public agency.
Section 54952. "Legislative body"
As used in this chapter, "legislative body" means:
(a) The governing body of a local agency or any other local body created by state or federal statute.
(b) A commission, committee, board or other body of a local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision making or advisory, created by charter, ordinance, resolution or formal action of a legislative body. However, advisory committees, composed solely of the members of the legislative body that are less than a quorum of the legislative body are not legislative bodies, except that standing committees of a legislative body, irrespective of their composition which have a continuing subject matter jurisdiction, or a meeting schedule fixed by charter, ordinance, resolution or formal action of a legislative body are legislative bodies for purposes of this chapter. (c) (1) A board, commission, committee or other multimember body that governs a private corporation, limited liability company or other entity that either:
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (A) Is created by the elected legislative body in order to exercise authority that may lawfully be delegated by the elected governing body to a private corporation, limited liability company or other entity. (B) Receives funds from a local agency and the membership of whose governing body includes a member of the legislative body of the local agency appointed to that governing body as a full -voting member by the legislative body of the local agency.
(2) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), no board, commission, committee or other multimember body that governs a private corporation, limited liability company or other entity that receives funds from a local agency and, as of February 9, 1996, has a member of the legislative body of the local agency as a full voting member of the governing body of that private corporation, limited liability company or other entity shall be relieved from the public meeting requirements of this chapter by virtue of a change in status of the full -voting member to a nonvoting member. (d) The lessee of any hospital, the whole or part of which is first leased pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 32121 of the Health and Safety Code after January 1, 1994, where the lessee exercises any material authority of a legislative body of a local agency delegated to it by that legislative body whether the lessee is organized and operated by the local agency or by a delegated authority.
Section 54952.1. Conduct and treatment of electee
Any person elected to serve as a member of a legislative body who has not yet assumed the duties of office shall conform his or her conduct to the requirements of this chapter and shall be treated for purposes of enforcement of this chapter as if he or she has already assumed office.
Section 54952.2. Specified communications of legislative body of local agency prohibited outside meeting thereof
(a) As used in this chapter, "meeting" means any congregation of a majority of the members of a legislative body at the same time and location, including teleconference location as permitted by Section 54953, to hear, discuss, deliberate or take action on any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. (b) (1) A majority of the members of a legislative body shall not, outside a meeting authorized by this chapter, use a series of communications of any kind, directly or through intermediaries, to discuss, deliberate or take action on any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed as preventing an employee or official of a local agency, from engaging in separate conversations or communications outside of a meeting authorized by this chapter with members of a legislative body in order to answer questions or provide information regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the local agency, if that person does not communicate to members Ralph M. Brown Act Page 2
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act of the legislative body the comments or position of any other member or members of the legislative body.
(3) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed as preventing a member of the legislative body from engaging in separate conversations or communications on an internet-based social media platform to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body provided that a majority of the members of the legislative body do not use the internet-based social media platform to discuss among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. A member of the legislative body shall not respond directly to any communication on an internet-based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, all of the following definitions shall apply:
(i) "Discuss among themselves" means communications made, posted, or shared on an internet-based social media platform between members of a legislative body, including comments or use of digital icons that express reactions to communications made by other members of the legislative body. (ii) "Internet -based social media platform" means an online service that is open and accessible to the public.
(iii) "Open and accessible to the public" means that members of the general public have the ability to access and participate, free of charge, in the social media platform without the approval of the social media platform or a person or entity other than the social media platform, including any forum and chatroom, and cannot be blocked from doing so, except when the internet-based social media platform determines that an individual violated its protocols or rules. (c) Nothing in this section shall impose the requirements of this chapter upon any of the following:
(1) Individual contacts or conversations between a member of a legislative body and any other person that do not violate subdivision (b). (2) The attendance of a majority of the members of a legislative body at a conference or similar gathering open to the public that involves a discussion of issues of general interest to the public or to public agencies of the type represented by the legislative body, provided that a majority of the members do not discuss among themselves, other than as part of the scheduled program, business of a specified nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the local agency. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to allow members of the public free admission to a conference or similar gathering at which the organizers have required other participants or registrants to pay fees or charges as a condition of attendance.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (3) The attendance of a majority of the members of a legislative body at an open and publicized meeting organized to address a topic of local community concern by a person or organization other than the local agency, provided that a majority of the members do not discuss among themselves, other than as part of the scheduled program, business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body of the local agency.
(4) The attendance of a majority of the members of a legislative body at an open and noticed meeting of another body of the local agency or at an open and noticed meeting of a legislative body of another local agency, provided that a majority of the members do not discuss among themselves, other than as part of the scheduled meeting, business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body of the local agency.
(5) The attendance of a majority of the members of a legislative body at a purely social or ceremonial occasion, provided that a majority of the members do not discuss among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body of the local agency. (6) The attendance of a majority of the members of a legislative body at an open and noticed meeting of a standing committee of that body, provided that the members of the legislative body who are not members of the standing committee attend only as observers.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
Section 54952.3. Simultaneous or serial order meetings authorized; Requirements; Compensation or stipend
(a) A legislative body that has convened a meeting and whose membership constitutes a quorum of any other legislative body may convene a meeting of that other legislative body, simultaneously or in serial order, only if a clerk or a member of the convened legislative body verbally announces, prior to convening any simultaneous or serial order meeting of that subsequent legislative body, the amount of compensation or stipend, if any, that each member will be entitled to receive as a result of convening the simultaneous or serial meeting of the subsequent legislative body and identifies that the compensation or stipend shall be provided as a result of convening a meeting for which each member is entitled to collect compensation or a stipend. However, the clerk or member of the legislative body shall not be required to announce the amount of compensation if the amount of compensation is prescribed in statute and no additional compensation has been authorized by a local agency.
(b) For purposes of this section, compensation and stipend shall not include amounts reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred by a member in the performance of the member's official duties, including, but not limited to, reimbursement of expenses relating to travel, meals, and lodging.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54952.6. "Action taken"
As used in this chapter, "action taken" means a collective decision made by a majority of the members of a legislative body, a collective commitment or promise by a majority of the members of a legislative body to make a positive or a negative decision or an actual vote by a majority of the members of a legislative body when sitting as a body or entity, upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order or ordinance.
Section 54952.7. Copy of chapter
A legislative body of a local agency may require that a copy of this chapter be given to each member of the legislative body and any person elected to serve as a member of the legislative body who has not assumed the duties of office. An elected legislative body of a local agency may require that a copy of this chapter be given to each member of each legislative body all or a majority of whose members are appointed by or under the authority of the elected legislative body.
Section 54953. Requirement that meetings be open and public; Teleconferencing; Teleconference meetings by health authority
(a) All meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the legislative body of a local agency may use teleconferencing for the benefit of the public and the legislative body of a local agency in connection with any meeting or proceeding authorized by law. The teleconferenced meeting or proceeding shall comply with all requirements of this chapter and all otherwise applicable provisions of law relating to a specific type of meeting or proceeding.
(2) Teleconferencing, as authorized by this section, may be used for all purposes in connection with any meeting within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. All votes taken during a teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call. (3) If the legislative body of a local agency elects to use teleconferencing, it shall post agendas at all teleconference locations and conduct teleconference meetings in a manner that protects the statutory and constitutional rights of the parties or the public appearing before the legislative body of a local agency. Each teleconference location shall be identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding and each teleconference location shall be accessible to the public. During the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body shall participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, except as provided in subdivision (d). The agenda shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body directly pursuant to Section 54954.3 at each teleconference location. (4) For the purposes of this section, "teleconference" means a meeting of a legislative body, the members of which are in different locations, connected by Ralph M. Brown Act Page 5
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act electronic means, through either audio or video or both. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local agency from providing the public with additional teleconference locations.
(c) (1) No legislative body shall take action by secret ballot, whether preliminary or final.
(2) The legislative body of a local agency shall publicly report any action taken and the vote or abstention on that action of each member present for the action. (3) Prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action on the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 351 1.1, during the open meeting in which the final action is to be taken.
This paragraph shall not affect the public's right under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1) to inspect or copy records created or received in the process of developing the recommendation. (d) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions relating to a quorum in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), if a health authority conducts a teleconference meeting, members who are outside the jurisdiction of the authority may be counted toward the establishment of a quorum when participating in the teleconference if at least 50 percent of the number of members that would establish a quorum are present within the boundaries of the territory over which the authority exercises jurisdiction, and the health authority provides a teleconference number and associated access codes, if any, that allows any person to call in to participate in the meeting and the number and access codes are identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting.
(2) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as discouraging health authority members from regularly meeting at a common physical site within the jurisdiction of the authority or from using teleconference locations within or near the jurisdiction of the authority. A teleconference meeting for which a quorum is established pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to all other requirements of this section. (3) For purposes of this subdivision, a health authority means any entity created pursuant to Sections 14018.7, 14087.31, 14087.35, 14087.36, 14087.38 and 14087.9605 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, any joint powers authority created pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 for the purpose of contracting pursuant to Section 14087.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and any advisory committee to a county sponsored health plan licensed pursuant to Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code if the advisory committee has 12 or more members.
Section 54953.1. Grand jury testimony
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to prohibit the members of the legislative body of a local agency from giving testimony in private before a grand jury, either as individuals or as a body.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54953.2. Meetings to conform to Americans with Disabilities Act All meetings of a legislative body of a local agency that are open and public shall meet the protections and prohibitions contained in Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof.
Section 54953.3. Registration of attendance
A member of the public shall not be required, as a condition to attendance at a meeting of a legislative body of a local agency, to register his or her name, to provide other information, to complete a questionnaire or otherwise to fulfill any condition precedent to his or her attendance.
If an attendance list, register, questionnaire or other similar document is posted at or near the entrance to the room where the meeting is to be held or is circulated to the persons present during the meeting, it shall state clearly that the signing, registering or completion of the document is voluntary and that all persons may attend the meeting regardless of whether a person signs, registers or completes the document.
Section 54953.5. Recording proceedings
(a) Any person attending an open and public meeting of a legislative body of a local agency shall have the right to record the proceedings with an audio or video recorder or a still or motion picture camera in the absence of a reasonable finding by the legislative body of the local agency that the recording cannot continue without noise, illumination or obstruction of view that constitutes, or would constitute, a persistent disruption of the proceedings.
(b) Any audio or video recording of an open and public meeting made for whatever purpose by, or at the direction of the local agency, shall be subject to inspection pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1), but, notwithstanding Section 34090, may be erased or destroyed 30 days after the recording. Any inspection of an audio or video recording shall be provided without charge on equipment made available by the local agency.
Section 54953.6. Restrictions on broadcasts of proceedings No legislative body of a local agency shall prohibit or otherwise restrict the broadcast of its open and public meetings in the absence of a reasonable finding that the broadcast cannot be accomplished without noise, illumination or obstruction of view that would constitute a persistent disruption of the proceedings.
Section 54953.7. Access to meetings beyond minimal standards Notwithstanding any other provision of law, legislative bodies of local agencies may impose requirements upon themselves which allow greater access to their meetings than prescribed by the minimal standards set forth in this chapter. In addition thereto, an elected legislative body of a local agency may impose such requirements on those Ralph M. Brown Act Page 7
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act appointed legislative bodies of the local agency of which all or a majority of the members are appointed by or under the authority of the elected legislative body.
Section 54954. Rules for conduct of business; Time and place of meetings (a) Each legislative body of a local agency, except for advisory committees or standing committees, shall provide by ordinance, resolution, bylaws or by whatever other rule is required for the conduct of business by that body, the time and place for holding regular meetings. Meetings of advisory committees or standing committees for which an agenda is posted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54954.2, shall be considered for purposes of this chapter as regular meetings of the legislative body.
(b) Regular and special meetings of the legislative body shall be held within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, except to do any of the following:
(1) Comply with state or federal law or court order, or attend a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the local agency is a party. (2) Inspect real or personal property which cannot be conveniently brought within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the real or personal property.
(3) Participate in meetings or discussions of multiagency significance that are outside the boundaries of a local agency's jurisdiction. However, any meeting or discussion held pursuant to this subdivision shall take place within the jurisdiction of one of the participating local agencies and be noticed by all participating agencies as provided for in this chapter.
(4) Meet in the closest meeting facility if the local agency has no meeting facility within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, or at the principal office of the local agency if that office is located outside the territory over which the agency exercises jurisdiction. (5) Meet outside their immediate jurisdiction with elected or appointed officials of the United States or the State of California when a local meeting would be impractical solely to discuss a legislative or regulatory issue affecting the local agency and over which the federal or state officials have jurisdiction. (6) Meet outside their immediate jurisdiction if the meeting takes place in or nearby a facility owned by the agency, provided that the topic of the meeting is limited to items directly related to the facility.
(7) Visit the office of the local agency's legal counsel for a closed session on pending litigation held pursuant to Section 54956.9, when to do so would reduce legal fees or costs.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (c) Meetings of the governing board of a school district shall be held within the district, except under the circumstances enumerated in subdivision (b) or to do any of the following:
(1) Attend a conference on non -adversarial collective bargaining techniques. (2) Interview members of the public residing in another district with reference to the trustees' potential employment of an applicant for the position of the superintendent of the district.
(3) Interview a potential employee from another district. (d) Meetings of a joint powers authority shall occur within the territory of at least one of its member agencies or as provided in subdivision (b). However, a joint powers authority which has members throughout the state may meet at any facility in the state which complies with the requirements of Section 54961.
(e) If, by reason of fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, it shall be unsafe to meet in the place designated, the meetings shall be held for the duration of the emergency at the place designated by the presiding officer of the legislative body or his or her designee in a notice to the local media that have requested notice pursuant to Section 54956, by the most rapid means of communication available at the time.
Section 54954.1. Request for notice; Renewal; Fee
Any person may request that a copy of the agenda or a copy of all the documents constituting the agenda packet of any meeting of a legislative body be mailed to that person. If requested, the agenda and documents in the agenda packet shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. Upon receipt of the written request, the legislative body or its designee shall cause the requested materials to be mailed at the time the agenda is posted pursuant to Section 54954.2 and 54956 or upon distribution to all, or a majority of all, of the members of a legislative body, whichever occurs first. Any request for mailed copies of agendas or agenda packets shall be valid for the calendar year in which it is filed and must be renewed following January 1 of each year. The legislative body may establish a fee for mailing the agenda or agenda packet, which fee shall not exceed the cost of providing the service. Failure of the requesting person to receive the agenda or agenda packet pursuant to this section shall not constitute grounds for invalidation of the actions of the legislative body taken at the meeting for which the agenda or agenda packet was not received.
Section 54954.2. Posting of agenda; Actions not on agenda (a) (1) At least 72 hours before a regular meeting, the legislative body of the local agency, or its designee, shall post an agenda containing a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting, including items to be discussed in closed session. A brief general description of an item generally need not exceed 20 words. The agenda shall specify the time and location of the regular meeting Ralph M. Brown Act Page 9
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act and shall be posted in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public and on the local agency's Internet Website, if the local agency has one. If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132) and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. The agenda shall include information regarding how, to whom and when a request for disability -related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, may be made by a person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in the public meeting. (2) For a meeting occurring on and after January 1, 2019 of a legislative body of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state that has an Internet Website, the following provisions shall apply:
(A) An online posting of an agenda shall be posted on the primary Internet Website homepage of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state that is accessible through a prominent, direct link to the current agenda. The direct link to the agenda shall not be in a contextual menu; however, a link in addition to the direct link to the agenda may be accessible through a contextual menu.
(B) An online posting of an agenda including, but not limited to, an agenda posted in an integrated agenda management platform shall be posted in an open format that meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Retrievable, downloadable, indexable and electronically searchable by commonly used Internet search applications. (ii) Platform independent and machine readable.
(iii) Available to the public free of charge and without any restriction that would impede the reuse or redistribution of the agenda. (C) A legislative body of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state that has an Internet Website and an integrated agenda management platform shall not be required to comply with subparagraph (A) if all of the following are met:
(i) A direct link to the integrated agenda management platform shall be posted on the primary Internet Website homepage of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state. The direct link to the integrated agenda management platform shall not be in a contextual menu. When a person clicks on the direct link to the integrated agenda management platform, the direct link shall take the person directly to an Internet Website with the agendas of the legislative body of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state. (ii) The integrated agenda management platform may contain the prior agendas of a legislative body of a city, county, city and county, special district, Ralph M. Brown Act Page 10
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act school district or political subdivision established by the state for all meetings occurring on or after January 1, 2019.
(iii) The current agenda of the legislative body of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state shall be the first agenda available at the top of the integrated agenda management platform.
(iv) All agendas posted in the integrated agenda management platform shall comply with the requirements in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (B)•
(D) For the purposes of this paragraph, both of the following definitions shall apply:
(i) "Integrated agenda management platform" means an
Internet Website of a city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state dedicated to providing the entirety of the agenda information for the legislative body of the city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state to the public. (ii) "Legislative body" has the same meaning as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 54952.
(E) The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a political subdivision of a local agency that was established by the legislative body of the city, county, city and county, special district, school district or political subdivision established by the state.
(3) No action or discussion shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except that members of a legislative body or its staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by persons exercising their public testimony rights under Section 54954.3. In addition, on their own initiative or in response to questions posed by the public, a member of a legislative body or its staff may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement or make a brief report on his or her own activities. Furthermore, a member of a legislative body, or the body itself, subject to rules or procedures of the legislative body, may provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, request staff to report back to the body at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter or take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the legislative body may take action on items of business not appearing on the posted agenda under any of the conditions stated below.
Prior to discussing any item pursuant to this subdivision, the legislative body shall publicly identify the item.
(1) Upon a determination by a majority vote of the legislative body that an emergency situation exists as defined in Section 54956.5.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (2) Upon a determination by a two-thirds vote of the members of the legislative body present at the meeting, or, if less than two-thirds of the members are present, a unanimous vote of those members present that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came to the attention of the local agency subsequent to the agenda being posted as specified in subdivision (a). (3) The item was posted pursuant to subdivision (a) for a prior meeting of the legislative body occurring not more than five calendar days prior to the date action is taken on the item, and at the prior meeting the item was continued to the meeting at which action is being taken.
(c) This section is necessary to implement and reasonably within the scope of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. (d) For purposes of subdivision (a), the requirement that the agenda be posted on the local agency's Internet Website, if the local agency has one, shall only apply to a legislative body that meets either of the following standards:
A legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (a) of Section 54952. (2) A legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (b) of Section 54952, if the members of the legislative body are compensated for their appearance, and if one or more of the members of the legislative body are also members of a legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (a) of Section 54952.
Section 54954.3. Public testimony at regular meetings
(a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, before or during the legislative body's consideration of the item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 54954.2. However, the agenda need not provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body on any item that has already been considered by a committee, composed exclusively of members of the legislative body at a public meeting wherein all interested members of the public were afforded the opportunity to address the committee on the item, before or during the committee's consideration of the item, unless the item has been substantially changed since the committee heard the item, as determined by the legislative body. Every notice for a special meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body concerning any item that has been described in the notice for the meeting before or during consideration of that item. (b) (1) The legislative body of a local agency may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on particular issues and for each individual speaker.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), when the legislative body of a local agency limits time for public comment, the legislative body of a local agency shall provide at least twice the allotted time to a member of the public who utilizes a translator to ensure that non-English speakers receive the same opportunity to directly address the legislative body of a local agency.
(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply if the legislative body of a local agency utilizes simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows the legislative body of a local agency to hear the translated public testimony simultaneously. (c) The legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs or services of the agency or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body. Nothing in this subdivision shall confer any privilege or protection for expression beyond that otherwise provided by law.
Section 54954.4. Legislative findings and declarations relating to reimbursements; Legislative intent; Review of claims
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that Section 12 of Chapter 641 of the Statutes of 1986 authorizing reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state pursuant to that act, shall be interpreted strictly. The intent of the Legislature is to provide reimbursement for only those costs which are clearly and unequivocally incurred as the direct and necessary result of compliance with Chapter 641 of the Statutes of 1986.
(b) In this regard, the Legislature directs all state employees and officials involved in reviewing or authorizing claims for reimbursement or otherwise participating in the reimbursement process, to rigorously review each claim and authorize only those claims, or parts thereof, which represent costs which are clearly and unequivocally incurred as the direct and necessary result of compliance with Chapter 641 of the Statutes of 1986 and for which complete documentation exists. For purposes of Section 54954.2, costs eligible for reimbursement shall only include the actual cost to post a single agenda for any one meeting.
(c) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that complete, faithful and uninterrupted compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) is a matter of overriding public importance. Unless specifically stated, no future Budget Act or related budget enactments, shall, in any manner, be interpreted to suspend, eliminate or otherwise modify the legal obligation and duty of local agencies to fully comply with Chapter 641 of the Statutes of 1986 in a complete, faithful and uninterrupted manner.
Section 54954.5. Description of closed session items
For purposes of describing closed session items pursuant to Section 54954.2, the agenda may describe closed sessions as provided below. No legislative body or elected official shall be in violation of Section 54954.2 or 54956 if the closed session items were described Ralph M. Brown Act Page 13
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act in substantial compliance with this section. Substantial compliance is satisfied by including the information provided below, irrespective of its format. (a) With respect to a closed session held pursuant to Section 54956.7:
LICENSE/PERMIT DETERMINATION
Applicant(s): (Specify number of applicants)
(b) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.8:
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: (Specify street address, or if no street address, the parcel number or other unique reference of the real property under negotiation) Agency negotiator: (Specify names of negotiators attending the closed session) (If circumstances necessitate the absence of a specified negotiator, an agent or designee may participate in place of the absent negotiator so long as the name of the agent or designee is announced at an open session held prior to the closed session.)
Negotiating parties: (Specify name of party (not agent)) Under negotiation: (Specify whether instruction to negotiator will concern price, terms of payment or both)
(c) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.9:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL -- EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: (Specify by reference to claimant's name, names of parties, case or claim numbers)
or
Case name unspecified: (Specify whether disclosure would jeopardize service of process or existing settlement negotiations)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL -- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (Specify number of potential cases) (In addition to the information noticed above, the agency may be required to provide additional information on the agenda or in an oral statement prior to the Ralph M. Brown Act Page 14
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act closed session pursuant to paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive of subdivision (e) of Section 54956.9.)
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (Specify number of potential cases)
(d) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.95:
LIABILITY CLAIMS
Claimant: (Specify name unless unspecified pursuant to Section 54961) Agency claimed against: (Specify name)
(e) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54957:
THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES
Consultation with: (Specify name of law enforcement agency and title of officer, or name of applicable agency representative and title)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: (Specify description of position to be filled)
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Title: (Specify description of position to be filled)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: (Specify position title of employee being reviewed)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE
(No additional information is required in connection with a closed session to consider discipline, dismissal, or release of a public employee. Discipline includes potential reduction of compensation.)
(f) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54957.6:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: (Specify names of designated representatives attending the closed session) (If circumstances necessitate the absence of a specified designated representative, an agent or designee may Ralph M. Brown Act Page 15
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act participate in place of the absent representative so long as the name of the agent or designee is announced at an open session held prior to the closed session) Employee organization: (Specify name of organization representing employee or employees in question)
or
Unrepresented employee: (Specify position title of unrepresented employee who is the subject of the negotiations)
(g) With respect to closed sessions called pursuant to Section 54957.8:
CASE REVIEW/PLANNING
(No additional information is required in connection with a closed session to consider case review or planning)
(h) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Sections 1461, 32106 and 32155 of the Health and Safety Code or Sections 37606 and 37624.3 of the Government Code:
REPORT INVOLVING TRADE SECRET
Discussion will concern: (Specify whether discussion will concern proposed new service, program or facility)
Estimated date of public disclosure: (Specify month and year)
HEARINGS
Subject matter: (Specify whether testimony/deliberation will concern staff privileges, report of medical audit committee, or report of quality assurance committee)
(i) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.86:
CHARGE OR COMPLAINT INVOLVING INFORMATION PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW (No additional information is required in connection with a closed session to discuss a charge or complaint pursuant to Section 54956.86)
(j) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.96:
CONFERENCE INVOLVING A JOINT POWERS AGENCY (Specify by name) Discussion will concern
powers agency)
(Specify closed session description used by the joint
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Name of local agency representative on joint powers agency board: (Specify name)
(Additional information listing the names of agencies or titles of representatives attending the closed session as consultants or other representatives.) (k) With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.75:
AUDIT BY CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
Section 54954.6. Public meeting on general tax or assessment; Notice (a) (1) Before adopting any new or increased general tax or any new or increased assessment, the legislative body of a local agency shall conduct at least one public meeting at which local officials shall allow public testimony regarding the proposed new or increased general tax or new or increased assessment in addition to the noticed public hearing at which the legislative body proposes to enact or increase the general tax or assessment.
For purposes of this section, the term "new or increased assessment" does not include any of the following:
(A) A fee that does not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the services, facilities or regulatory activity for which the fee is charged. (B) A service charge, rate or charge, unless a special district's principal act requires the service charge, rate or charge to conform to the requirements of this section.
(C) An ongoing annual assessment if it is imposed at the same or lower amount as any previous year.
(D) An assessment that does not exceed an assessment formula or range of assessments previously specified in the notice given to the public pursuant to subparagraph (G) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) and that was previously adopted by the agency or approved by the voters in the area where the assessment is imposed. (E) Standby or immediate availability charges.
(2) The legislative body shall provide at least 45 days' public notice of the public hearing at which the legislative body proposes to enact or increase the general tax or assessment. The legislative body shall provide notice for the public meeting at the same time and in the same document as the notice for the public hearing, but the meeting shall occur prior to the hearing.
(b) (1) The joint notice of both the public meeting and the public hearing required by subdivision (a) with respect to a proposal for a new or increased general tax shall be accomplished by placing a display advertisement of at least one -eighth page in a Ralph M. Brown Act Page 17
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act newspaper of general circulation for three weeks pursuant to Section 6063 and by a first- class mailing to those interested parties who have filed a written request with the local agency for mailed notice of public meetings or hearings on new or increased general taxes. The public meeting pursuant to subdivision (a) shall take place no earlier than 10 days after the first publication of the joint notice pursuant to this subdivision. The public hearing shall take place no earlier than seven days after the public meeting pursuant to this subdivision. Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the joint notice need not include notice of the public meeting after the meeting has taken place. The public hearing pursuant to subdivision (a) shall take place no earlier than 45 days after the first publication of the joint notice pursuant to this subdivision. Any written request for mailed notices shall be effective for one year from the date on which it is filed unless a renewal request is filed. Renewal requests for mailed notices shall be filed on or before April 1 of each year. The legislative body may establish a reasonable annual charge for sending notices based on the estimated cost of providing the service. (2) The notice required by paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) The amount or rate of the tax. If the tax is proposed to be increased from any previous year, the joint notice shall separately state both the existing tax rate and the proposed tax rate increase.
(B) The activity to be taxed.
(C) The estimated amount of revenue to be raised by the tax annually. (D) The method and frequency for collecting the tax.
(E) The dates, times and locations of the public meeting and hearing described in subdivision (a).
(F) The telephone number and address of an individual, office or organization that interested persons may contact to receive additional information about the tax.
(c) (1) The joint notice of both the public meeting and the public hearing required by subdivision (a) with respect to a proposal for a new or increased assessment on real property or businesses shall be accomplished through a mailing, postage prepaid, in the United States mail and shall be deemed given when so deposited. The public meeting pursuant to subdivision (a) shall take place no earlier than 10 days after the joint mailing pursuant to this subdivision. The public hearing shall take place no earlier than seven days after the public meeting pursuant to this subdivision. The envelope or the cover of the mailing shall include the name of the local agency and the return address of the sender. This mailed notice shall be in at least 10-point type and shall be given to all property owners or business owners proposed to be subject to the new or increased assessment by a mailing by name to those persons whose names and addresses appear on the last equalized county assessment roll, the State Board of Equalization assessment roll or the local agency's records pertaining to business ownership, as the case may be.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (2) The joint notice required by paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) In the case of an assessment proposed to be levied on property, the estimated amount of the assessment per parcel. In the case of an assessment proposed to be levied on businesses, the proposed method and basis of levying the assessment in sufficient detail to allow each business owner to calculate the amount of assessment to be levied against each business. If the assessment is proposed to be increased from any previous year, the joint notice shall separately state both the amount of the existing assessment and the proposed assessment increase.
(B) A general description of the purpose or improvements that the assessment will fund.
(C) The address to which property owners may mail a protest against the assessment.
(D) The telephone number and address of an individual, office or organization that interested persons may contact to receive additional information about the assessment.
(E) A statement that a majority protest will cause the assessment to be abandoned if the assessment act used to levy the assessment so provides. Notice shall also state the percentage of protests required to trigger an election, if applicable. (F) The dates, times and locations of the public meeting and hearing described in subdivision (a).
(G) A proposed assessment formula or range as described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) if applicable and that is noticed pursuant to this section.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an assessment that is proposed exclusively for operation and maintenance expenses imposed throughout the entire local agency or exclusively for operation and maintenance assessments proposed to be levied on 50,000 parcels or more, notice may be provided pursuant to this subdivision or pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and shall include the estimated amount of the assessment of various types, amounts or uses of property and the information required by subparagraphs (B) to (G), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an assessment proposed to be levied pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 22500) of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code by a regional park district, regional park and open -space district or regional open -space district formed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division 5 of, or pursuant to Division 26 (commencing with Section 35100) of the Public Resources Code, notice may be provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (d) The notice requirements imposed by this section shall be construed as additional to, and not to supersede existing provisions of law, and shall be applied concurrently with the existing provisions so as to not delay or prolong the governmental decision making process.
(e) This section shall not apply to any new or increased general tax or any new or increased assessment that requires an election of either of the following:
(1) The property owners subject to the assessment.
(2) The voters within the local agency imposing the tax or assessment. (f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local agency from holding a consolidated meeting or hearing at which the legislative body discusses multiple tax or assessment proposals.
(g) The local agency may recover the reasonable costs of public meetings, public hearings and notice required by this section from the proceeds of the tax or assessment.
The costs recovered for these purposes, whether recovered pursuant to this subdivision or any other provision of law, shall not exceed the reasonable costs of the public meetings, public hearings and notice.
(h) Any new or increased assessment that is subject to the notice and hearing provisions of Article XIII C or XIII D of the California Constitution is not subject to the notice and hearing requirements of this section.
Section 54955. Adjournment of meetings
The legislative body of a local agency may adjourn any regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment. Less than a quorum may so adjourn from time to time. If all members are absent from any regular or adjourned regular meeting, the clerk or secretary of the legislative body may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place and he or she shall cause a written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided in Section 54956 for special meetings, unless such notice is waived as provided for special meetings. A copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be conspicuously posted on or near the door of the place where the regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting was held within 24 hours after the time of the adjournment. When a regular or adjourned regular meeting is adjourned as provided in this section, the resulting adjourned regular meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes. When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaw or other rule.
Section 54955.1. Continuance of hearing
Any hearing being held, or noticed or ordered to be held by a legislative body of a local agency at any meeting may by order or notice of continuance be continued or re - continued to any subsequent meeting of the legislative body in the same manner and Ralph M. Brown Act Page 20
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act to the same extent set forth in Section 54955 for the adjournment of meetings; provided, that if the hearing is continued to a time less than 24 hours after the time specified in the order or notice of hearing, a copy of the order or notice of continuance of hearing shall be posted immediately following the meeting at which the order or declaration of continuance was adopted or made.
Section 54956. Special meetings; call; notice; meetings regarding local agency executive salaries, salary schedules or compensation in form of fringe benefits; posting on Internet Website
(a) A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the legislative body of a local agency or by a majority of the members of the legislative body, by delivering written notice to each member of the legislative body and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station requesting notice in writing and posting a notice on the local agency's Internet Website, if the local agency has one. The notice shall be delivered personally or by any other means and shall be received at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other business shall be considered at these meetings by the legislative body. The written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the clerk or secretary of the legislative body a written waiver of notice. The waiver may be given by telegram. The written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.
The call and notice shall be posted at least 24 hours prior to the special meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, a legislative body shall not call a special meeting regarding the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3511.1.
However, this subdivision does not apply to a local agency calling a special meeting to discuss the local agency's budget.
(c) For purposes of subdivision (a), the requirement that the agenda be posted on the local agency's Internet Website, if the local agency has one, shall only apply to a legislative body that meets either of the following standards:
(1) A legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (a) of Section 54952. (2) A legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (b) of Section 54952, if the members of the legislative body are compensated for their appearance, and if one or more of the members of the legislative body are also members of a legislative body as that term is defined by subdivision (a) of Section 54952.
Section 54956.5. Emergency meetings; Notice
(a) For purposes of this section, "emergency situation" means both of the following:
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (1) An emergency, which shall be defined as a work stoppage, crippling activity or other activity that severely impairs public health, safety or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the legislative body.
(2) A dire emergency, which shall be defined as a crippling disaster, mass destruction, terrorist act or threatened terrorist activity that poses peril so immediate and significant that requiring a legislative body to provide one -hour notice before holding an emergency meeting under this section may endanger the public health, safety or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the legislative body. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an emergency situation involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, a legislative body may hold an emergency meeting without complying with either the 24-hour notice requirement or the 24-hour posting requirement of Section 54956, or both, of the notice and posting requirements. (2) Each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station that has requested notice of special meetings pursuant to Section 54956 shall be notified by the presiding officer of the legislative body or designee thereof, one hour prior to the emergency meeting, or, in the case of a dire emergency, at or near the time that the presiding officer or designee notifies the members of the legislative body of the emergency meeting. This notice shall be given by telephone and all telephone numbers provided in the most recent request of a newspaper or station for notification of special meetings shall be exhausted. In the event that telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirements of this section shall be deemed waived and the legislative body or designee of the legislative body, shall notify those newspapers, radio stations or television stations of the fact of the holding of the emergency meeting, the purpose of the meeting and any action taken at the meeting as soon after the meeting as possible. (c) During a meeting held pursuant to this section, the legislative body may meet in closed session pursuant to Section 54957 if agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the members of the legislative body present, or, if less than two-thirds of the members are present, by a unanimous vote of the members present.
(d) All special meeting requirements as prescribed in Section 54956, shall be applicable to a meeting called pursuant to this section, with the exception of the 24-hour notice requirement.
(e) The minutes of a meeting called pursuant to this section, a list of person(s) who is the presiding officer of the legislative body or designee of the legislative body, notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the rollcall vote and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for a minimum of 10 days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible.
Section 54956.6. Fees
No fees may be charged by the legislative body of a local agency for carrying out any provision of this chapter, except as specifically authorized by this chapter.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54956.7. Closed sessions regarding application from person with criminal record
Whenever a legislative body of a local agency determines that it is necessary to discuss and determine whether an applicant for a license or license renewal, who has a criminal record is sufficiently rehabilitated to obtain the license, the legislative body may hold a closed session with the applicant and the applicant's attorney, if any, for the purpose of holding the discussion and making the determination. If the legislative body determines, as a result of the closed session, that the issuance or renewal of the license should be denied, the applicant shall be offered the opportunity to withdraw the application. If the applicant withdraws the application, no record shall be kept of the discussions or decisions made at the closed session and all matters relating to the closed session shall be confidential. If the applicant does not withdraw the application, the legislative body shall take action at the public meeting during which the closed session is held or at its next public meeting denying the application for the license, but all matters relating to the closed session are confidential and shall not be disclosed without the consent of the applicant, except in an action by an applicant who has been denied a license challenging the denial of the license.
Section 54956.75. Closed session for response to final draft audit report (a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the legislative body of a local agency that has received a confidential final draft audit report from the Bureau of State Audits from holding closed sessions to discuss its response to that report. (b) After the public release of an audit report by the Bureau of State Audits, if a legislative body of a local agency meets to discuss the audit report, it shall do so in an open session unless exempted from that requirement by some other provision of law.
Section 54956.8. Closed sessions regarding real property negotiations Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a legislative body of a local agency may hold a closed session with its negotiator prior to the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of real property by or for the local agency to grant authority to its negotiator regarding the price and terms of payment for the purchase, sale, exchange or lease.
However, prior to the closed session, the legislative body of the local agency shall hold an open and public session in which it identifies its negotiators, the real property or real properties which the negotiations may concern and the person or persons with whom its negotiators may negotiate.
For purposes of this section, negotiators may be members of the legislative body of the local agency.
For purposes of this section, "lease" includes renewal or renegotiation of a lease.
Nothing in this section shall preclude a local agency from holding a closed session for discussions regarding eminent domain proceedings pursuant to Section 54956.9.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54956.81. Closed sessions regarding purchase or sale of pension fund investments
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a legislative body of a local agency that invests pension funds may hold a closed session to consider the purchase or sale of particular specific pension fund investments. All investment transaction decisions made during the closed session shall be made by rollcall vote entered into the minutes of the closed session as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 54957.2.
Section 54956.86. Closed session for health plan member Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a legislative body of a local agency which provides services pursuant to Section 14087.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code may hold a closed session to hear a charge or complaint from a member enrolled in its health plan if the member does not wish to have his or her name, medical status or other information that is protected by federal law publicly disclosed. Prior to holding a closed session pursuant to this section, the legislative body shall inform the member, in writing, of his or her right to have the charge or complaint heard in an open session rather than a closed session.
Section 54956.87. Disclosure of records and information; Meetings in closed session (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the records of a health plan that is licensed pursuant to the Knox -Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code) and that is governed by a county board of supervisors, whether paper records, records maintained in the management information system or records in any other form, that relate to provider rate or payment determinations, allocation or distribution methodologies for provider payments, formulas or calculations for these payments and contract negotiations with providers of health care for alternative rates are exempt from disclosure for a period of three years after the contract is fully executed. The transmission of the records, or the information contained therein in an alternative form to the board of supervisors shall not constitute a waiver of exemption from disclosure and the records and information once transmitted to the board of supervisors shall be subject to this same exemption.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of a health plan that is licensed pursuant to the Knox -Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code) and that is governed by a county board of supervisors may order that a meeting held solely for the purpose of discussion or taking action on health plan trade secrets, as defined in subdivision (f), shall be held in closed session. The requirements of making a public report of action taken in closed session and the vote or abstention of every member present, may be limited to a brief general description without the information constituting the trade secret.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of a health plan may meet in closed session to consider and take action on matters pertaining to Ralph M. Brown Act Page 24
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act contracts and contract negotiations by the health plan with providers of health care services concerning all matters related to rates of payment. The governing board may delete the portion or portions containing trade secrets from any documents that were finally approved in the closed session held pursuant to subdivision (b) that are provided to persons who have made the timely or standing request. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the governing board from meeting in closed session as otherwise provided by law. (e) The provisions of this section shall not prevent access to any records by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in the exercise of its powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 10500) of Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 2. The provisions of this section also shall not prevent access to any records by the Department of Managed Health Care in the exercise of its powers pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1340) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (f) For purposes of this section, "health plan trade secret" means a trade secret, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3426.1 of the Civil Code, that also meets both of the following criteria:
(1) The secrecy of the information is necessary for the health plan to initiate a new service, program, marketing strategy, business plan or technology, or to add a benefit or product.
(2) Premature disclosure of the trade secret would create a substantial probability of depriving the health plan of a substantial economic benefit or opportunity.
Section 54956.9. Closed sessions concerning pending litigation; Lawyer -client privilege
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a legislative body of a local agency, based on advice of its legal counsel, from holding a closed session to confer with, or receive advice from, its legal counsel regarding pending litigation when discussion in open session concerning those matters would prejudice the position of the local agency in the litigation.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, all expressions of the lawyer -client privilege other than those provided in this section are hereby abrogated. This section is the exclusive expression of the lawyer -client privilege for purposes of conducting closed -session meetings pursuant to this chapter.
(c) For purposes of this section, "litigation" includes any adjudicatory proceeding, including eminent domain, before a court or administrative body exercising its adjudicatory authority, hearing officer or arbitrator.
(d) For purposes of this section, litigation shall be considered pending when any of the following circumstances exist:
(1) Litigation, to which the local agency is a party, has been initiated formally.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (2) A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the legislative body of the local agency on the advice of its legal counsel based on existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the local agency. (3) Based on existing facts and circumstances, the legislative body of the local agency is meeting only to decide whether a closed session is authorized pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4) Based on existing facts and circumstances, the legislative body of the local agency has decided to initiate or is deciding whether to initiate litigation. (e) For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (d), "existing facts and circumstances" shall consist only of one of the following:
(1) Facts and circumstances that might result in litigation against the local agency but which the local agency believes are not yet known to a potential plaintiff or plaintiffs, which facts and circumstances need not be disclosed. (2) Facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, an accident, disaster, incident or transactional occurrence that might result in litigation against the agency and that are known to a potential plaintiff or plaintiffs, which facts or circumstances shall be publicly stated on the agenda or announced. (3) The receipt of a claim pursuant to the Government Claims Act (Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code) or some other written communication from a potential plaintiff threatening litigation, which claim or communication shall be available for public inspection pursuant to Section 54957.5. (4) A statement made by a person in an open and public meeting threatening litigation on a specific matter within the responsibility of the legislative body. (5) A statement threatening litigation made by a person outside an open and public meeting on a specific matter within the responsibility of the legislative body, so long as the official or employee of the local agency receiving knowledge of the threat makes a contemporaneous or other record of the statement prior to the meeting, which record shall be available for public inspection pursuant to Section 54957.5. The records so created need not identify the alleged victim of unlawful or tortious sexual conduct or anyone making the threat on their behalf, or identify a public employee who is the alleged perpetrator of any unlawful or tortious conduct upon which a threat of litigation is based, unless the identity of the person has been publicly disclosed. (f) Nothing in this section shall require disclosure of written communications that are privileged and not subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1). (g) Prior to holding a closed session pursuant to this section, the legislative body of the local agency shall state on the agenda or publicly announce the paragraph of subdivision (d) that authorizes the closed session. If the session is closed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), the body shall state the title of or otherwise specifically Ralph M. Brown Act Page 26
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act identify the litigation to be discussed, unless the body states that to do so would jeopardize the agency's ability to effectuate service of process upon one or more unserved parties, or that to do so would jeopardize its ability to conclude existing settlement negotiations to its advantage.
(h) A local agency shall be considered to be a "party" or to have a "significant exposure to litigation" if an officer or employee of the local agency is a party or has significant exposure to litigation concerning prior or prospective activities or alleged activities during the course and scope of that office or employment, including litigation in which it is an issue whether an activity is outside the course and scope of the office or employment.
Section 54956.95. Closed sessions regarding liability
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a joint powers agency formed pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 for purposes of insurance pooling, or a local agency member of the joint powers agency from holding a closed session to discuss a claim for the payment of tort liability losses, public liability losses or workers' compensation liability incurred by the joint powers agency or a local agency member of the joint powers agency. (b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the Local Agency Self - Insurance Authority formed pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 6599.01) of Division 7 of Title 1, or a local agency member of the authority, from holding a closed session to discuss a claim for the payment of tort liability losses, public liability losses or workers' compensation liability incurred by the authority or a local agency member of the authority.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect Section 54956.9 with respect to any other local agency.
Section 54956.96. Disclosure of specified information in closed session of joint powers agency, Clean Power Alliance of Southern California; Authorization of designated alternate to attend closed session; Closed session of legislative body of local agency member
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the legislative body of a joint powers agency formed pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1, from adopting a policy or a bylaw, or including in its joint powers agreement provisions that authorize either or both of the following:
(1) All information received by the legislative body of the local agency member in a closed session related to the information presented to the joint powers agency in closed session shall be confidential. However, a member of the legislative body of a local agency member may disclose information obtained in a closed session that has direct financial or liability implications for that local agency to the following individuals:
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (A) Legal counsel of that local agency member for purposes of obtaining advice on whether the matter has direct financial or liability implications for that local agency member.
(B) Other members of the legislative body of the local agency present in a closed session of that local agency member.
(2) Any designated alternate member of the legislative body of the joint powers agency who is also a member of the legislative body of a local agency member and who is attending a properly noticed meeting of the joint powers agency in lieu of a local agency member's regularly appointed member to attend closed sessions of the joint powers agency.
(b) (1) In addition to the authority described in subdivision (a), the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, may adopt a policy or a bylaw or include in its joint powers agreement a provision that authorizes both of the following:
(A) A designated alternate member of the legislative body of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, who is not a member of the legislative body of a local agency member and who is attending a properly noticed meeting of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, in lieu of a local agency member's regularly appointed member to attend closed sessions of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity. (B) All information that is received by a designated alternate member of the legislative body of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, who is not a member of the legislative body of a local agency member and that is presented to the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, in closed session, shall be confidential. However, the designated alternate member may disclose information obtained in a closed session that has direct financial or liability implications for the local agency member for which the designated alternate member attended the closed session, to the following individuals:
(i) Legal counsel of that local agency member for purposes of obtaining advice on whether the matter has direct financial or liability implications for that local agency member.
(ii) Members of the legislative body of the local agency present in a closed session of that local agency member.
(2) If the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, adopts a policy or bylaw or includes in its joint powers agreement a provision authorized pursuant to paragraph (1), the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity, shall establish policies to prevent conflicts of interest and to address breaches of confidentiality that apply to a designated alternate member who is not a member of the legislative body of a local agency member who attends a closed session of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California or its successor entity.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (c) If the legislative body of a joint powers agency adopts a policy or a bylaw or includes provisions in its joint powers agreement pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), then the legislative body of the local agency member, upon the advice of its legal counsel, may conduct a closed session in order to receive, discuss and take action concerning information obtained in a closed session of the joint powers agency pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025 and as of that date is repealed.
Section 54956.97. Public bank; governing board or committee of governing board; closed session
Notwithstanding any provision of law, the governing board or a committee of the governing board of a public bank, as defined in Section 57600 of the Government Code, may meet in closed session to consider and take action on matters pertaining to all of the following:
(a) A loan or investment decision.
(b) A decision of the internal audit committee, the compliance committee or the governance committee.
(c) A meeting with a state or federal regulator.
Section 54956.98. Public bank; policy or bylaw; information from a closed session considered confidential
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Shareholder, member, or owner local agency" or "shareholder, member, or owner" means a local agency that is a shareholder of a public bank. (2) "Public bank" has the same meaning as defined in Section 57600. (b) The governing board of a public bank may adopt a policy or a bylaw or include in its governing documents provisions that authorize any of the following:
(1) All information received by a shareholder, member or owner of the public bank in a closed session related to the information presented to the governing board of a public bank in closed session shall be confidential. However, a member of the governing board of a shareholder, member or owner local agency may disclose information obtained in a closed session that has direct financial or liability implications for that local agency to the following individuals:
(A) Legal counsel of that shareholder, member or owner local agency for purposes of obtaining advice on whether the matter has direct financial or liability implications for that shareholder local agency.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (B) Other members of the governing board of the local agency present in a closed session of that shareholder, member or owner local agency. (2) A designated alternate member of the governing board of the public bank who is also a member of the governing board of a shareholder, member or owner of the local agency and who is attending a properly noticed meeting of the public bank governing board in lieu of a shareholder, member or owner of the local agency's regularly appointed member may attend a closed session of the public bank governing board.
(c) If the governing board of a public bank adopts a policy or a bylaw or includes provisions in its governing documents pursuant to subdivision (b), then the governing board of the shareholder, member or owner of the local agency, upon the advice of its legal counsel, may conduct a closed session in order to receive, discuss and take action concerning information obtained in a closed session of the public bank governing board pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
Section 54957. Closed session regarding public security, facilities, employees, examination of witness
(a) This chapter shall not be construed to prevent the legislative body of a local agency from holding closed sessions with the Governor, Attorney General, district attorney, agency counsel, sheriff or chief of police, or their respective deputies or a security consultant or a security operations manager, on matters posing a threat to the security of public buildings, a threat to the security of essential public services, including water, drinking water, wastewater treatment, natural gas service and electric service, or a threat to the public's right of access to public services or public facilities. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), this chapter shall not be construed to prevent the legislative body of a local agency from holding closed sessions during a regular or special meeting to consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, discipline or dismissal of a public employee or to hear complaints or charges brought against the employee by another person or employee unless the employee requests a public session.
(2) As a condition to holding a closed session on specific complaints or charges brought against an employee by another person or employee, the employee shall be given written notice of his or her right to have the complaints or charges heard in an open session rather than a closed session, which notice shall be delivered to the employee personally or by mail at least 24 hours before the time for holding the session. If notice is not given, any disciplinary or other action taken by the legislative body against the employee based on the specific complaints or charges in the closed session shall be null and void.
(3) The legislative body also may exclude from the public or closed meeting during the examination of a witness, any or all other witnesses in the matter being investigated by the legislative body.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (4) For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "employee" shall include an officer or an independent contractor who functions as an officer or an employee but shall not include any elected official, member of a legislative body or other independent contractors. This subdivision shall not limit local officials' ability to hold closed session meetings pursuant to Sections 1461, 32106 and 32155 of the Health and Safety Code or Sections 37606 and 37624.3 of the Government Code. Closed sessions held pursuant to this subdivision shall not include discussion or action on proposed compensation except for a reduction of compensation that results from the imposition of discipline.
Section 54957.1. Public report of action taken in closed session; Form; Availability; Actions for injury to interests
(a) The legislative body of any local agency shall publicly report any action taken in closed session and the vote or abstention on that action of every member present, as follows:
(1) Approval of an agreement concluding real estate negotiations pursuant to Section 54956.8 shall be reported after the agreement is final, as follows:
(A) If its own approval renders the agreement final, the body shall report that approval and the substance of the agreement in open session at the public meeting during which the closed session is held.
(B) If final approval rests with the other party to the negotiations, the local agency shall disclose the fact of that approval and the substance of the agreement upon inquiry by any person as soon as the other party or its agent has informed the local agency of its approval.
(2) Approval given to its legal counsel to defend, or seek or refrain from seeking appellate review or relief, or to enter as an amicus curiae in any form of litigation as the result of a consultation under Section 54956.9 shall be reported in open session at the public meeting during which the closed session is held. The report shall identify, if known, the adverse party or parties and the substance of the litigation. In the case of approval given to initiate or intervene in an action, the announcement need not identify the action, the defendants or other particulars, but shall specify that the direction to initiate or intervene in an action has been given and that the action, the defendants and the other particulars shall, once formally commenced, be disclosed to any person upon inquiry, unless to do so would jeopardize the agency's ability to effectuate service of process on one or more unserved parties, or that to do so would jeopardize its ability to conclude existing settlement negotiations to its advantage. (3) Approval given to its legal counsel of a settlement of pending litigation, as defined in Section 54956.9, at any stage prior to or during a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding shall be reported after the settlement is final, as follows:
(A) If the legislative body accepts a settlement offer signed by the opposing party, the body shall report its acceptance and identify the substance of the agreement in open session at the public meeting during which the closed session is held.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (B) If final approval rests with some other party to the litigation or with the court, then as soon as the settlement becomes final and upon inquiry by any person, the local agency shall disclose the fact of that approval and identify the substance of the agreement.
(4) Disposition reached as to claims discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.95 shall be reported as soon as reached in a manner that identifies the name of the claimant, the name of the local agency claimed against, the substance of the claim and any monetary amount approved for payment and agreed upon by the claimant.
(5) Action taken to appoint, employ, dismiss, accept the resignation of or otherwise affect the employment status of a public employee in closed session pursuant to Section 54957 shall be reported at the public meeting during which the closed session is held. Any report required by this paragraph shall identify the title of the position. The general requirement of this paragraph notwithstanding, the report of a dismissal or of the nonrenewal of an employment contract shall be deferred until the first public meeting following the exhaustion of administrative remedies, if any. (6) Approval of an agreement concluding labor negotiations with represented employees pursuant to Section 54957.6 shall be reported after the agreement is final and has been accepted or ratified by the other party. The report shall identify the item approved and the other party or parties to the negotiation. (7) Pension fund investment transaction decisions made pursuant to Section 54956.81 shall be disclosed at the first open meeting of the legislative body held after the earlier of the close of the investment transaction or the transfer of pension fund assets for the investment transaction.
(b) Reports that are required to be made pursuant to this section may be made orally or in writing. The legislative body shall provide to any person who has submitted a written request to the legislative body within 24 hours of the posting of the agenda, or to any person who has made a standing request for all documentation as part of a request for notice of meetings pursuant to Section 54954.1 or 54956, if the requester is present at the time the closed session ends, copies of any contracts, settlement agreements or other documents that were finally approved or adopted in the closed session. If the action taken results in one or more substantive amendments to the related documents requiring retyping, the documents need not be released until the retyping is completed during normal business hours, provided that the presiding officer of the legislative body or his or her designee orally summarizes the substance of the amendments for the benefit of the document requester or any other person present and requesting the information. (c) The documentation referred to in subdivision (b) shall be available to any person on the next business day following the meeting in which the action referred to is taken or, in the case of substantial amendments, when any necessary retyping is complete. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that the legislative body approve actions not otherwise subject to legislative body approval.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (e) No action for injury to a reputational, liberty or other personal interest may be commenced by or on behalf of any employee or former employee with respect to whom a disclosure is made by a legislative body in an effort to comply with this section. (f) This section is necessary to implement, and reasonably within the scope of, paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution.
Section 54957.2. Minute book for closed sessions
(a) The legislative body of a local agency may, by ordinance or resolution, designate a clerk or other officer or employee of the local agency who shall then attend each closed session of the legislative body and keep and enter in a minute book a record of topics discussed and decisions made at the meeting. The minute book made pursuant to this section is not a public record subject to inspection pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1), and shall be kept confidential. The minute book shall be available only to members of the legislative body or, if a violation of this chapter is alleged to have occurred at a closed session, to a court of general jurisdiction wherein the local agency lies. Such minute book may, but need not, consist of a recording of the closed session. (b) An elected legislative body of a local agency may require that each legislative body all or a majority of whose members are appointed by or under the authority of the elected legislative body keep a minute book as prescribed under subdivision (a).
Section 54957.5. Agendas and other writings as public records (a) Notwithstanding Section 6255 or any other law, agendas of public meetings and any other writings when distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the members of a legislative body of a local agency by any person in connection with a matter subject to discussion or consideration at an open meeting of the body, are disclosable public records under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1), and shall be made available upon request without delay. However, this section shall not include any writing exempt from public disclosure under Section 6253.5, 6254, 6254.3, 6254.7, 6254.15, 6254.16, 6254.22 or 6254.26. (b) (1) If a writing that is a public record under subdivision (a), and that relates to an agenda item for an open session of a regular meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, is distributed less than 72 hours prior to that meeting, the writing shall be made available for public inspection pursuant to paragraph (2) at the time the writing is distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the body. (2) A local agency shall make any writing described in paragraph (1) available for public inspection at a public office or location that the agency shall designate for this purpose. Each local agency shall list the address of this office or location on the agendas for all meetings of the legislative body of that agency. The local agency also may post the writing on the local agency's Internet Website in a position and manner that makes it clear that the writing relates to an agenda item for an upcoming meeting. (3) This subdivision shall become operative on July 1, 2008.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (c) Writings that are public records under subdivision (a) and that are distributed during a public meeting shall be made available for public inspection at the meeting if prepared by the local agency or a member of its legislative body, or after the meeting if prepared by some other person. These writings shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats upon request by a person with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132) and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof.
(d) This chapter shall not be construed to prevent the legislative body of a local agency from charging a fee or deposit for a copy of a public record pursuant to Section 6253, except that a surcharge shall not be imposed on persons with disabilities in violation of Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132) and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. (e) This section shall not be construed to limit or delay the public's right to inspect or obtain a copy of any record required to be disclosed under the requirements of the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1). This chapter shall not be construed to require a legislative body of a local agency to place any paid advertisement or any other paid notice in any publication.
Section 54957.6. Closed sessions regarding employee matters (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a legislative body of a local agency may hold closed sessions with the local agency's designated representatives regarding the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of its represented and unrepresented employees, and, for represented employees, any other matter within the statutorily provided scope of representation.
However, prior to the closed session, the legislative body of the local agency shall hold an open and public session in which it identifies its designated representatives.
Closed sessions of a legislative body of a local agency, as permitted in this section, shall be for the purpose of reviewing its position and instructing the local agency's designated representatives.
Closed sessions, as permitted in this section, may take place prior to and during consultations and discussions with representatives of employee organizations and unrepresented employees.
Closed sessions with the local agency's designated representative regarding the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits may include discussion of an agency's available funds and funding priorities, but only insofar as these discussions relate to providing instructions to the local agency's designated representative.
Closed sessions held pursuant to this section shall not include final action on the proposed compensation of one or more unrepresented employees.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act For the purposes enumerated in this section, a legislative body of a local agency may also meet with a state conciliator who has intervened in the proceedings. (b) For the purposes of this section, the term "employee" shall include an officer or an independent contractor who functions as an officer or an employee, but shall not include any elected official, member of a legislative body or other independent contractors.
Section 54957.7. Disclosure of items to be discussed at closed session (a) Prior to holding any closed session, the legislative body of the local agency shall disclose in an open meeting, the item or items to be discussed in the closed session. The disclosure may take the form of a reference to the item or items as they are listed by number or letter on the agenda. In the closed session, the legislative body may consider only those matters covered in its statement. Nothing in this section shall require or authorize a disclosure of information prohibited by state or federal law. (b) After any closed session, the legislative body shall reconvene into open session prior to adjournment and shall make any disclosures required by Section 54957.1 of action taken in the closed session.
(c) The announcements required to be made in open session pursuant to this section may be made at the location announced in the agenda for the closed session, as long as the public is allowed to be present at that location for the purpose of hearing the announcements.
Section 54957.8. Closed sessions of multijurisdictional drug law enforcement agencies
(a) For purposes of this section, "multijurisdictional law enforcement agency" means a joint powers entity formed pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 that provides law enforcement services for the parties to the joint powers agreement for the purpose of investigating criminal activity involving drugs; gangs; sex crimes; firearms trafficking or felony possession of a firearm; high technology, computer or identity theft; human trafficking; or vehicle theft. (b) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the legislative body of a multijurisdictional law enforcement agency, or an advisory body of a multijurisdictional law enforcement agency, from holding closed sessions to discuss the case records of any ongoing criminal investigation of the multijurisdictional law enforcement agency or of any party to the joint powers agreement, to hear testimony from persons involved in the investigation and to discuss courses of action in particular cases.
Section 54957.9. Authorization to clear room where meeting willfully interrupted; Readmission
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act by the removal of individuals who are willfully interrupting the meeting, the members of the legislative body conducting the meeting may order the meeting room cleared and continue in session. Only matters appearing on the agenda may be considered in such a session. Representatives of the press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to attend any session held pursuant to this section.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the legislative body from establishing a procedure for readmitting an individual or individuals not responsible for willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Section 54957.10. Closed sessions regarding application for early withdrawal of deferred compensation plan funds
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a legislative body of a local agency may hold closed sessions to discuss a local agency employee's application for early withdrawal of funds in a deferred compensation plan when the application is based on financial hardship arising from an unforeseeable emergency due to illness, accident, casualty or other extraordinary event, as specified in the deferred compensation plan.
Section 54958. Application of chapter
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the legislative body of every local agency notwithstanding the conflicting provisions of any other state law.
Section 54959. Criminal penalty for violation of chapter Each member of a legislative body who attends a meeting of that legislative body where action is taken in violation of any provision of this chapter, and where the member intends to deprive the public of information to which the member knows, or has reason to know, the public is entitled under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Section 54960. Proceeding to prevent violation of chapter; Recording closed sessions; Procedure for discovery of tapes
(a) The district attorney or any interested person may commence an action by mandamus, injunction, or declaratory relief for the purpose of stopping or preventing violations or threatened violations of this chapter by members of the legislative body of a local agency or to determine the applicability of this chapter to ongoing actions or threatened future actions of the legislative body, or to determine the applicability of this chapter to past actions of the legislative body, subject to Section 54960.2, or to determine whether any rule or action by the legislative body to penalize or otherwise discourage the expression of one or more of its members is valid or invalid under the laws of this state or of the United States, or to compel the legislative body to audio record its closed sessions as hereinafter provided.
(b) The court in its discretion may, upon a judgment of a violation of Section 54956.7, 54956.8, 54956.9, 54956.95, 54957 or 54957.6, order the legislative body to audio record its closed sessions and preserve the audio recordings for the period and under the terms of security and confidentiality the court deems appropriate.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (c) (1) Each recording so kept shall be immediately labeled with the date of the closed session recorded and the title of the clerk or other officer who shall be custodian of the recording.
(2) The audio recordings shall be subject to the following discovery procedures:
(A) In any case in which discovery or disclosure of the audio recording is sought by either the district attorney or the plaintiff in a civil action pursuant to Section 54959, 54960 or 54960.1 alleging that a violation of this chapter has occurred in a closed session that has been recorded pursuant to this section, the party seeking discovery or disclosure shall file a written notice of motion with the appropriate court with notice to the governmental agency that has custody and control of the audio recording.
The notice shall be given pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(B) The notice shall include, in addition to the items required by Section 1010 of the Code of Civil Procedure, all of the following:
(i) Identification of the proceeding in which discovery or disclosure is sought, the party seeking discovery or disclosure, the date and time of the meeting recorded and the governmental agency that has custody and control of the recording.
(ii) An affidavit that contains specific facts indicating that a violation of the act occurred in the closed session.
(3) If the court, following a review of the motion, finds that there is good cause to believe that a violation has occurred, the court may review, in camera, the recording of that portion of the closed session alleged to have violated the act. (4) If, following the in camera review, the court concludes that disclosure of a portion of the recording would be likely to materially assist in the resolution of the litigation alleging violation of this chapter, the court shall, in its discretion, make a certified transcript of the portion of the recording a public exhibit in the proceeding. (5) This section shall not permit discovery of communications that are protected by the attorney -client privilege.
Section 54960.1. Proceeding to determine validity of action; Demand for correction (a) The district attorney or any interested person may commence an action by mandamus or injunction for the purpose of obtaining a judicial determination that an action taken by a legislative body of a local agency in violation of Section 54953, 54954.2, 54954.5, 54954.6, 54956 or 54956.5 is null and void under this section. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a legislative body from curing or correcting an action challenged pursuant to this section.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (b) Prior to any action being commenced pursuant to subdivision (a), the district attorney or interested person shall make a demand of the legislative body to cure or correct the action alleged to have been taken in violation of Section 54953, 54954.2, 54954.5, 54954.6, 54956 or 54956.5. The demand shall be in writing and clearly describe the challenged action of the legislative body and nature of the alleged violation. (c) (1) The written demand shall be made within 90 days from the date the action was taken unless the action was taken in an open session but in violation of Section 54954.2, in which case the written demand shall be made within 30 days from the date the action was taken.
(2) Within 30 days of receipt of the demand, the legislative body shall cure or correct the challenged action and inform the demanding party in writing of its actions to cure or correct or inform the demanding party in writing of its decision not to cure or correct the challenged action.
(3) If the legislative body takes no action within the 30-day period, the inaction shall be deemed a decision not to cure or correct the challenged action, and the 15- day period to commence the action described in subdivision (a) shall commence to run the day after the 30-day period to cure or correct expires. (4) Within 15 days of receipt of the written notice of the legislative body's decision to cure or correct, or not to cure or correct, or within 15 days of the expiration of the 30-day period to cure or correct, whichever is earlier, the demanding party shall be required to commence the action pursuant to subdivision (a) or thereafter be barred from commencing the action.
(d) An action taken that is alleged to have been taken in violation of Section 54953, 54954.2, 54954.5, 54954.6, 54956 or 54956.5 shall not be determined to be null and void if any of the following conditions exist:
(1) The action taken was in substantial compliance with Sections 54953, 54954.2, 54954.5, 54954.6, 54956 and 54956.5.
(2) The action taken was in connection with the sale or issuance of notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or any contract, instrument or agreement thereto.
(3) The action taken gave rise to a contractual obligation, including a contract let by competitive bid other than compensation for services in the form of salary or fees for professional services, upon which a party has, in good faith and without notice of a challenge to the validity of the action, detrimentally relied. (4) The action taken was in connection with the collection of any tax. (5) Any person, city, city and county, county, district or any agency or subdivision of the state alleging noncompliance with subdivision (a) of Section 54954.2, Section 54956 or Section 54956.5, because of any defect, error, irregularity or omission in the notice given pursuant to those provisions, had actual notice of the item of business Ralph M. Brown Act Page 38
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at which the action was taken, if the meeting was noticed pursuant to Section 54954.2, or 24 hours prior to the meeting at which the action was taken if the meeting was noticed pursuant to Section 54956, or prior to the meeting at which the action was taken if the meeting is held pursuant to Section 54956.5. (e) During any action seeking a judicial determination pursuant to subdivision (a) if the court determines, pursuant to a showing by the legislative body that an action alleged to have been taken in violation of Section 54953, 54954.2, 54954.5, 54954.6, 54956 or 54956.5 has been cured or corrected by a subsequent action of the legislative body, the action filed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be dismissed with prejudice. (f) The fact that a legislative body takes a subsequent action to cure or correct an action taken pursuant to this section shall not be construed or admissible as evidence of a violation of this chapter.
Section 54960.2 Proceeding to determine the applicability of chapter to past actions of legislative body; Conditions; Cease and desist letter (a) The district attorney or any interested person may file an action to determine the applicability of this chapter to past actions of the legislative body pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960 only if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The district attorney or interested person alleging a violation of this chapter first submits a cease and desist letter by postal mail or facsimile transmission to the clerk or secretary of the legislative body being accused of the violation, as designated in the statement pertaining to that public agency on file pursuant to Section 53051, or if the agency does not have a statement on file designating a clerk or a secretary, to the chief executive officer of that agency, clearly describing the past action of the legislative body and nature of the alleged violation.
(2) The cease and desist letter required under paragraph (1) is submitted to the legislative body within nine months of the alleged violation. (3) The time during which the legislative body may respond to the cease and desist letter pursuant to subdivision (b) has expired and the legislative body has not provided an unconditional commitment pursuant to subdivision (c). (4) Within 60 days of receipt of the legislative body's response to the cease and desist letter, other than an unconditional commitment pursuant to subdivision (c), or within 60 days of the expiration of the time during which the legislative body may respond to the cease and desist letter pursuant to subdivision (b), whichever is earlier, the party submitting the cease and desist letter shall commence the action pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960 or thereafter be barred from commencing the action. (b) The legislative body may respond to a cease and desist letter submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) within 30 days of receiving the letter. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent the legislative body from providing an unconditional commitment pursuant to subdivision (c) at any time after the 30-day period has expired, except that Ralph M. Brown Act Page 39
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act in that event the court shall award court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the plaintiff in an action brought pursuant to this section in accordance with Section 54960.5. (c) (1) If the legislative body elects to respond to the cease and desist letter with an unconditional commitment to cease, desist from and not repeat the past action that is alleged to violate this chapter, that response shall be in substantially the following form:
To
The [name of legislative body] has received your cease and desist letter dated [date] alleging that the following described past action of the legislative body violates the Ralph M. Brown Act:
[Describe alleged past action, as set forth in the cease and desist letter submitted pursuant to subdivision (a)]
In order to avoid unnecessary litigation and without admitting any violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the [name of legislative body] hereby unconditionally commits that it will cease, desist from and not repeat the challenged past action as described above.
The [name of legislative body] may rescind this commitment only by a majority vote of its membership taken in open session at a regular meeting and noticed on its posted agenda as "Rescission of Brown Act Commitment." You will be provided with written notice, sent by any means or media you provide in response to this message, to whatever address or addresses you specify, of any intention to consider rescinding this commitment at least 30 days before any such regular meeting. In the event that this commitment is rescinded, you will have the right to commence legal action pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960 of the Government Code. That notice will be delivered to you by the same means as this commitment, or may be mailed to an address that you have designated in writing.
Very truly yours,
[Chairperson or acting chairperson of the legislative body] (2) An unconditional commitment pursuant to this subdivision shall be approved by the legislative body in open session at a regular or special meeting as a separate item of business, and not on its consent agenda. (3) An action shall not be commenced to determine the applicability of this chapter to any past action of the legislative body for which the legislative body has provided an unconditional commitment pursuant to this subdivision. During any action seeking a judicial determination regarding the applicability of this chapter to any past action of the legislative body pursuant to subdivision (a), if the court determines that the legislative body has provided an unconditional commitment pursuant to this subdivision, Ralph M. Brown Act Page 40
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act the action shall be dismissed with prejudice. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to modify or limit the existing ability of the district attorney or any interested person to commence an action to determine the applicability of this chapter to ongoing actions or threatened future actions of the legislative body.
(4) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the fact that a legislative body provides an unconditional commitment shall not be construed or admissible as evidence of a violation of this chapter.
(d) If the legislative body provides an unconditional commitment as set forth in subdivision (c), the legislative body shall not thereafter take or engage in the challenged action described in the cease and desist letter, except as provided in subdivision (e).
Violation of this subdivision shall constitute an independent violation of this chapter, without regard to whether the challenged action would otherwise violate this chapter.
An action alleging past violation or threatened future violation of this subdivision may be brought pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960, without regard to the procedural requirements of this section.
(e) The legislative body may resolve to rescind an unconditional commitment made pursuant to subdivision (c) by a majority vote of its membership taken in open session at a regular meeting as a separate item of business not on its consent agenda, and noticed on its posted agenda as "Rescission of Brown Act Commitment," provided that not less than 30 days prior to such regular meeting, the legislative body provides written notice of its intent to consider the rescission to each person to whom the unconditional commitment was made, and to the district attorney. Upon rescission, the district attorney or any interested person may commence an action pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960. An action under this subdivision may be brought pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960, without regard to the procedural requirements of this section.
Section 54960.5. Costs and attorneys' fees
A court may award court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the plaintiff in an action brought pursuant to Section 54960, 54960.1 or 54960.2 where it is found that a legislative body of the local agency has violated this chapter. Additionally, when an action brought pursuant to Section 54960.2 is dismissed with prejudice because a legislative body has provided an unconditional commitment pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of that section at any time after the 30-day period for making such a commitment has expired, the court shall award court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the plaintiff if the filing of that action caused the legislative body to issue the unconditional commitment. The costs and fees shall be paid by the local agency and shall not become a personal liability of any public officer or employee of the local agency.
A court may award court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to a defendant in any action brought pursuant to Section 54960 or 54960.1 where the defendant has prevailed in a final determination of such action and the court finds that the action was clearly frivolous and totally lacking in merit.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act Section 54961. Meeting place with discriminatory admission policies; Identification of victim of sexual or child abuse
(a) No legislative body of a local agency shall conduct any meeting in any facility that prohibits the admittance of any person or persons, on the basis of ancestry or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135, or which is inaccessible to disabled persons, or where members of the public may not be present without making a payment or purchase. This section shall apply to every local agency as defined in Section 54951. (b) No notice, agenda, announcement or report required under this chapter need identify any victim or alleged victim of tortious sexual conduct or child abuse unless the identity of the person has been publicly disclosed.
Section 54962. Prohibition against closed sessions except as expressly authorized Except as expressly authorized by this chapter, or by Sections 1461, 1462, 32106 and 32155 of the Health and Safety Code, or by Sections 37606, 37606.1 and 37624.3 of the Government Code as they apply to hospitals, or by any provision of the Education Code pertaining to school districts and community college districts, no closed session may be held by any legislative body of any local agency.
Section 54963. Disclosure of confidential information acquired in closed session prohibited; Disciplinary action for violation
(a) A person may not disclose confidential information that has been acquired by being present in a closed session authorized by Section 54956.7, 54956.8, 54956.86, 54956.87, 54956.9, 54957, 54957.6, 54957.8 or 54957.10 to a person not entitled to receive it, unless the legislative body authorizes disclosure of that confidential information. (b) For purposes of this section, "confidential information" means a communication made in a closed session that is specifically related to the basis for the legislative body of a local agency to meet lawfully in closed session under this chapter. (c) Violation of this section may be addressed by the use of such remedies as are currently available by law, including, but not limited to:
(1) Injunctive relief to prevent the disclosure of confidential information prohibited by this section.
(2) Disciplinary action against an employee who has willfully disclosed confidential information in violation of this section.
(3) Referral of a member of a legislative body who has willfully disclosed confidential information in violation of this section to the grand jury. (d) Disciplinary action pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) shall require that the employee in question has either received training as to the requirements of this section or otherwise has been given notice of the requirements of this section.
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Summary of the Major Provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (e) A local agency may not take any action authorized by subdivision (c) against a person, nor shall it be deemed a violation of this section, for doing any of the following:
(1) Making a confidential inquiry or complaint to a district attorney or grand jury concerning a perceived violation of law, including disclosing facts to a district attorney or grand jury that are necessary to establish the illegality of an action taken by a legislative body of a local agency or the potential illegality of an action that has been the subject of deliberation at a closed session if that action were to be taken by a legislative body of a local agency.
(2) Expressing an opinion concerning the propriety or legality of actions taken by a legislative body of a local agency in closed session, including disclosure of the nature and extent of the illegal or potentially illegal action. (3) Disclosing information acquired by being present in a closed session under this chapter that is not confidential information.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit disclosures under the whistleblower statutes contained in Section 1102.5 of the Labor Code or Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 53296) of Chapter 2 of this code.
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Part Three:
Executive Orders Altering
Certain Brown Act
Requirements During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
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Executive Order N-25-20
Issued March 12, 2020
Amended by and Incorporated into Executive Order N-29-20 WHEREAS on March 4, 2020,1 proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS despite sustained efforts, the virus remains a threat, and further efforts to control the spread of the virus to reduce and minimize the risk of infection are needed; and WHEREAS state and local public health officials may, as they deem necessary in the interest of public health, issue guidance limiting or recommending limitations upon attendance at public assemblies, conferences, or other mass events, which could cause the cancellation of such gatherings through no fault or responsibility of the parties involved, thereby constituting a force majeure; and
WHEREAS the Department of Public Health is maintaining up-to-date guidance relating to COVID-19, available to the public at http://cdph.ca.gov/covid19; and WHEREAS the State of California and local governments, in collaboration with the Federal government, continue sustained efforts to minimize the spread and mitigate the effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS there is a need to secure numerous facilities to accommodate quarantine, isolation, or medical treatment of individuals testing positive for or exposed to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, many individuals who have developmental disabilities and receive services through regional centers funded by the Department of Developmental Services also have chronic medical conditions that make them more susceptible to serious symptoms of COVID-19, and it is critical that they continue to receive their services while also protecting their own health and the general public health; and WHEREAS individuals exposed to COVID-19 may be temporarily unable to report to work due to illness caused by COVID-19 or quarantines related to COVID-19 and individuals directly affected by COVID-19 may experience potential loss of income, health care and medical coverage, and ability to pay for housing and basic needs, thereby placing increased demands on already strained regional and local health and safety resources such as shelters and food banks; and
WHEREAS in the interest of public health and safety, it is necessary to exercise my authority under the Emergency Services Act, specifically Government Code section 8572, to ensure adequate facilities exist to address the impacts of COVID-19; and Ralph M. Brown Act Page 45
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WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, 1 find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571 and 8572, do hereby issue the following order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1 . All residents are to heed any orders and guidance of state and local public health officials, including but not limited to the imposition of social distancing measures, to control the spread of COVID-19.
2. For the period that began January 24, 2020 through the duration of this emergency, the Employment Development Department shall have the discretion to waive the one -week waiting period in Unemployment Insurance Code section 2627(b) (1) for disability insurance applicants who are unemployed and disabled as a result of the COVID-19, and who are otherwise eligible for disability insurance benefits.
3. For the period that began January 24, 2020 through the duration of this emergency, the Employment Development Department shall have the discretion to waive the one -week waiting period in Unemployment Insurance Code section 1253(d) for unemployment insurance applicants who are unemployed as a result of the COVID- 19, and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
4. Notwithstanding Health and Safety Code section 1797.172(b), during the course of this emergency, the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority shall have the authority to implement additions to local optional scopes of practice without first consulting with a committee of local EMS medical directors named by the EMS Medical Directors Association of California.
5. In order to quickly provide relief from interest and penalties, the provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code that apply to the taxes and fees administered by the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, requiring the filing of a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts for a claim for relief, are suspended for a period of 60 days after the date of this Order for any individuals or businesses who are unable to file a timely tax return or make a timely payment as a result of complying with a state or local public health official's imposition or recommendation of social distancing measures related to COVID-19.
6. The Franchise Tax Board, the Board of Equalization, the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and the Office of Tax Appeals shall use their administrative powers where appropriate to provide those individuals and businesses impacted by complying with a state or local public health official's imposition or recommendation of social Ralph M. Brown Act Page 46
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distancing measures related to COVID-19 with the extensions for filing, payment, audits, billing, notices, assessments, claims for refund, and relief from subsequent penalties and interest.
7. The Governor's Office of Emergency Services shall ensure adequate state staffing during this emergency. Consistent with applicable federal law, work hour limitations for retired annuitants, permanent and intermittent personnel, and state management and senior supervisors, are suspended. Furthermore, reinstatement and work hour limitations in Government Code sections 21220, 21224(a), and 7522.56(b), (d), (f), and (g), and the time limitations in Government Code section 19888.1 and California Code of Regulations, title 2, sections 300-303 are suspended. The Director of the California Department of Human Resources must be notified of any individual employed pursuant to these waivers.
8. The California Health and Human Services Agency and the Office of Emergency Services shall identify, and shall otherwise be prepared to make available —including through the execution of any necessary contracts or other agreements and, if necessary, through the exercise of the State's power to commandeer property - hotels and other places of temporary residence, medical facilities, and other facilities that are suitable for use as places of temporary residence or medical facilities as necessary for quarantining, isolating, or treating individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or who have had a high - risk exposure and are thought to be in the incubation period.
9. The certification and licensure requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 17, section 1079 and Business and Professions Code section 1206.5 are suspended as to all persons who meet the requirements under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of section 353 of the Public Health Service Act for high complexity testing and who are performing analysis of samples to test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in any certified public health laboratory or licensed clinical laboratory.
10. To ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities continue to receive the services and supports mandated by their individual program plans threatened by disruptions caused by COVID-19, the Director of the Department of Developmental Services may issue directives waiving any provision or requirement of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the California Early Intervention Services Act, and the accompanying regulations of Title 17, Division 2 of the California Code of Regulations.
A directive may delegate to the regional centers any authority granted to the Department by law where the Director believes such delegation is necessary to ensure services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The Director shall describe the need justifying the waiver granted in each directive and articulate how the waiver is necessary to protect the public health or safety from the threat of COVID-19 or necessary to ensure that services to individuals with developmental disabilities are not disrupted.
Any waiver granted by a directive shall expire 30 days from the date of its issuance. The Director may grant one or more 30-day extensions if the waiver continues to be necessary to protect health or safety or to ensure delivery of services. The Director shall rescind a waiver once it is no longer necessary to protect public health or safety or ensure delivery of services. Any waivers and extensions granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the Department's website.
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11. Notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law, including the Bagley - Keene Act or the Brown Act, a local legislative body or state body is authorized to hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to attend and to address the local legislative body or state body, during the period in which state or local public officials impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing, including but not limited to limitations on public events. All requirements in both the Bagley -Keene Act and the Brown Act expressly or impliedly requiring the physical presence of members, the clerk or other personnel of the body, or of the public as a condition of participation in or quorum for a public meeting are hereby waived.
In particular, any otherwise -applicable requirements that (i) state and local bodies notice each teleconference location from which a member will be participating in a public meeting;
(ii) each teleconference location be accessible to the public; (iii) members of the public may address the body at each teleconference conference location;
(iv) state and local bodies post agendas at all teleconference locations; (v) at least one member of the state body be physically present at the location specified in the notice of the meeting; and
(vi) during teleconference meetings, a least a quorum of the members of the local body participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local body exercises jurisdiction are hereby suspended, on the conditions that:
(i) each state or local body must give advance notice of each public meeting, according to the timeframe otherwise prescribed by the Bagley -Keene Act or the Brown Act, and using the means otherwise prescribed by the Bagley -Keene Act or the Brown Act, as applicable; and
(ii) consistent with the notice requirement in paragraph (i), each state or local body must notice at least one publicly accessible location from which members of the public shall have the right to observe and offer public comment at the public meeting, consistent with the public's rights of access and public comment otherwise provided for by the Bagley -Keene Act and the Brown Act, as applicable (including, but not limited to, the requirement that such rights of access and public comment be made available in a manner consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act).
In addition to the mandatory conditions set forth above, all state and local bodies are urged to use sound discretion and to make reasonable efforts to adhere as closely as reasonably possible to the provisions of the Bagley -Keene Act and the Brown Act, and Ralph M. Brown Act Page 48
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other applicable local laws regulating the conduct of public meetings, in order to maximize transparency and provide the public access to their meetings.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 12th day of March 2020. [SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM]
[ATTESTED BY SECRETARY OF STATE PADILLA]
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Executive Order N-29-20
Issued March 17, 2020
WHEREAS on March 4, 2020,1 proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS despite sustained efforts, the virus continues to spread and is impacting nearly all sectors of California; and
WHEREAS the threat of COVID-19 has resulted in serious and ongoing economic harms, in particular to some of the most vulnerable Californians; and WHEREAS time bound eligibility redeterminations are required for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, California Food Assistance Program, and In Home Supportive Services beneficiaries to continue their benefits, in accordance with processes established by the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health Care Services, and the Federal Government; and
WHEREAS social distancing recommendations or Orders as well as a statewide imperative for critical employees to focus on health needs may prevent Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, California Food Assistance Program, and In Home Supportive Services beneficiaries from obtaining in -person eligibility redeterminations; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, 1 find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567 and 8571, do hereby issue the following order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. As to individuals currently eligible for benefits under Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, the California Food Assistance Program, or In Home Supportive Services benefits, and to the extent necessary to allow such individuals to maintain eligibility for such benefits, any state law, including but not limited to California Code of Regulations, Title 22, section 50189(a) and Welfare and Institutions Code sections 18940 and 11265, that would require redetermination of such benefits is suspended for a period of 90 days from the date of this Order. This Order shall be construed to be consistent with applicable federal laws, including but not limited to Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42, section 435.912, subdivision (e), as interpreted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (in guidance issued on January 30, Ralph M. Brown Act Page 50
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2018) to permit the extension of otherwise -applicable Medicaid time limits in emergency situations.
2. Through June 17, 2020, any month or partial month in which California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CaIWORKs) aid or services are received pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11200 et seq. shall not be counted for purposes of the 48-month time limit set forth in Welfare an Institutions Code Section 11454. Any waiver of this time limit shall not be applied if it will exceed the federal time limits set forth in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, section 264.1.
3. Paragraph 11 of Executive Order N-25-20 (March 12, 2020) is withdrawn and superseded by the following text:
Notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law (including, but not limited to, the Bagley -Keene Act or the Brown Act), and subject to the notice and accessibility requirements set forth below, a local legislative body or state body is authorized to hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the local legislative body or state body. All requirements in both the Bagley -Keene Act and the Brown Act expressly or impliedly requiring the physical presence of members, the clerk or other personnel of the body, or of the public as a condition of participation in or quorum for a public meeting are hereby waived.
In particular, any otherwise -applicable requirements that (i) state and local bodies notice each teleconference location from which a member will be participating in a public meeting;
(ii) each teleconference location be accessible to the public; (iii) members of the public may address the body at each teleconference conference location;
(iv) state and local bodies post agendas at all teleconference locations; (v) at least one member of the state body be physically present at the location specified in the notice of the meeting; and
(vi) during teleconference meetings, a least a quorum of the members of the local body participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local body exercises jurisdiction are hereby suspended.
A local legislative body or state body that holds a meeting via teleconferencing and allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically, consistent with the notice and accessibility requirements set forth below, shall have satisfied any requirement that the body allow members of the public to attend the meeting and offer public comment. Such a body need not make Ralph M. Brown Act Page 51
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available any physical location from which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment.
Accessibility Requirements: If a local legislative body or state body holds a meeting via teleconferencing and allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically, the body shall also:
(i) Implement a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable modification or accommodation from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and resolving any doubt whatsoever in favor of accessibility; and
(ii) Advertise that procedure each time notice is given of the means by which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment, pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of the Notice Requirements below.
Notice Requirements: Except to the extent this Order expressly provides otherwise, each local legislative body and state body shall:
(i) Give advance notice of the time of, and post the agenda for, each public meeting according to the timeframes otherwise prescribed by the Bagley -Keene Act or the Brown Act, and using the means otherwise prescribed by the Bagley -Keene Act or the Brown Act, as applicable; and
(ii) In each instance in which notice of the time of the meeting is otherwise given or the agenda for the meeting is otherwise posted, also give notice of the means by which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment.
As to any instance in which there is a change in such means of public observation and comment, or any instance prior to the issuance of this Order in which the time of the meeting has been noticed or the agenda for the meeting has been posted without also including notice of such means, a body may satisfy this requirement by advertising such means using "the most rapid means of communication available at the time" within the meaning of Government Code, section 54954, subdivision (e); this shall include, but need not be limited to, posting such means on the body's Internet website.
All of the foregoing provisions concerning the conduct of public meetings shall apply only during the period in which state or local public health officials have imposed or recommended social distancing measures.
All state and local bodies are urged to use sound discretion and to make reasonable efforts to adhere as closely as reasonably possible to the provisions of the Bagley -Keene Act and the Brown Act, and other applicable local laws regulating the conduct of public meetings, in order to maximize transparency and provide the public access to their meetings.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
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This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 17th day of March, 2020. [SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM]
[ATTESTED BY SECRETARY OF STATE PADILLA]
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Executive Order N-35-20
Issued March 21, 2020
WHEREAS on March 4, 2020,1 proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS despite sustained efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread and is impacting nearly all sectors of California; and
WHEREAS it is imperative that clinics, hospice, mobile healthcare units, and adult day health care facilities maximize the number of capable healthcare workers to ensure that Californians impacted by COVID-19 are able to access medical treatment; and WHEREAS governmental entities must have sufficient staffing to adequately address the impacts of COVID-19, and state and local governing bodies must have critical and timely information relating to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS given the impacts of COVID-19 on governmental entities, certain statutory deadlines would be impractical or impossible to adhere to; and WHEREAS on March 17, 2020, 1 issued Executive Order N-31-20, in which I implemented measures to ensure the expeditious restoration of the supply chain, and further action is needed to ensure the purpose of this action is effectuated; and WHEREAS state institutions housing vulnerable populations, such as those operated by the Department of State Hospitals and the Department of Developmental Services, require special measures to protect those populations from COVID-19 and ensure continuity of care; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code sections 8571 and 8627.5, 1 find that strict compliance with various statutes, regulations, and certain local ordinances specified or referenced herein would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627.5, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) In order to assist in the care or to protect the health of individuals not in a hospital or health facility, as defined in Health and Safety Code section 1250, and due to the COVID- 19 outbreak, the director of the State Department of Public Health may, for the duration of the declared emergency, waive any of the licensing and staffing requirements of chapters 1, 3.3, 8.5, and 9 of division 2 of the Health and Safety Code and any Ralph M. Brown Act Page 54
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accompanying regulations with respect to any clinic, adult day health care, hospice, or mobile health care unit. Any waiver shall include alternative measures that, under the circumstances, will allow the clinic, adult day health care, hospice, or mobile health care unit to assist in the care or protect the health of individuals while protecting public health and safety. Any waivers granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the Department's website.
2) Notwithstanding Government Code section 54952.2, subdivision (b) (1), or Government Code section 1 1122.5, subdivision (b) (1), or any other provision of the Brown Act or the Bagley -Keene Act, as applicable, all members of a local legislative body or state body may receive updates (including, but not limited to, simultaneous updates) relevant to the declared emergency (including, but not limited to, updates concerning the impacts of COVID-19, the government response to COVID-19, and other aspects relevant to the declared emergency) from federal, state, and local officials, and may ask questions of those federal, state, and local officials, in order for members of the legislative body to stay apprised of emergency operations and the impact of the emergency on their constituents. Nothing in this Order permits the members of a local legislative body or state body to take action on, or to discuss amongst themselves, any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body without complying with otherwise applicable requirements of the Brown Act or the Bagley -Keene Act, respectively. Nothing in this section shall impact Paragraph 3 of Executive Order N-29-20. 3) The suspension of statutes identified in Paragraph 7 of Executive Order E25-20, issued on March 12, 2020, shall also apply to local governments, as applicable, to ensure adequate staffing to appropriately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 4) Any local ordinance, including those relating to noise limitations, is suspended to the extent it restricts, delays, or otherwise inhibits the delivery of food products, pharmaceuticals, and other emergency necessities distributed through grocery stores and other retail or institutional channels, including, but not limited to, hospitals, jails, restaurants, and schools.
5) To ensure that patients with mental or behavioral health conditions continue to receive the services and support they need, notwithstanding disruptions caused by COVID-19; and to protect the health, safety and welfare of patients with mental or behavioral health conditions committed to the State Department of State Hospitals facilities, as defined by Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 4100 and 7200; the Director of the State Department of State Hospitals may issue directives waiving any provision or requirement of the Welfare and Institutions Code; any provision or requirement of the Penal Code that affects the execution of laws relating to care, custody, and treatment of persons with mental illness committed to or in the custody of the State Department State Hospitals; and the accompanying regulations of Title 9, Division 1 of the California Code of Regulations. The Director shall describe the need for the waiver granted in each directive and articulate how the waiver is necessary to protect the public health or safety (including, but not limited to, the health or safety of the individuals served at any Department -operated facility or the staff serving such individuals) from the threat of COVID-19, or how the waiver is necessary to ensure that services to individuals with Ralph M. Brown Act Page 55
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mental or behavioral health conditions are not disrupted. Any waiver granted by a directive shall expire 30 days from the date of its issuance, except that the Director may grant one or more 30-day extensions if the waiver continues to be necessary to protect health or safety or to ensure delivery of services. The Director shall rescind a waiver once it is no longer necessary to protect public health or safety or ensure delivery of services.
Any waivers and extensions granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be posted on the Department's website.
6) As needed to safeguard health of persons already admitted, committed, or ordered to the facilities described in this paragraph and notwithstanding the Penal Code, the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any other statute or regulation, the Director of the Department of Developmental Disabilities is authorized to deny admission or delay discharge of all individuals judicially or otherwise admitted, committed or ordered to the Porterville Developmental Center; the Canyon Springs Community Facility; a Stabilization, Training Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) home; or any other facility under the jurisdiction or control of the Department for 30 days after the issuance of this Order. The Director may grant one or more 30-day extensions if such action is necessary to protect the public health or safety (including, but not limited to, the health or safety of the individuals served at any Department -operated facility or the staff serving such individuals) from the threat of COVID-19. The Director of the Department shall describe the need justifying the closure of admissions to and delay in discharges from the Department -operated facility. The Director shall authorize admissions and discharges once the actions described in this paragraph are no longer necessary to protect the public health or safety (including, but not limited to, the health or safety of the individuals served at any Department -operated facility or the staff serving such individuals). The Director shall post the notice of closure of admissions and discharges and the extension of closure to the Department facility on the Department's website. 7) The deadlines specified in Education Code section 44242.7(a), and California Code of Regulations, title 5, section 80306, related to the presentation of disciplinary cases to the Committee of Credentials for initial review; Education Code section 44244(b) (1), related to the formal review of disciplinary cases and determination of any adverse action by the Committee of Credentials; Education Code section 44343.5, related to the processing of military spouse or partner applications; and Education Code section 44350, related to processing educator applications, are extended for a period of 60 days. 8) The deadline specified in Government Code section 11517(c) (2), related to an agency's action on an administrative law judge's proposed decision, is extended for a period of 60 days.
9) The deadlines specified in Government Code section 1774(a), related to the Governor's reappointment of an incumbent to an office, and Government Code section 1774(b), related to transmittal of the required information about reappointment of an incumbent to the Secretary of the Senate, are extended for a period of 60 days.
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10) The deadline specified in Government Code section 12011.5(c), related to State Bar's transmittal of its report to the Governor of its evaluation of all judicial candidates referred by the Governor, is extended for a period of 60 days.
1 1) The time for presenting a claim pursuant to Government Code section 911, et seq., is hereby extended by 60 days. The time within which the Department of General Services may act upon such claim is extended by 60 days.
12) The time limitation set forth in Penal Code section 4750(j) for any jurisdiction submitting a claim for reimbursement is delayed for a period of 60 days. The State Controller shall have the discretion to provide the additional time extension, as appropriate.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 21 st day of March 2020. [SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM]
[ATTESTED BY SECRETARY OF STATE PADILLA]
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Richards, Watson & Gershon delivers practical advice and solutions tailored to the unique needs of California public entities.
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SECTION 9
Public Records Act
"HANDBOOK
r*4 Summary of the Major Provisions and Requirements
of the Public Records Act and Related Topics
) Electronic Records
) Text of the Public Records Act
) Updated including changes effective January 1, 2021
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................. ii PART ONE. COMPLIANCE
WITH THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT..................................................................1 I.
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT?.............................................................................1 II.
WHAT RIGHTS DOES THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT AFFORD TO THE
PUBLIC?...............................................................................................................................2 III.
IS THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT RELATED TO THE FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT?.........................................................................................................3 IV.
TO WHICH LOCAL AGENCIES DOES THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
APPLY?................................................................................................................................3 V.
WHAT ARE "PUBLIC RECORDS? .......................................................................................3 VI.
HOW DOES A LOCAL AGENCY DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST?.........................................................................................................6 VII.
CAN A LOCAL AGENCY RELINQUISH ITS PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
OBLIGATIONS TO SOMEONE ELSE?.................................................................................6 VIII.
MUST A PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST BE MADE IN WRITING, OR MAY IT BE MADE ORALLY?...............................................................................................7 IX.
WHAT PUBLIC RECORDS ARE EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT?....................................................................................................8 X.
WHAT IS THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR COMPLYING WITH A PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST?.............................................................................................. 27 XI.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC RECORDSACT?............................................................................................................... 31 X11.
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................31 PART TWO. ELECTRONIC RECORDS........................................................................................................ 32 1.
EMAI L................................................................................................................................ 35 II.
DOCUMENTS CREATED USING WORD PROCESSORS, GIS AND OTHER
SOFTWARE........................................................................................................................ 48 III.
CITY WEBSITES.................................................................................................................. 58 IV.
CONCLUSIONS................................................................................................................75 PART THREE. THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT......................................................................... 78 Public Records Act Page i
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Article 1 - General Provisions California Government Code Sections 6250-6270.7.................... 79 Article 2 - Other Exemptions from Disclosure California Government Code Sections 6275-6276.48............................................................................................................... 142 Public Records Act
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Introduction
This Handbook, designed for City officials and staff, provides a summary of the major provisions of California's Public Records Act and related topics. Part One of the Handbook summarizes the basic provisions of the Public Records Act, including documents that are exempt from disclosure and the proper procedure for complying with the Act. Part Two highlights the unique issues raised by electronic records. Part Three contains the complete text of the Public Records Act. We hope you find this Handbook useful. Should you have any questions about the information included in this Handbook, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Richards, Watson & Gershon
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PART ONE.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
//RWG
Public Records Act
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